Italy recalls envoy in Syrian protest
Source: Agencies |
August 3, 2011, Wednesday
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ITALY recalled its ambassador to Syria yesterday to protest against the "unacceptable repression" of anti-government protests, and it urged other European nations to do the same.
Italy is the first European Union country to withdraw its ambassador, although the EU has been tightening sanctions and imposing asset freezes and travel bans on military and government officials.
Italian Foreign Ministry under-secretary Stefania Craxi said Rome recalled its envoy "to send a strong signal of condemnation for the unacceptable repression" by the Syrian government, which launched a new push against protesters as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych "dismissed" his nation's ambassador to Syria, according to a statement on his website. But the one-sentence communique did not specify the reason for the dismissal.
In July, the Qatari embassy in Damascus suspended its Syrian operations and the ambassador left the country, but the impetus for that move came from protests outside the embassy against broadcaster Al-Jazeera's coverage of the Syrian uprising. Al-Jazeera is based in Qatar.
Syria accuses Al-Jazeera and other media of incitement and fabrication in their coverage of the protests.
Rome's appeal to fellow EU nations was not immediately heeded. Belgium, the UK, Denmark, Spain and Sweden have no similar plans. France also signaled no move is imminent, suggesting Rome did not send its proposals through official diplomatic channels. There was no EU-wide directive to recall envoys from Damascus, according to officials in Brussels.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said tougher EU sanctions were sending a "clear and unambiguous" message.
He added: "In the absence of an end to the senseless violence and a genuine process of political reform, we will continue to pursue further EU sanctions." Without change, he said, "President Assad and those around him will find themselves isolated internationally and discredited within Syria."
In Rome, Craxi briefed lawmakers on the Syrian situation, saying Assad appeared "incapable" of handling the situation and implementing the reforms both his citizens and the international community are demanding, according to the Ansa news agency.
Rome will also suspend cooperative programs with Damascus, save for aid destined to Iraqi refugees and other humanitarian assistance, Craxi said. The programs have been worth a total of 50 million euros (US$70 million) for the past three years, according to the Italian Foreign Ministry.
On Monday, Syrian forces shelled the city of Hama for a second day and fired at worshippers heading to Ramadan prayers. Violence on Sunday left 74 people dead throughout the country, 55 of them from Hama and nearby, according to rights groups.
Italy is the first European Union country to withdraw its ambassador, although the EU has been tightening sanctions and imposing asset freezes and travel bans on military and government officials.
Italian Foreign Ministry under-secretary Stefania Craxi said Rome recalled its envoy "to send a strong signal of condemnation for the unacceptable repression" by the Syrian government, which launched a new push against protesters as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych "dismissed" his nation's ambassador to Syria, according to a statement on his website. But the one-sentence communique did not specify the reason for the dismissal.
In July, the Qatari embassy in Damascus suspended its Syrian operations and the ambassador left the country, but the impetus for that move came from protests outside the embassy against broadcaster Al-Jazeera's coverage of the Syrian uprising. Al-Jazeera is based in Qatar.
Syria accuses Al-Jazeera and other media of incitement and fabrication in their coverage of the protests.
Rome's appeal to fellow EU nations was not immediately heeded. Belgium, the UK, Denmark, Spain and Sweden have no similar plans. France also signaled no move is imminent, suggesting Rome did not send its proposals through official diplomatic channels. There was no EU-wide directive to recall envoys from Damascus, according to officials in Brussels.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said tougher EU sanctions were sending a "clear and unambiguous" message.
He added: "In the absence of an end to the senseless violence and a genuine process of political reform, we will continue to pursue further EU sanctions." Without change, he said, "President Assad and those around him will find themselves isolated internationally and discredited within Syria."
In Rome, Craxi briefed lawmakers on the Syrian situation, saying Assad appeared "incapable" of handling the situation and implementing the reforms both his citizens and the international community are demanding, according to the Ansa news agency.
Rome will also suspend cooperative programs with Damascus, save for aid destined to Iraqi refugees and other humanitarian assistance, Craxi said. The programs have been worth a total of 50 million euros (US$70 million) for the past three years, according to the Italian Foreign Ministry.
On Monday, Syrian forces shelled the city of Hama for a second day and fired at worshippers heading to Ramadan prayers. Violence on Sunday left 74 people dead throughout the country, 55 of them from Hama and nearby, according to rights groups.
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