ASTANA (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, a representative of the armed opposition delegation at previous rounds of talks said that the delegation would not be attending the upcoming round, slated for March 14-15.
"The issue of participation is still under discussion. In a few hours we shall hold a meeting where we will discuss this issue and the response of the Russians … Airstrikes against regions of Syria continue. If the situation does not change then we shall not go to Astana," Berri said.
Meanwhile, the office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura confirmed to Sputnik on Monday it had received an invitation to take part in the Astana talks on Syria and would send a technical team.
"The office of the Special Envoy for Syria received the invitation to Astana, and a UN technical team will be attending the meeting," spokeswoman Yara Sharif said.
Astana has already hosted two rounds of negotiations between Damascus and representatives of armed Syrian opposition groups on January 23-24 and on February 15-16. They were initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who proposed establishing in the Kazakhstan capital a venue for the Syrian peace talks in addition to Geneva.
