(AFP) – Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Shallah told visiting Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday that he was ready to stop “illegal immigration” to Europe, European Diplomacy said. the official said.
“Mr Sharaa said he was ready to make these two important commitments for Italy: to stop illegal immigration (and) to fight drug traffickers,” said Tajani, who had visited neighboring Syria earlier in the day. said in the Lebanese capital.
“I don't want the Mediterranean to remain a graveyard of migrants. We want it to become a sea of growth and trade,” he added.
Tajani's visit to Damascus was the latest such trip by a European diplomat since Islamist-led rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad in early December.
He had previously mentioned easing sanctions imposed on Syria under Assad.
“Sanctions must never affect the Syrian people,” he said after meeting with Syria's Assad al-Shaibani in Damascus.
“They were imposed because there was a different administration. It's important to openly discuss the changed situation.”
Western countries, including the United States and the European Union, have imposed sanctions on the Assad regime for its brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011 that sparked a civil war.
More than 13 years of conflict has killed more than 500,000 people, destroyed the economy and forced millions to flee their homelands, including in Europe.
Tajani arrived in Damascus on Thursday after hosting talks with European countries and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rome, where the Italian diplomat said he was seeking a “stable and united Syria”.
Early Friday, the European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kalas, said the 27-nation member state would begin lifting sanctions if Syria's new ruler takes steps to form an inclusive government that protects minorities. He said it was possible.
“If there is visible progress, the EU could gradually ease sanctions,” Karas wrote about X.
Mr. Shaibani said he welcomed Mr. Tajani's stated focus on sanctions.
“We agree with him that there is no longer any reason to impose them and that they could become an obstacle to encourage the return of refugees from outside Syria,” Shaibani said.
Shaibani added that he would soon begin a tour to “many European countries.”
Shaibani has already visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan since the beginning of this month.
Tajani previously toured the landmark Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
He described the nearly 1,300-year-old mosque as “one of the most beautiful mosques” in the world.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault and German Foreign Minister Annalena Bourbock visited Damascus last week.
