Russian, Iranian, Turkish top diplomats hold talks on Syria in Astana

Foreign ministers from Syrian ceasefire guarantor nations (Russia, Iran and Turkey) - Sergey Lavrov, Mohammad Javad Zarif and Mevlut Cavusoglu - have started talks in Astana to discuss the operation of de-escalation zones in Syria and also political and humanitarian issues.

The top diplomats are expected to sum up the results of the Astana format, which was launched more than a year ago, and will also outline steps for settling all aspects of the Syrian crisis.

The ministers will focus on the situation in Eastern Ghouta, in the Idlib de-escalation zone and implementing the decisions of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi on setting up a constitutional commission and continuing talks in Geneva, TASS reported.

The top diplomats plan to agree on recommendations for Damascus and the opposition on the Syrian settlement and also adopt a joint statement.