Italy says U.N., Russia must be central to negotiated solution in Syria

Record ID: 559780

  • Title: Italy says U.N., Russia must be central to negotiated solution in Syria
  • Date: 7th April 2017
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) MEDIA GATHERED IN FRONT OF PODIUM FOR NEWS BRIEFING ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER PAOLO GENTILONI ARRIVING FOR NEWS BRIEFING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER PAOLO GENTILONI SAYING: "The United States has defined its (strike) action as punctual, limited action and not as a stage in a process of military escalation. Italy has always been convinced that a durable solution to the Syrian crisis must be found through negotiations. This has always been and remains to be our position. Negotiation that includes the forces of the regime and the opposition, overseen by the U.N., with a decisive and constructive role for Russia." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER PAOLO GENTILONI SAYING: "I am convinced that last night's (military) action should not obstruct but accelerate the chances of political negotiations for a durable solution, the only serious antidote to threats that are still present in that area of terrorism. Thank you." GENTILONI LEAVING MEDIA GENTILONI EXITING ROOM
  • Embargoed: 21st April 2017 11:18
  • Keywords: Syria Italy Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni U.S. air strike Russia United Nations
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • City: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016BEHNPJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Syrian conflict needs to be resolved through negotiations involving government and opposition forces, Russia and the United Nations, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Friday (April 7).
    Italy's foreign minister Angelino Alfano earlier gave his backing to a U.S. air strike against a Syrian airfield on Friday, saying it was a suitable response to Syrian aggression and a deterrent against the use of chemical weapons by its leader Bashar al-Assad.
    Gentiloni, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven industrialised nations, told reporters the "limited" strike should not be seen as a stage in a process of military escalation.
    The conflict in Syria must be resolved by "negotiation that includes the forces of the regime and the opposition, overseen by the U.N., with a decisive and constructive role for Russia," Gentiloni said.
    He added that he had recently spoken to the leaders of France and Germany and this position was shared by both of them.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register