Italy is ready to organize evacuations
from Syria as Turkish-backed and anti-Assad Islamist rebels make
major advances towards Damascus, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani
said after speaking remotely with Italian ambassadors in the
Middle East, Moscow and the Holy See Saturday.
"The embassy is ready to organize evacuations, we already have
requests, the Government is ready to do what is necessary both
with national and UN initiatives for the safe exit of citizens",
said Tajani at the end of the meeting on the Syrian crisis at
the Farnesina Crisis Unit from where the minister connected with
all the Italian ambassadors in the Region.
"We will ensure that all those who want to leave Syria can do
so", he added without providing details on the evacuation plans.
Tajani said he had apprised Premier Giorgia Meloni of the
situation in the Middle Eastern country, which has been ripped
apart by warring factions for nearly 14 years, spawning
successive refugee crises.
"I informed the Prime Minister in detail about the evolution of
the situation in Syria and in the entire area at the end of the
meeting with all the Italian ambassadors, starting with the one
in Syria, and then also with the one in Turkey and Moscow",
which was useful "to have an overall assessment of what is
happening also from a political point of view", said Tajani,
adding that "obviously the first concern is to protect the
safety of the 300 fellow citizens who live in Syria".
The situation of Italians in Syria is currently under control,
Tajani stressed.
"At the moment there are no worries," for Italian citizens in
Syria, said Tajani, who is also deputy premier and leader of the
centre-right post Berlusconi Forza Italia (FI) party.
"Some have managed to leave the country. However, all are in
contact with our Embassy in Damascus. "The situation of our
fellow citizens is under control."
Tajani was speaking after having remotely huddled at the foreign
ministry in Rome with ambassadors from the Middle Eastern region
as well as Moscow and the Holy See to discuss political and
diplomatic initiatives to bring about a cessation of hostilities
in Syria.
Ambassadors in Damascus, Doha, Tel Aviv, Amman, Beirut, Tehran,
Baghdad, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Riyadh, Ankara, Moscow and the Holy
See hooked up to the Farnesina to talk with Tajani.
The evacuation of religious as well as Italians from Syria was
also discussed.
Tajani also said: "The objective we support is the political,
non-military solution that allows us to guarantee peace and
stability in Syria, which is an important part of stability in
the Middle East.
"We trust and support the ongoing discussions in Doha and we
hope that from that meeting an agreement can be found with a
political solution, which we encourage all parties to pursue".
On the crisis in Syria, Tajani added, there is also "constant
contact" between the G7 partners.
"We ask the parties in conflict first of all to preserve the
civilian population. And that the safety of all minorities be
guaranteed, starting
with the Christian one.
"I spoke with the Nuncio in Damascus and reiterated our
commitment, with direct requests to the Turkish minister and
through our embassy in Moscow and the United Nations to the
Russian Federation", Tajani said.
Syrian rebels announced that they have taken control of the city
of Sanmin in the Daraa countryside, located about 20 km south of
the capital Damascus.
Fighting is ongoing inside the city of Homs.
The capital remains their objective.
And Syrian troops fleeing the advance of jihadist insurgents are
crossing the border and entering Iraq, a security source in
Baghdad said.
There is no news on President Bashar al-Assad, meanwhile.
"Perhaps he is already abroad", some media wrote.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
