Syria talks on fragile Idlib truce begin in Kazakhstan Lavrentiev Alexander, special representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Syria, says the 'situation is improving on the ground' in Syria, during talks in Astana, Kazakhstan between delegations from the three regional power-brokers. Iran, Russia and Turkey are meeting in Astana for two days of talks aiming to preserve a fragile 10-week-old truce in northern Syria. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES