ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Many Italians wish for greater autonomy for the Kurds in Syria as it could lead to greater stability in the Middle East, said a top Italian official earlier this week.
“It's clear that from a Western perspective, it would be absolutely important for Syria to develop into a federal state where the various territories, various ethnicities present, various cultures, would find their representation, their valorization, and their autonomy. On this, we obviously think particularly of that part of Kurdistan today within the borders of New Syria,” said Alessandro Giglio Vigna, Chairman of the EU Policies Committee representing Italy.
He highlighted the Kurds’ fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), stating that the West cannot forget this and that the Italians hope for autonomy for the Kurds in Syria just like in Iraq.
“What we hope for, as Italian parliamentarians, what the majority of Parliament, the majority of Italian institutions hope for - that like what happens today in Iraq where there is a strong regional authority, an important Kurdish regional authority with governing capacity, legislative capacity over that territory, this would also happen on the Syrian side, also for the Syrian Kurds,” he said, emphasizing the importance of a federal system in the new Syria.
He added, “This would be extremely important, obviously important for the Kurds, fundamental for Syrian Kurds, but would also be important for the stabilization of that area, for the stabilization of the Middle East area.”
Rome and Erbil enjoy good ties and last year, Rome upgraded its consulate in Erbil to a consulate general.
Italy is also a member of the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), which was formed by the United States in 2014 when the group seized control of a swath of Iraqi and Syrian land.
