Italy hopes Syria transition will be peaceful, says foreign minister

Rome: 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.