Lavrov, Zarif discuss coordination of Syria peace talks in phone call

MOSCOW, Jan. 17 (MNA) – Russian foreign minister and his Iranian counterpart Zarif discussed in a phone call on Monday the situation in Syria and the preparation for intra-Syrian peace talks in Astana. "The sides continued the discussion of the situation in Syria. The ministers emphasized the need to coordinate efforts in the context of the upcoming intra-Syrian talks in Astana," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The intra-Syrian peace consultations in Kazakh capital, Astana, are expected to be held on January 23, with the opposition represented as a united bloc. The negotiations excludes the ISIL and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist groups and will be mediated by Russia, Turkey, and Iran. The three countries successfully implemented a similar accord in December following the defeat of militants in Syria's northwestern city of Aleppo.