MUNICH (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th February, 2019) Iraq and Lebanon have voiced their interest in taking part in the Astana format on the Syrian crisis settlement as observer countries, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Sunday, adding that the participation of the neighbor countries ready to contribute to a crisis resolution would be quite natural.
"During our preliminary contacts, these countries expressed interest in having more information and understanding about what is happening in Astana, if necessary, providing assistance to the processes, on which we are working in Astana," Vershinin told reporters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, when asked whether Iraq and Lebanon could take part in the Astana process as observer countries.
According to Vershinin, "it would be quite natural" if countries such as Iraq and Lebanon, which border Syria and are "essentially interested in long-term settlement there," were among such candidates.
