Nations Meet for the 19th Round of Syrian Peace Talks

Nations Meet for the 19th Round of Syrian Peace Talks

Date:

In Astana, Kazakhstan, delegates and guarantors from Turkey, Russia, Iran, Assad-Syria and opposition-Syria are meeting for the 19th round of peace negotiations to end the brutal conflict that has plagued Syria since 2011. Delegates from the United States, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan are also attending to act as observers, should an agreement be reached. 

Many experts do not expect much from these two-day negotiations, attributing it to just an international smokescreen for the most recent bout of heavy fighting between Turkey and Kurdish militias, as the war continues to spill over into Iraq and Iran. Philip Turtle, an International Affairs editor for France24 stated, “If peace is going to come, it’s going to be a negotiated settlement, it’s not going to be a settlement that comes through some kind of military solution.” He followed up the statement with an expectation for a 20th round of negotiations.

Despite this, much of the world seemingly expects things to quiet down in Syria in the near future. Both France and Lebanon have begun sending back Syrian refugees on a voluntary basis and several nations in Europe and the Middle East have reportedly begun the process of “normalizing relations” with the Assad government. Most Syrians themselves desire peace, even accepting Bashar Al Assad so as to return to a nation not torn by war and manipulated by foreign powers. 

Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aybek Smadiyarov stated, “On day one, bilateral and trilateral consultations of the guarantor countries, negotiations with the Syrian parties, and contacts with the delegations of the observer parties are expected. On day two, further consultations, a plenary session, and a press conference are planned.” He also said a meeting involving the Red Cross and United Nations is also planned to discuss prisoners of war and the humanitarian cost of the conflict.

Turkish, Russian and Iranian delegates meet as the negotiations begin in Astana, Kazakhstan, November 22, 2022. (AA Photo)

While speaking to the press, Alexander Lavrentiev, the Russian Special Representative for Syria stated a need for ways to stabilize the nation, speaking particularly on Idlib, the epicenter of much of the fighting and jihadist holdouts.

Since 2011, over 500,000 people have been killed in the fighting, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, with over 13 million displaced. The recent weeks have seen some of the most intense attacks in years, with a renewed Turkish offensive preparing to launch against the Kurds and Israeli aircraft striking targets throughout the southern part of the nation. Even if the negotiations do meet with success, there are still many questions that would be left on the table, chief among those being the status of the Kurdish people and how to begin the laborious process of rebuilding a nation torn and displaced.

Joshua Paulo
Joshua Paulo
Joshua Paulo founded GoodHistory in 2018 on the premise that news and history blend to make well-informed politics. He has a degree in Criminal Justice, a background in public service, and is studying for a Masters degree in International Relations. With several years of experience in analysis and journalism, he now leads a team of professionals and is a proud contributor to several publications, all revolving around a common desire to bring unbiased news information to the people. Editor and writer for Atlas News.
- Sponsor -spot_img
- Sponsor -spot_img

Week's Top Stories

More In This Category
Related

U.S. Marine Corps F-35 Crash Near North Charleston, SC

Update (2006 EST): https://twitter.com/teamcharleston/status/1703541506915668242?s=46&t=fwloThPnqgTH71QlDeR_hA Update (1626 EST): https://twitter.com/teamcharleston/status/1703518720541253649?s=46&t=fwloThPnqgTH71QlDeR_hA According to local media, first...

Venezuelan Government Re-Captures Tocoron Prison

Update (1437 EST): The transfer of inmates, confiscated weapons,...

Libyan Floods Kill over 11,000 as Thousands Remain Missing

Tragedy Strikes Libya has experienced extensive destruction after two dams...

Kuwait Crown Prince to Sign Final Agreement on Mubarak Port During Visit to China

Yesterday, Kuwait Crown prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad arrived in...