Baladi - Agencies
Radio Free Europe published that the ninth round of Syria peace talks sponsored by Iran, Russia, and Turkey began on May 14 in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana.
Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Anuar Zhainaqov told reporters that UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is expected to join the negotiations in Astana later in the day and a Syrian armed opposition delegation should arrive there on May 15.
Zhainaqov added that the United States was not taking part in the talks.
Russian presidential envoy for Syria Aleksandr Lavrentyev said on May 14 that Moscow still hopes Washington would take part in the talks.
"We are hoping that common sense will prevail and they [the United States] will take part in our session," Lavrentyev said.
Reporting on Kazinform, KazTAG, and Interfax