Lavrov: US invited to Syria talks in Astana

MOSCOW

Russia has invited the U.S. to take part in the upcoming intra-Syrian talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday.

"The U.S. have already been invited," Lavrov told reporters in Moscow.

Previously, the Russian foreign minister had said invitations for the talks in Astana had been sent, but the participant list would only become clear after official replies.

On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met John Tefft, U.S. ambassador to Russia to discuss the Syrian crisis as well as the Astana talks, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition negotiators to reach a political solution to the six-year war in Syria are due to begin on Jan. 23.

Following last month's Syria cease-fire deal, brokered by Turkey and Russia, the Astana meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts by the two countries to promote a political solution in war-torn Syria.

Reporting by Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan ;Writing by Diyar Guldogan

MOSCOW

Russia has invited the U.S. to take part in the upcoming intra-Syrian talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday.

"The U.S. have already been invited," Lavrov told reporters in Moscow.

Previously, the Russian foreign minister had said invitations for the talks in Astana had been sent, but the participant list would only become clear after official replies.

On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met John Tefft, U.S. ambassador to Russia to discuss the Syrian crisis as well as the Astana talks, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition negotiators to reach a political solution to the six-year war in Syria are due to begin on Jan. 23.

Reporting by Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan ;Writing by Diyar Guldogan