Italy has sent Ambassador Stefano Ravagnan to Syria

Italy has sent a diplomatic mission to Syria, headed by Ambassador Stefano Ravagnan. This was announced on November 20 by the country's Foreign Ministry on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

"I embark on my duties in Damascus with enthusiasm, aware of the complexity of the crisis but knowing the contribution Italy can offer to the Syrian people," the diplomat was quoted as saying.

He was previously special envoy for the Syrian crisis under the Italian Foreign Ministry and the US-led anti-terrorism coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia) terrorist group.

In 2012, Italy announced the suspension of its embassy in Damascus and recalled diplomatic staff for security reasons. According to Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, the diplomatic mission was never closed, but there were no diplomats there and the Charge d'Affaires was in Beirut. It was also reported that some European states, including Italy, Austria, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and others, had approached the European Union's representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell, with a proposal to revise the strategy towards Syria in order to create conditions for the return of refugees.