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Italian President Urges Syria to Continue Peace Efforts
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi said Sunday that Syria had lost a great leader with the death of President Hafez al-Assad, and urged the country to press on with peace efforts launched by Assad.
"It was with great sadness that I learnt of the death of President Hafez al-Assad," Ciampi said in a message of condolences.
"Syria has lost a statesman who knew how to guide it through difficult trials and guarantee stability. The Arab world and the international community have lost a wise and authoritative leader," he said.
"I sincerely hope that Syria will stick to the path taken by President Assad of consolidating dialogue, achieving peace in the Middle East, and laying the groundwork for future progress and close collaboration between all Mediterranean nations," the president said.
He said that Italy would continue to do its utmost to help in achieving these aims, also within a European Union ambit.
"I would like to express my sincere condolences and those of the Italian people, and our solidarity with the family of President Assad and the Syrian people," Ciampi said.
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