Italy appoints ambassador to Syria as Europe races for engagement with Damascus
The Italian government has resumed its diplomatic relations with Syria by appointing an ambassador to the Arab country as more European countries race to amend their ties with Damascus after a decade-long hiatus.
Stefano Ravagnan, who is currently the Italian foreign ministry’s special envoy for Syria, was named as the ambassador, more than 12 years after Italy withdrew its ambassador due to what Rome claimed to be Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown on protesters.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the move, which came a few days after eight EU countries called on the bloc in a letter to “review and assess” its policy in Syria, is designed “to turn a spotlight” on the Arab country.
“Our goal is a more active, outcome-driven, and operational Syria policy… This would allow us to increase our political leverage [and] the effectiveness of our humanitarian assistance,” said the foreign ministers of Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Czech, Slovakia, Slovenia and Italy in the letter sent to the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.
The letter highlighted “the humanitarian situation” in Syria, which it said had “further deteriorated” as the country’s economy was “in shambles.”
The ministers also suggested setting up an EU envoy to Syria, who would be assigned to re-engage with Syria’s ambassador to Brussels and coordinate with both Syrian and regional actors.
Other suggestions included starting a strategic exchange with Arab partners and dealing with the negative effects of EU sanctions that have been imposed against Assad’s government.
Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary and Czechia are the only European countries that have operating embassies in Syria.
The Italian government recalled its diplomats from Syria in 2012 and suspended its diplomatic activities there as Damascus was fighting foreign-backed militants wreaking havoc across the Arab country.
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