Italy’s Foreign Minister Visits Syria, Urges Post-Assad Transition and EU Sanction Review

Italy’s Foreign Minister Visits Syria, Urges Post-Assad Transition and EU Sanction Review

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is set to visit Syria on Friday to support the country’s transition following the removal of President Bashar Assad by Islamist militants, stating that Europe should reconsider its sanctions on Damascus now that the political landscape has shifted. On Thursday, Tajani led a meeting in Rome that included foreign ministry officials from five nations — Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States — and also had a conversation earlier by phone with his counterparts from Turkey and Saudi Arabia. He noted that the goal is to synchronize the various initiatives for post-Assad Syria, with Italy ready to propose private healthcare investments for the Syrian people.
In preparation for the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and their European counterparts, Tajani emphasized recognizing all Syrians’ equal rights. This statement alluded to worries regarding the rights of Christians and other minorities under the current de facto authorities of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This Islamic militant group has been labelled a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and U.N.

“The initial communications from Damascus have been encouraging. I’m visiting tomorrow to support this new phase that could contribute to stabilizing the international landscape,” Tajani remarked.

While addressing reporters, he suggested that the European Union consider potential adjustments to the sanctions imposed on Syria. “This is a matter worth discussing since Assad is no longer in power; the situation has changed, and I believe the positive signals we are receiving should be further bolstered,” he stated.

For years, Syria has faced severe sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and others due to Assad’s harsh crackdown on what began as peaceful protests against his government in 2011, which ultimately escalated into a civil war.

HTS executed a rapid insurgency that led to the ousting of Assad on December 8, marking the end of his family’s long-standing rule. Between 2011 and Assad’s removal, the uprising and ensuing civil war in Syria resulted in around 500,000 fatalities.

The U.S. has slowly reduced specific penalties since Assad fled to Russia for protection. In December, the Biden administration chose to rescind a $10 million bounty that had been placed on a Syrian rebel leader whose forces were instrumental in Assad’s removal last month.

Syria’s new leadership has also been called upon to uphold the rights of minorities and women. Numerous Syrian Christians, who constituted 10% of the population before the civil war, either escaped the nation or backed Assad due to fears related to Islamist militants.