Italian FM meets the new leaders of Syria, discusses the easing of EU sanctions | Syria war news

Antonio Tajani says that Italy wants to serve as a bridge between Damascus and the European Union.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held talks with Syria’s new leaders and called for talks on easing European Union sanctions imposed on the previous government of Bashar al-Assad.

Tajani met the de facto leader of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Friday, saying the sanctions imposed after Al-Assad’s crackdown on anti-government protests that triggered the country’s 13-year civil war “must absolutely not hit the Syrian people.”

“They were imposed because there was a different regime. It is important to open discussions about the changed situation,” he said, referring to last month recovery of the opposition of the country, led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham armed group, which brought al-Assad’s rule to an abrupt end.

Tajani said Italy wanted to help Syria recover from the civil war and rebuild its broken economy, serving as a bridge between Damascus and the EU.

“The Mediterranean can no longer be just a sea of ​​death, a graveyard of migrants, but a sea of ​​trade a sea of ​​development,” he said.

Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Damascus, said the meeting with al-Sharaa was “quite significant.”

“(It) gives you a sense that the international community recognizes the fact that this new administration is a new reality, and they want to do business with it.

“Tangible progress” is needed

Tajani arrived in Damascus after hosting talks in Rome with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and officials from the UK, France and Germany on Thursday.

He said that the meeting of the so-called Quintet on Syria was key to start the discussion on a change of the EU sanctions.

Kallas said earlier on Friday that the 27-nation bloc could begin lifting sanctions if Syria’s new rulers took steps to form an inclusive government that protects minorities.

“The EU could gradually reduce sanctions as long as there is tangible progress,” Kallas wrote on X.

In Damascus, Tajani also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hassan al-Shaibaniwho announced that he would soon make his first official tour in Europe.

Al-Shaibani has already visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan since the beginning of the month.

Al-Shaibani said he welcomed Tajani’s emphasis on sanctions.

“We share his opinion that the reasons for imposing them no longer exist, and it could be an obstacle to encourage the return of refugees from outside Syria,” he said.

More than half a million people have been killed in Syria’s war, which has also devastated the economy and forced millions to flee their homes, including in Europe.