(Adnkronos) – Italy’s government is ready to hold talks with Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which earlier this month ousted Syria’s former dictator Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia after nearly 25 years in power.
“From what we have seen happening in Syria in the space of a few days, the fall of the Assad regime is good news, rightly celebrated by the Syrian population after more than a decade of civil war,” Meloni told MPs.
“The rebel forces that have established themselves are heterogeneous, with potentially conflicting interests. There is obviously concern for the future of the nation,” Meloni added.
Italy is the only G7 member whose embassy in Damascus is open and it is ready to dialogue with Syria’s new leadership, “obviously evaluating and acting in conjunction with international and European partners,” Meloni said.
The first signs from HTS “seem encouraging”, said Meloni. But she urged “maximum caution” in dealing with the group, which the United States still designates a terrorist organisation.
“Words must be followed by deeds, and we will judge the new Syrian authorities on the facts…there can be no room for new terrorist nuclei,” Meloni underlined.
Meloni was briefing Italy’s parliament ahead of a European leaders’ summit in Brussels in Thursday.
The Middle East, EU humanitarian aid for Palestinians and other vulnerable people in the region, Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, and a strategic debate on the bloc’s global role are on Thursday’s summit agenda.
