No: 114, 26 April 2019, Press Release Regarding the High-Level Meeting on Syria Held in Nur-Sultan on 25-26 April 2019

The twelfth round of the high-level meetings on Syria was held on 25-26 April 2019 in Nur-Sultan. The main items discussed at the meeting were the developments on the ground and the ongoing efforts for a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

The parties agreed to continue their coordination regarding the situation on the east of the Euphrates. They rejected separatist agendas that pose threat to the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and to the national security of neighboring countries.

The parties reiterated their determination to implement the agreements on the stabilization of the situation in the Idlib de-escalation area and welcomed the steps taken to this end, including coordinated patrols. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to continue their cooperation in combating terrorism and agreed on taking concrete steps aimed at decreasing ceasefire violations in the area.

The parties held consultations with the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria Ambassador Geir O. Pedersen on the establishment and the convening of the Constitutional Committee at the earliest in Geneva, holding the next round of consultations in Geneva and to support the Special Envoy’s efforts.

The parties agreed to invite neighbouring countries, Iraq and Lebanon, to the subsequent high-level meetings on Syria as observers.

The eighth meeting of the Working Group established for the release of detainees was also held in the margins of the meeting. The parties have expressed their satisfaction on the mutual and simultaneous release of several persons detained by the opposition groups and the regime on 24 November 2018, 12 February 2019 and 22 April 2019 as a project of the Working Group.

The thirteenth round of the high-level meetings on Syria is agreed to be held in July in Nur-Sultan.