The US Participation in Astana Talks Will Mean "Victory" of Russia, Turkey and Iran

• 01.16.2017, 17:55
•  Near East,  World

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post and AP

Preparations for the Syrian negotiations, scheduled for January 23 in Astana, continue. One of the main problems is the list of participants. At this stage, the question of which parties can participate in the negotiations and at what level is still being considered.

Turkey, which along with Russia and Iran is a mediator in Astana negotiations, from the beginning insisted that representatives of the US and Gulf States should be present at negotiations in Astana.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Saturday that the the United States would be invited to the Jan. 23 Syrian peace summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, Yeni Safak reports."We have agreed to invite the U.S. to the talks. We will invite them. The U.S. will be in Astana. We do not deny the contribution and role of the U.S," Çavuşoğlu said. Earlier a spokesman for Turkish President said the United States would attend the talks. The US has not confirmed the fact of the invitation.

The US participation in the talks in Astana, that were initiated by Russia, Iran and Turkey, will mean "victory" of these three countries in terms of taking the initiative of the Syrian conflict settlement. The US presence in Astana will be accepted as an approval of the process on the part of Washington. It is not by chance that statements against the US involvement in the Syrian talks are not heard from Russia and Iran. Negotiations in Astana before the start of the Syrian negotiations in Geneva under the auspices of the UN in February may be decisive in terms of strengthening the position of the three countries. Thus, before making a decision on the participation in Astana talks Washington will have to consider this fact.

In addition, it is expected that Astana will become a platform, where a dialogue between Russia and the administration of Trump will start.