Joint Statement by the representatives of Iran, Russia, and Türkiye on the 22nd International Meeting on Syria in the Astana Format. (MFA.Kazakhstan)

In a joint statement released following the Astana format talks on Syria on Tuesday, Russia, Turkey, and Iran consider it important to resume contacts and continue efforts to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus.

After the discussions, the parties underscored the importance of ongoing efforts to rebuild relations between Turkey and Syria, emphasizing mutual respect, goodwill, and good neighborliness.

They stressed the need to combat terrorism, facilitate the safe and voluntary return of Syrians with support from the UNHCR, advance the political process, and ensure unrestricted humanitarian aid reaches all Syrians, as stated in the joint declaration.

The statement said that "[The sides] reaffirmed the importance of resuming contacts between Turkiye and Syria on the basis of strict adherence to the principles of respect for the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries," adding that they "emphasized the importance of resuming contacts in this format."

The three parties have agreed to hold the next round of the Astana talks on Syria in the first half of 2025, saying, "We agreed to hold the 23rd International Meeting on Syria in Astana in the first half of 2025."

Last week, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry stated that the Astana format talks would include bilateral and trilateral consultations among the delegations on the first day and a plenary session and final press conference are scheduled for the second day.

"The agenda of the meeting includes the following issues: the development of the regional situation around Syria; efforts for a comprehensive settlement; the situation "on the ground" in Syria; confidence-building measures, including the release of hostages and the search for missing persons," the statement read.

Initiated in 2017, the Astana format is a series of negotiations aimed at resolving the war on Syria.

It involves Russia, Iran, and Turkey as guarantor countries, alongside representatives from the Syrian government and opposition, the United Nations, and observer nations such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq.

The Astana process has been instrumental in facilitating dialogue among key stakeholders in the war on Syria, focusing on de-escalation zones, humanitarian aid, and political solutions.