Italy could officially recognize Syrian opposition coalition

The Italian government hinted at the possibility of officially recognizing the Syrian opposition coalition on the eve of the Friends of Syria's group meeting at Morocco's Marrakech on Wednesday. "The Italian government's decision of recognizing Syrian opposition coalition, which was born in Doha last month, may be announced in the coming hours," said the Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Tteresa during a briefing before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives. Tteresa, who stressed the significance of the meeting of Friends of Syria's meeting to be held in Morocco on Wednesday, said that "the new President of the coalition Moath Al-Khatib is responsive with the political solution to the crisis even through negotiations open to the participation of Alawite officials close to the regime." The Italian Foreign Minister rushed immediately after the birth of the coalition in Doha to contact Moath Al-Khatib and Deputy Riad Seif to congratulate them on their crucial role in unifying the ranks of the opposition strategy, stressing Italy's intention to strengthen its political and economic support for the forces that oppose the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad. Rome was at the forefront of the European capitals that have provided strong and open support to the Syrian National Council that it recognized and hosted some of its meetings and negotiations. The Italian Foreign Minister also maintained his strong contacts with the Opposition Syrian National Council Chairmen Burhan Ghalioun and Abdulbasit Sieda who he met late September