Astana Ministerial Meeting Focused on Idlib

The Astana peace talks on Syria held between the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey via videoconference on Wednesday was most likely focused on the issue of Idlib and the status of ceasefire in the province, a former Iranian diplomat said. 
“Idlib was most likely the chief item on the agenda of the trilateral meeting,” Qasem Mohebbali also told ISNA. 
The northwestern province of Idlib saw an escalation of clashes until Turkey and Russia, which back opposing sides in Syria’s war, agreed on March 5 to halt hostilities in the area. Nevertheless, both sides have been accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. 
According to Mohebbali, Syria’s Constitutional Committee would be among other topics of discussion in the conference.  
The Astana peace talks were initiated in 2017 by Russia and Iran, Syria's allies, as well as Turkey, which backs opposition groups, to end more than nine years of civil war in the Arab country. 
The latest round of talks was planned for March, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The diplomat said the Astana process can prepare the ground for an agreement and acts as a facilitator, but the role of other important players and variables need to be taken into account while addressing the crisis.
Mohebbali said the United States, Syrian opposition groups, the United Nations and a number of other countries also have an influence on Syria’s peace process.