NUR-SULTAN. June 16 (Interfax) - The guarantor countries of the Astana format talks on Syria are offering different opinions regarding a new venue for meetings of the Syrian constitutional committee to replace Geneva, and such discussions are continuing, Russian Presidential Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev said.
"We have indicated our interest in transferring the platform of the [Syrian] constitutional committee from Geneva. This decision of course largely depends on the guarantor countries. Their opinions currently differ," Lavrentyev said.
Geneva does not suit Russia, as "Switzerland is ahead of the whole planet in terms of anti-Russian sanctions and anti-Russian statements," he said.
"Discussions on this issue will continue," Lavrentyev said.
The 18th round of the Astana format talks on Syria is taking place in Nur-Sultan on June 15-16. The previous such meeting was held in the Kazakh capital on December 21-22, 2021.