Italy withdraws from UN group in preparation for normalization with the Assad regime
Italy has withdrawn from the Geneva Central United Nations Group to monitor respect for human rights in Syria, according to Italian sources.
The withdrawal comes in the light of a new step within a diplomatic normalization process with the Assad regime, according to the sources.
The Italian newspaper Il Folio confirmed that Italy withdrew from the group and it did not appear among the countries that ratified on the bill during the meetings of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The newspaper made it clear in its report last Friday that the decision of withdrawal from the group had been circulated for a while, and it has become official now.
According to the newspaper, the rapprochement process has accelerated in the recent months with a decision made by Italy, which is creating safe areas inside Syria to return the Syrian immigrants who fled to Europe.
The newspaper confirmed that the head of the Italy’s Foreign Security Service, Gianni Caravelli, visited Damascus, May 28, and met with the head of the General Intelligence Department, Hossam Louqa, and the head of the Assad regime, Bashar al-Assad himself.
The Communications Director of the Syria Human Rights Campaign, Raneem Ahmed, said that the Italian government’s decision “is shameful and proves once again that Italy has no interest in ensuring respect for human rights and international law.”
She added that any step taken to shake hands with the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad represents a violation of the rulings issued by either the European courts or the International Court of Justice.”
