New round of Syrian peace talks open in Astana

MOSCOW, June 4 (KUNA)-- The fifth round of Syrian peace talks kicked off in Kazakh capital Astana Tuesday, with the participation of Syrian government and opposition parties.
All delegations participating in this round of talks have arrived in Astana and have already started bilateral talks, Novosti News agency said, adding that they will begin talks on Syria on Wednesday.
Talks are to focus on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria, and ways to develop appropriate monitory mechanisms, it said, noting that delegations from Russia, Syria, Iran, Turkey and Jordan are partaking in talks.
United States headed by acting Assistant Secretary of State Stuart Johns and Secretary-General of the United Nations Staffan de Mistura are also participating in the talks, said Kazakh Foreign ministry spokesman Anwar Jainakov. end) as/nhq