Russia: Astana format meeting in Qatar agrees to step up efforts to stabilize Syria

By Dmitri Chirciu

MOSCOW (AA) – The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the Astana Format Foreign Ministers Meeting in Qatar agreed to step up efforts to stabilize Syria and achieve the goal through continued communication.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 22nd Doha Forum, was attended by Russian, Turkish, and Iranian foreign ministers Sergey Lavrov, Hakan Fidan, and Abbas Araghchi, respectively. Geir O. Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, later joined the discussion.

According to the ministry, during the meeting, concern was expressed over Syria's escalating tensions, with emphasis on the country's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, as well as reaffirming commitments to initiate a political process under UN Security Council Resolution 2254.