Italy hopes Syria transition will be peaceful, says foreign minister

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said today that he is worried about the current situation in Syria, hoping that the transition in the country will unfold in a peaceful way, Anadolu has reported.

“We are very worried for Syria. The fall of the regime is an historical turn,” said Tajani in a wide-ranging speech to Italian ambassadors gathered in Rome. “[I hope] that the transition will continue on a peaceful path and safeguarding the rights of minorities, starting with the Christian one.”

He added that Italy is working with its partners and the UN for a united country, “which must not fall prey to extremism.”

UN envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen urged an inclusive Syrian transition based on a nine-year-old Security Council resolution, when he met the commander of Syria’s new administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, on Sunday.

Anti-regime group Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) led by Sharaa has emerged as the ruling power in Syria after toppling Bashar Al-Assad just over a week ago.

Tajani said he will discuss the situation in Syria with the foreign ministers of the US, France, Germany and the UK in a meeting of the so-called Quint group on Tuesday.

Assad was Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years. He fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on 8 December, ending the Baath Party-led regime, which had been in power since 1963.

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