Russia to host Syria talks in late January with Turkey, Iran

MOSCOW — Russia, Turkey and Iran agreed Friday to hold Syria peace talks in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi next month, a move that the U.N. Special envoy for Syria said should be assessed based on its contribution to the mandated political process under the United Nations in Geneva.

Russian news reports cited Kazakh diplomat Aidarbek Tumanov who said that during Friday’s meeting in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, the parties agreed to hold the so-called Congress for National Dialogue in Sochi on Jan. 29-30.

Prior attempts to convene the congress were thwarted by disputes over possible participants, primarily the Kurds which Turkey has opposed. Russian envoy Alexander Lavrentyev said the parties have yet to agree on the list of participants.

In an apparent concession to Turkey, Lavrentyev said the Kurdish Democratic Union Party wouldn’t be invited to take part in the Sochi talks, but that “quite a few” Kurdish representatives will attend. Leaders of Syrian rebel groups have not decided if they will attend.

Turkey has been a main backer of opposition groups and rebels trying to end Syrian President Bashar Assad regime while Russia and Iran have been among his main backers.

Syria’s conflict, now in its seventh year, has claimed the lives of 400,000 and caused the worst refugee crisis since World War II.

The U.S. has said it will maintain its presence in Syria where it has about 1,500 troops that initially came to train and support the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces against the Islamic State group.