LOC20:27
17:27 GMT
ANKARA, April 28 (KUNA) -- Foreign Ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran said Saturday the Syrian peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, were the only mean to defuse tension in the Arab country.
Russia's Sergei lavrov, at a joint news conference with Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu and Iran's Mohammad Javad Zarif in Moscow, said the three men discussed preparations for the next round of talks between the Syrian government and opposition, due in Astana in mid-May.
Zarif was quoted by Turkey's Anadolu news agency as saying said the upcoming Astana meeting would discuss political and humanitarian issues.
He said the working groups would discuss the liberation of hostages, and exchange of prisoners and bodies of dead people.
Cavusoglu said the talks in Astana were making "concrete steps" towards peace.
He said the unity of the Syrian territories was under threat as long as there were terrorist groups controling some lands.
Russia, Turkey and Iran are the guarantors of the Astana negotiations, which kicked off in January 2017. (end)
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