Document on joint control of Syrian ceasefire may be signed at next Astana meeting

ASTANA, February 6. /TASS/. Russia, Iran and Turkey may sign the draft document on the joint operational group for control of the Syrian ceasefire next week in Astana, Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate Major General Stanislav Gadzhimagomedov, who is heading the Russian delegation to the talks, told reporters on Monday. "During our first meeting, we have almost completely agreed on the draft document on the joint operational group for control of the ceasefire. Some details still need considering. I believe, at the next meeting we will be able to sign the document," Gadzhimagomedov added. On Monday, the first meeting of the joint operational group for control of the Syrian ceasefire was held in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana. The meeting was arranged by the guarantor countries, that is, Russia, Turkey and Iran. A nationwide ceasefire in Syria took effect on December 30, 2016. The government troops and the armed opposition groups, comprising over 60,000 people, joined the ceasefire. However, the ceasefire does not apply to terror groups active in Syria, namely the IS and Jabhat al-Nusra (now known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham). Read more