Brussels - Rome: Europe and the Arabs
A European statement issued in Brussels said that the European Union's foreign policy coordinator, Kaja Malas, will travel to Rome, Italy, on January 9-10 to participate in the five-party meeting on Syria.
According to the statement, the meeting, hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, will be held in the evening at Villa Madama, where Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, will join her counterparts from France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The meeting will focus on coordinating efforts to help Syria address the enormous challenges facing the Syrian Interim Government and Syrian society in the post-Assad transitional phase. The European Union will reaffirm the importance of ensuring effective and efficient inclusiveness, protecting minority rights, promoting the rule of law, accountability, justice and ensuring Syria's territorial integrity, as essential conditions for achieving reconciliation and sustainable peace in the country. The European Union remains ready to support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process, with the support of the United Nations.
The statement concluded by saying, "Kaya Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy coordinator, will meet with the Prime Minister of Italy, Mrs. Giorgia Meloni, and the Minister of Defense, Mr. Guido Crosetto.