Russia says Syrian parties to attend Sochi talks

By Emre Gurkan Abay

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday all participants in Syria talks in Geneva will be invited to a planned Syrian National Dialogue Congress in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Speaking at a news conference after a meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura in Moscow, Lavrov said he had briefed de Mistura about the planned congress.

“The list of participants confirmed by the Russian, Turkish and Iranian leaders will definitely be announced tomorrow [Friday] in Astana,” Lavrov said.

De Mistura said the next round of Geneva talks would take place in the second half of January.

"But we also recognize that now is the time, as you say, for a political process, a genuine political process. That's why I'm looking … to these discussions.

“I'm planning to go to Astana just after this meeting, as you know, in order to able also to see, I hope, some progress regarding the detainees issues which has been a long-standing issue and [about which] Syrians are asking us all the time," de Mistura said.