Rome: Italian delegation in Damascus meets with provisional government

The first high-level Italian delegation after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime held a series of meetings in Damascus with the new de facto Syrian authorities. The delegation is composed of the Director of the Mediterranean and Middle East of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maurizio Greganti, and the Director for Cooperation Interventions, Carlo Batori, assisted by the head of mission in Damascus, Stefano Ravagnan.

During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Assaad Hassan Al Shibani, the envoys Greganti and Batori It was announced that the Interim Administration has activated a “crisis cell” to monitor events in the country related to the celebration of Christmas and other events of the Christian community.

On the instructions of Minister Antonio Tajani, Italian diplomats reiterated the importance that Rome attributes to the start of a new political process in Syria, inclusive and non-sectarian, respectful of all components of the country, including religious ones. According to Tajani, "guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms for all Syrians, and especially women, is a request that Italy addresses to the new Syrian leadership. The role of Christians in Syria, as citizens with full rights, must be recognized and valued".

For the head of the Farnesina, "Italy has an open attitude towards the new course started in Syria. It has always been close to the Syrian people, especially from a humanitarian point of view, as happened in particular most recently on the occasion of the tragic earthquake that hit the country in 2023".

The prospects of relations with the current de facto authorities, also for the purpose of reconsidering the sanctions regime supported by the European Union, will be determined by the concrete initiatives into which the commitments undertaken at the domestic and international level will be translated. Italy, Furthermore, considers it essential to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria, as well as a constructive attitude of the new de facto Authorities towards all neighboring countries and at the regional level.

On the Italian side, it is considered essential to safeguard the full independence of the new Syria, protected from any external interference. In this context, the announced commitment of the new Authorities is appreciated deny the use of national territory by terrorist organizations.

The diplomatic delegation indicated that Italy is ready to contribute to the recovery of Syria with important cooperation interventions, in particular by valorising the Italian Civil Society Organisations already present in the field, and to launch an initial package of initiatives, which Minister Tajani has asked to be prepared, to be implemented also through a permanent presence of experts from Italian Cooperation in Damascus. Italy will also cooperate with the international mechanisms established to ascertain and sanction the crimes committed by the Assad regime.