NEW YORK (UN). Dec 30 (Interfax) - The United Nations will be fully involved in preparations for intra-Syrian negotiations in Astana, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin said.
"There is no competition. [UN Special Envoy to Syria] Staffan de Mistura is maintaining contact with us. He has manifested his willingness to help arrange meetings in Astana. We expect the UN to be fully involved in preparing a meeting in Astana. And if it is successful, it may be transferred to Geneva in the future," Churkin told journalists on Friday when asked whether there might be some competition between the two planned venues of intra-Syrian talks.