Lavrov says Egypt could join Syria talks in Astana followed by other countries

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed the hope that Egypt will join the negotiations on the Syrian settlement in Astana, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq could join them at subsequent stages. He also expressed the hope that the US would join these efforts under President Donald Trump. "Considering all these consultations, we are beginning to get ready for the meeting in Astana together with the Turks and Iranians," he said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which focused on the agreements on a ceasefire in Syria and the beginning of negotiations. "Given the importance of expanding the number of guarantor states, we consider inviting our Egyptian counterparts to join these agreements." Russia’s top diplomat noted that the issue was discussed during a telephone conversation between Putin and Egyptian President , Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, earlier on Thursday. "In the future, at some other stages, perhaps, we need to attract some other key players, which have an impact on developments in Syria. These are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Jordan," Lavrov said, adding that the UN’s representative will be invited as well, which will make it possible "to ensure the continuity of the political process." "I would like to express the hope that, when the administration of Donald Trump takes over, they, too, will be able to join these efforts (on a peaceful settlement in Syria) to make sure that we work in the same direction collectively," he added. Lavrov noted that the Syrian settlement process launched by Russia and Turkey and supported by Iran had been hailed incumbent UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and the organization’s new Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, who will assume office next year. "In the course of this joint work with the Turkish and Iranian sides, we have informed other partners in the region about what we do," Lavrov said. Read more