Opposition, regime choose chief negotiators for Astana talks

Senior member in Jaysh al-Islam Muhammad Alloush has been chosen to head the Syrian opposition’s delegation to the Astana talks. Meanwhile, Assad regime’s media outlets  have said Assad permanent ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar al-Jafaari, has been chosen to head the regime’s delegation.

Alloush and al-Jafaari headed the opposition and regime delegations at the indirect UN-sponsored talks that was held in Geneva last March. 

The Astana talks are scheduled to be held on the 23rd of this month (January). The negotiations are brokered by Turkey and Russia and are intended to bolster the Syria ceasefire that was declared in Ankara last December.

A countrywide ceasefire in Syria was declared on Thursday (29 December 2016), after Turkey, Russia and opposition fighting groups reached a deal in the Turkish capital Ankara. According to the deal, Turkey and Russia would act as guarantor countries for the implementation of the ceasefire.

Nine opposition fighting groups have decided to participate in the Astana talks. They are: al-Sham Brigade, Sultan Murad Brigade, al-Shamiyyeh Front, Jaysh al-Ezzeh, Jaysh al-Nasr, First Coastal Division, Fastaqim Kama Omert, al-Islam Martyrs Brigade and Jaysh al-Islam.