Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The Astana platform is an initiative proposed by Russia, Turkey, and Iran in order to seek a peaceful solution for Syria following a prolonged conflict in the country.

The two foreign ministers stressed the need to increase international assistance to Damascus in grappling with the aftermath of the recent devastating earthquake and in Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction.

They reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the efforts to encourage the return of Syrian refugees abroad and internally displaced persons to their places of permanent residence by creating appropriate material conditions.