Kairat Abdrakhmanov

Turkey, Russia, Iran ink deal on safe zones in Syria

Turkey, Russia and Iran on May 4 signed a memorandum on a Moscow-backed plan to create safe zones in Syria to bolster a fragile truce.

An AFP reporter at peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana saw the heads of the delegations, representing the three countries sponsoring the negotiations, sign the document.

Syria peace talks get underway in Kazakhstan

Peace talks aimed at ending the Syria conflict through a gathering between the Syrian government and rebel groups began on Jan. 23 in the Kazakh capital of Astana. 

Representatives from the two sides sat at the same table as Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov delivered an opening speech, an AFP correspondent saw.