Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani has said Italians in Syria are not in danger.
"There are no dangers for our compatriots, also because rebels
have clearly said they will not touch and will not conduct
hostile operations against civilians, and in particular against
Italians and Christians", Tajani explained.
The foreign minister went on to say that a group of Italians is
scheduled to leave Aleppo for Damascus on Sunday with a UN
convoy.
Rebels have seized Syria's second-largest city as part of an
offensive, which began earlier this week, marking the most
significant fighting in Syria's civil war in recent years.
Meanwhile other Italian citizens, including members of families
with dual citizenship and clerics, intend to stay, Tajani said.
Overall, some 300 Italians are currently in the country,
including 120 in Aleppo.
Roughly 50 families have members with dual Italian-Syrian
citizenship while very few Italian Church members have chosen to
stay, Tajani explained, adding that the Italian embassy in
Damascus, together with the foreign ministry's crisis unit, are
monitoring the situation to help Italians intending to leave
Aleppo as part of the UN-led evacuation.
And Tajani also spoke about the impact of ongoing fighting in
the country saying "the real risk for us is - due to this new
civil war - a migratory collapse".
"This is why we have decided to reopen our embassy and send an
ambassador (Stefano Ravagnan) who is now punctually working with
ambassadors from other EU countries.
The foreign minister said a meeting is scheduled to be held
between EU ambassadors at Italy's embassy in Damascus.
"Meanwhile, we are working to deal with the humanitarian crisis
and to safely bring all our compatriots to Damascus", he added.
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