Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested that Iraq and Lebanon be included in the Astana process on the Syrian settlement, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

“The next (trilateral) summit (of Russia, Turkey and Iran on Syria) will be held in Turkey. During the talks (in Sochi) I said that we can include Iraq and Lebanon in the Astana process since both those countries have common borders with Syria and various relationships with the country,” the Turkish leader was quoted as saying after the trilateral summit on Syria in Sochi.

Erdogan believes that the Geneva process on the Syrian settlement has failed, according to Hurriyet Daily News: “The talks in Astana supplemented the Geneva process, which is being held under UN auspices. We do not consider Astana as an alternative to Geneva, though the Geneva process has failed, we have to admit that,” the Turkish leader was quoted.