The leaders of Russia and Kazakhstan underscored that the recent talks in Astana had given a serious impetus to the peace process in Syria.

President Vladimir Putin thanked his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev for Astana’s contribution to organizing Syrian settlement talks, the Kremlin’s press service said Saturday.

“During today’s phone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev for the great contribution of the Kazakh partners to the organization and holding of an international meeting on Syria on January 23-24 in Astana,” the press service said in a statement

“Both sides underlined that a serious impetus was given to the peace settlement of the Syrian conflict.”

The intra-Syrian talks, brokered by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran, were held between the Syrian government and the foreign-backed armed opposition in Astana on January 23-24. The Astana negotiations will be followed by a UN-mediated meeting in Geneva expected to take place later in February.

As a result of the talks, Russia, Iran and Turkey decided to establish a trilateral mechanism to monitor the ceasefire in Syria.

Source: Sputnik