Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he will travel to Syria on Friday to encourage the country's transition following the ouster of President Bashar Assad by Islamist insurgents, and said Europe should review its sanctions on Damascus now that the political situation has changed.

Italy’s foreign minister said Thursday that coordination between partners is a “strategic” element to achieve peace and stability in Syria. Antonio Tajani made the remarks after holding a meeting of the Quint group in Italy ahead of his trip to the Syrian capital Damascus.

Italy said it is prepared to make proposals on private investments in health care for Syrians, and is seeking to coordinate several post-Assad initiatives.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met Syria's new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus Friday, state media said, in the latest such visit from a European diplomat since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

By bnm Gulf bureau Syria's new administration head Ahmad al-Sharaa met Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on January 10, as the country seeks to rebuild international ties, local Al Watan reported.

Italy should lead international efforts to lift sanctions on Syria after the Assad regime fell to Islamist-led rebels a month ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Premier Giorgia Meloni in a phonecall Thursday,