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Turkey Calls on US, Saudi Arabia to Join Astana Talks

Ankara (June 16, 2017): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the United States and Saudi Arabia to join the Astana talks aimed at bringing peace to Syria.

In an interview, he said fifth round of talks would be held in Astana soon. A cease-fire in Syria brokered by Turkey and Russia led to the Astana talks, which are being held parallel to UN talks in Geneva to find a political solution to the six-year old conflict.

The negotiations were launched by Turkey, Russia and Iran in January when representatives of the Syrian regime and opposition groups were brought together in the capital of Kazakhstan.

The U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, had previously attended the talks as an observer.

On Turkey’s approach to Tehran, which supports the regime of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad while Ankara backs the opposition, Erdogan said there were issues on which Turkey “gets along with Iran” and others where it did not.

A cease-fire in Syria brokered by Turkey and Russia led to the Astana talks, which are being held parallel to UN talks in Geneva to find a political solution to the six-year conflict.

A fifth round of talks had been due to start in Astana on Monday but was postponed. A fresh date is yet to be set.

Erdogan also addressed Turkey’s support for Qatar as the country faces a diplomatic and economic blockade by Arab states including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen.

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