Qatar interested in joining talks in Astana on inter-Syrian settlement - ambassador

MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. The authorities of Qatar expressed their interest in joining talks in Kazakhstan’s Astana on the inter-Syrian settlement, Russian Ambassador to Qatar Nurmakhmad Kholov told TASS on Monday. According to the Russian diplomat, Qatar did not receive an official invitation to join the talks on the inter-Syrian settlement, which were held in the capital of Kazakhstan on January 23-24. "However, the authorities of Qatar expressed their interest in joining this format, since the country, as one of the key players in the region, exercises major influence on the situation in Syria," Kholov said in an interview with TASS. The Russian diplomat said that despite different approaches and disagreements on other issues, both Moscow and Doha pursue the final aim of achieving ceasefire in Syria with the preserved integrity of the country and restoration of all state and municipal authority institutions. "In political sense, Qatar has a certain influence on the moderate opposition in Syria - participants of the conflict," Kholov said. "For instance, former president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Ahmad Moaz Al-Khatib is currently residing in Doha and he is an ideologist for certain groups of the moderate opposition, including Jaysh al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham," he said. "In this regard, we are extensively using political capabilities of the emirate for reaching our common tasks," Kholov added. Read more