Second day of Astana talks: de Mistura and Hussein Ansari

The second day of the talks on the Syrian settlement has begun in Astana, which are held under the patronage of Russia, Turkey and Iran.

UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura and Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Ansari have jointed these negotiations. They are reported to have held brief talks this morning.

«We are working hard,» de Mistura has said, refusing to answer any other questions.

The armed opposition is reported to have placed near the Rixos hotel, where the talks are held.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for the first time the representatives of the Syrian authorities and the opposition have managed to «look into each other's eyes.»