Antonio Tajani says Italy desires to function a bridge between Damascus and the European Union.
Italian International Minister Antonio Tajani has held talks with Syria’s new rulers and referred to as for talks on easing European Union sanctions imposed on the earlier authorities of Bashar al-Assad.
Tajani met Syria’s de facto chief Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Friday, saying that sanctions imposed after al-Assad’s crackdown on antigovernment protests that triggered the nation’s 13-year civil warfare “completely should not hit the Syrian inhabitants”.
“They had been imposed as a result of there was a unique regime. It’s vital to open discussions on the modified scenario,” he mentioned, refering to final month’s opposition takeover of the nation, led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham armed group, which introduced al-Assad’s rule to an abrupt finish.
Tajani mentioned Italy wished to assist Syria get better from civil warfare and rebuild its damaged financial system, serving as a bridge between Damascus and the EU.
“The Mediterranean can now not simply be a sea of loss of life, a cemetery of migrants however a sea of commerce a sea of growth,” he mentioned.
Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Damascus, mentioned the assembly with al-Sharaa was “fairly important.”
“[It] provides you a way that the worldwide neighborhood recognises the truth that this new administration is a brand new actuality, and so they want to do enterprise with it.”
‘Tangible progress’ wanted
Tajani arrived in Damascus after internet hosting talks in Rome with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, EU overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas, and officers from the UK, France and Germany on Thursday.
He mentioned that the assembly of the so-called Quintet on Syria was key to starting the dialogue a couple of change to the EU sanctions.
Kallas mentioned earlier on Friday that the 27-nation bloc may start lifting sanctions if Syria’s new rulers took steps to type an inclusive authorities that protects minorities.
“The EU may steadily ease sanctions supplied there’s tangible progress,” Kallas wrote on X.
In Damascus, Tajani additionally met International Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, who introduced that he would quickly make his first official tour of Europe.
Al-Shaibani has already visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan for the reason that begin of the month.
Al-Shaibani mentioned he welcomed Tajani’s give attention to sanctions.
“We share his opinion that the explanations for imposing them now not exist, and might be an impediment to encouraging the return of refugees from exterior Syria”, he mentioned.
Greater than half one million folks had been killed in Syria’s warfare, which additionally ravaged the financial system and compelled hundreds of thousands of individuals to flee their houses, together with to Europe.
