23/01/2017 (Agence Europe) – An EU spokesperson told EUROPE on Monday 23 January that the European Union will be represented at the conference on Syria in Astana but will not take part in the meetings. Following discussions with its Russian, Iranian and Turkish counterparts, the EU decided that its envoy would not take part in the meetings but would liaise with other parties, in particular the United Nations, the spokesperson told EUROPE. The conference, which brings together representatives of Bashar al-Assad, members of the opposition, the three sponsors of the event (Turkey, Russia and Iran), the United States and United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, will focus mainly on strengthening the ceasefire and the EU is not a military player. (CG)