ROME: Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, announced that he will travel to Syria on Friday to unveil an initial development aid package for the country, which has been devastated by years of conflict.
Tajani’s trip comes after the visits by his French and German counterparts to the Syrian capital last week to meet Syria’s new rulers after the ouster of Bashar Assad’s regime in a lightning offensive last month.
“It is essential to preserve territorial integrity and prevent (Syria’s) territory from being exploited by terrorist organizations and hostile actors,” Tajani told parliament.
Western nations have been cautiously hoping for greater stability in Syria.
Tajani did not elaborate any details about what he called a “first package of aid for cooperation and development.”
The foreign minister said he would push Syria’s transitional government to pursue an “inclusive political process” that “recognises and enhances the role of Christians as citizens with full rights.”
The new leader of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa, had said his country is exhausted by war and is not a threat to its neighbours or the West. He also called on Western nations to lift the international sanctions imposed on the country.
The UN migration agency on Thursday expanded an aid appeal for Syria to $ 73.2 million to help more than 1.1 million people across the country over the coming six months.
International Organization for Migration (IOM) in a statement said the appeal is being made as Syria embarks on a transition period.
