LOC20:19
17:19 GMT
ROME, Dec 10 (KUNA) -- Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi said Saturday
his government sought to toughen international sanctions against the Syrian
regime.
Italy will continue its efforts within the UN to issue a new Security
Council resolution "explaining for everyone the mechanism of economic pressure
on the (Syrian) regime, Terzi said during a meeting of the opposition Syrian
National Council (SNC), headed by Burhan Ghalyoun.
Italy is determined to impose stricter sanctions against Syrian President
Bashar Al-Assad and his aides," he said.
Opening a humanitarian passage in Syria "is a complicated problem in front
of the force deployed by the regime," added Terzi.
Terzi, meanwhile, noted possibility of deploying Arab League observers in
Syria to pave way for stability in some tense areas in order to guarantee
delivery of relief supplies.
He said Italy would intensify its contacts with SNC which grouped "an
important segment" of the Syrian opposition.
Italy's priority is to halt violence and restoration of stability in Syria,
said Terzi, citing Italian assistance to Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon
and Turkey.
Ghalyoun said SNC would continue cooperation with the Italian government in
order to provide humanitarian, medical and financial assistance to the Syrian
people.
He said up to 10,000 people were killed during nine months of violence in
Syria, in addition to 20,000 missing and between 60,000-70,000 detainees. "The
international community, Italy, Europe, the US and the Arab League can do more
to persuade Russia which hinders any possibility for international sanctions
against the regime."
Ghalyoun denied that a civil war was happening in Syria "but a dictator
regime seeking to oppress its people by placing his sects against each other."
Al-Assad "is the head of state and commander of armed forces and has full
authorities ... and distancing himself from responsibility means his admission
of inability to rule," he said. (end)
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