AKIPRESS.COM - UN special envoy for Syria will attend the Astana talks on the ceasefire in Syria, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Monday.

Staffan de Mistura will be in Astana as an observer at the talks Wednesday and Thursday convened by the three guarantors of the cease-fire — Russia, Turkey and Iran, AP reported.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric says de Mistura agreed to attend at the invitation of Kazakhstan’s government “in view of the urgency and importance of re-establishing a de-escalation of the situation in Syria and moving on confidence-building measures.”

Dujarric says de Mistura will hold talks with the three guarantors and others ahead of the next round of peace negotiations with the Syrian government and opposition in Geneva, which diplomats say are expected later this month.