AKIPRESS.COM - A delegation of the armed Syrian opposition has arrived in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana to participate in the eighth round of the international talks on Syria, Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesman Anuar Zhainakov told Tass on Thursday.

"All the participant delegations have arrived in Astana. The Syrian opposition delegation comprises more than 20 members, they all have arrived," Zhainakov said.

"Staffan de Mistura will arrive in Astana tomorrow (December 22) morning. Today, he has scheduled meetings in Moscow," Zhainakov said.

The eighth round of talks on Syria started in Kazakhstan’s capital on Thursday. Participants are expected to adopt a provision on setting up a working group for the exchange of detainees and the bodies of those killed during the military activities between the parties to the conflict. Besides, there are plans to adopt a statement on humanitarian demining, including that of the UNESCO sites.

The guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire - Russia, Iran and Turkey - are planned to consider the initiative to convene the Syrian National Dialogue Congress.

The plenary session of the Astana talks will take place on December 22.