Astana conference ends with trilateral pledge to enforce Syrian truce

Russia, Turkey and Iran Tuesday pledged to enforce Syria’s three-week old ceasefire in a joint statement ending the two days of peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana. The three partners agreed there was no military solution to the Syrian conflict. It was not clear whether the Syrian government or opposition endorsed the statement. This was the first time that the Syrian opposition was represented at a peace conference by  armed rebel groups. Their spokesman Yahya al-Aridi said his delegation would demand the lifting of government sieges of rebel-held areas and goodwill gestures, such as the release of political prisoners and deliveries of aid.  A UN-sponsored meeting on a Syrian settlement is due to take place in Geneva next month.

Read DEBKAfile's earlier exclusive background on the event