Syrians walk in a dusty street following air strikes by suspected Russian planes on the central rebel-held town of Douma, on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, on November 7, 2015.

The UN Security Council has voiced its support for the Syrian Astana peace talks, sponsored by Russia, Turkey, and Iran, that are due to take place in Kazakhstan next week, but emphasized that the meeting should not disregard the upcoming Geneva talks.

Security Council president and Sweden’s UN Ambassador Olof Skoog, said the statement supported by all 15 members addressed concerns that Astana might become a new path to deal with the Syria crisis by making clear that Monday’s talks “represent an important stepping stone coming back to UN-led talks in Geneva”.

Western powers have voiced concern that the Astana negations might take a different route than trying to end the six-year war in Syria.

[vuukle]