A statement of the Italian Foreign Ministry, released on its official website, informs that the meeting, chaired by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, will also be attended by Kaja Kallas, the current representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union (EU).

Tajani said: “I promoted this meeting on the eve of my mission in Syria to take stock of the situation in the country a month after the fall of the regime,” referring to the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad at the beginning of December last year by forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

At the meeting on Thursday, the five foreign ministers will evaluate the Transitional Government’s action in Syria and its position regarding the National Dialogue Conference and the drafting of a new Constitution announced by the de facto authorities.

The Italian foreign minister stressed the importance that his government attaches to maintaining “close coordination between the ministers of the Quintet to ensure a peaceful and inclusive transition that guarantees social, religious, and political rights” in Syria “in line with the mediation of the United Nations.”

During the meeting, the lifting of sanctions imposed against the previous government in Syria will be evaluated as well as the economic support for the current authorities and the possible return of Syrian refugees to their country, among other issues.

The Italian foreign minister assured that his government “has an open attitude towards the new direction initiated in Syria,” stressing the need to preserve territorial integrity, and to maintain “a constructive attitude of the new de facto authorities towards all neighboring countries and at the regional level.”

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