The Feb. 16-17 Astana format meeting of guarantors Russia, Turkey and Iran of the Syria peace process ended today with a 17-point joint statement reaffirming the three governments’ commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, to a political resolution of the Syrian conflict according to UN Security Council Resolution 2254, to fighting terrorism in Syria, and to opposing separatist agendas “aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria as well as threatening the national security of neighboring countries.” According to the joint statement, as posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry website, the representatives of the three countries also discussed in detail the situation on the Idlib de-escalation zone as well as the situation in the northeastern region of the country east of the Euphrates River. They also condemned Israeli air strikes on Syria “in violation of the international law and international humanitarian law and undermining the sovereignty of Syria and neighboring countries as well as endangering the stability and security in the region and called for cessation of them.”
Four of the 17 points related to the UN-facilitated negotiations of the Syria Constitutional Committee, which last met in Geneva on Jan. 25-29 without result. The three countries “emphasized the important role of the Constitutional Committee"; they discussed its work in detail and “reaffirmed their determination to support” the Committee`s work through continuous interaction with the Syrian parties, along with the committee delegates and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen, as facilitator, “in order to ensure its sustainable and effective functioning.” They also “Expressed the conviction that the Committee in its work should be governed by a sense of compromise and constructive engagement without foreign interference and externally imposed timelines aimed at reaching general agreement of its members.” https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/4576121
