Italy appoints ambassador to Syria
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani attends a meeting with G7 foreign ministers during NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington, U.S., July 11, 2024. (Photo via REUTERS by Ken Cedeno)
Italy appointed an ambassador to Syria, becoming the first G7 nation to reestablish its diplomatic presence in Damascus since the onset of the Syrian civil war.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the decision on Friday, emphasizing Italy’s intention to “turn a spotlight” on the war-torn country.
Diplomatic staff recalled in 2012
In 2012, Italy recalled its entire diplomatic staff from Damascus and suspended its diplomatic activities in Syria to protest the “unacceptable violence” perpetrated by the government of Bashar Assad against Syrian citizens. The civil war, which erupted 13 years ago, has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
Stefano Ravagnan, who currently serves as the Foreign Ministry’s Special Envoy for Syria, has been named the new ambassador. Ravagnan is set to take up his post shortly, according to Tajani.
EU states urge greater involvement
On July 22, Italy, alongside seven other EU states, sent a letter to Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, urging the EU to play a more proactive role in Syria. The letter was signed by Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, and Slovakia.
“Syrians continue to leave in large numbers, putting additional strain on neighboring countries, at a time when regional tensions are high, risking new refugee waves,” the letter stated.
As of now, six EU embassies remain operational in Damascus: Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. However, none of Italy’s G7 counterparts – the United States, Japan, Britain, Canada, France, or Germany – have reinstated their ambassadors to Syria.
