FM: Italy to appoint ambassador to Syria after 10 years

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said that Italy decided to appoint an ambassador to Syria, marking the first G7 nation to re-establish its diplomatic mission in Damascus since the civil war began.

"This move is to turn a spotlight on the country," Tajani said, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Italy had recalled all staff from its embassy in Damascus in 2012, suspending diplomatic activity to protest "the unacceptable violence" of Bashar Al-Assad's government against its own citizens.

Al-Assad now controls most of Syria, with significant support from Iran and Russia, who helped him suppress opposition groups. The conflict, which began 13 years ago, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of refugees fleeing to neighbouring countries and Europe.

Stefano Ravagnan, currently the foreign ministry’s special envoy for Syria, has been named the new ambassador. He is expected to assume his post shortly, Tajani confirmed.

Italy and seven other EU states recently urged the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, to take a more active role in addressing the situation in Syria. The letter emphasized the ongoing exodus of Syrians, which exacerbates the strain on neighboring countries amid heightened regional tensions and the risk of new refugee waves.

Alongside Italy, the letter was signed by Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, and Slovakia. It highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in Syria, noting the country's economy is in shambles.

“Borrell has tasked the European External Action Service with studying potential actions,” said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. He added that the appointment of a new ambassador aligns with Italy’s call to Borrell to “turn the spotlight on Syria.”

Currently, six EU embassies are operational in Damascus, representing Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. None of Italy’s G7 partners—the United States, Japan, Britain, Canada, France, or Germany—have reinstated ambassadors to Syria.

Syria and Italy have a long history of diplomatic relations that date back to the establishment of formal ties in the mid-20th century. Over the years, the relationship between the two countries has been characterized by cooperation in various fields including trade, culture, and politics. Italy, as a member of the European Union and NATO, has often played a role in broader Western engagement with Syria.

Before the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, Syria and Italy enjoyed a relatively stable and cooperative relationship. Italy was one of Syria’s important European trading partners, with Italian companies involved in various sectors such as construction, energy, and machinery.

The outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011 severely strained the relationship between Syria and Italy. In response to the Assad regime's violent crackdown on protesters and the ensuing humanitarian crisis, Italy, along with other EU countries, imposed sanctions on Syria and suspended diplomatic activities. In 2012, Italy recalled its ambassador and closed its embassy in Damascus to protest against the Syrian government's actions.