Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani visited Syria today, Friday, January 10, and met with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shibani, and the head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Tajani stated via “X” after the meeting, “From today, we are giving life to a new path in political, diplomatic, and friendship relations between Italy and Syria.”

He expressed his country’s willingness to support the economic and social reactivation of a Mediterranean country rich in history and relations with Italy, referring to Syria.

During a joint press conference between the Syrian and Italian Foreign Ministers, the two ministers called for lifting sanctions on Syria. Al-Shibani reiterated the call to lift them, considering that their continuation might hinder the return of refugees and could obstruct economic recovery that would open the door for regional parties to invest in Syria, particularly in vital sectors.

He also affirmed Damascus’ commitment to principles and values that promote freedom for all Syrians, regardless of their sectarian, ethnic, or religious affiliations, under the rule of law and citizenship, emphasizing that ensuring these rights is a fundamental pillar for Syria’s unity and stability, which positively reflects on the region.

Al-Shibani announced that he would head a high-level Syrian delegation for a visit including several European countries to enhance partnership and cooperation in all fields, simultaneously inviting global delegations and companies to launch more initiatives and enterprises on Syrian soil.

For his part, the Italian Foreign Minister called for maintaining the unity of Syrian territories and the return of Syrians to their country, pointing to the right of Syrians to live dignified lives, and expressed his country’s determination to develop economic cooperation with Syria in areas such as energy, agriculture, and scientific cooperation between universities.

The Italian minister stated that he focused with the Syrian side on combating dangerous activities, illegal immigration, and drug trafficking, and he conveyed messages from Italian companies intending to invest in Syria.

He expressed his country’s desire to be a natural bridge between Syria and the European Union, noting that this role has begun during a meeting among the five countries concerned with the Syrian issue: Italy, France, Britain, Germany, and the United States and the European Union.

During his remarks on the necessity of lifting sanctions, Tajani noted that they were imposed on a regime that has become ousted and should not affect the Syrian people, reiterating the call for lifting the sanctions.

On Thursday, foreign ministers from the US, Italy, and Britain, along with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, the Vice-President of the European Commission, the French Director for the Middle East and North Africa Anne Grillo, and the German political director Günter Sutter met to discuss the situation in Syria.

The officials discussed the situation in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime, as reported by the US State Department, and the available pathways to help Syrians seize the opportunity to build a better future.