Amb. Fontana, Assad regime collapse unexpected for Iraq

(ANSA) - ROMA, 16 DIC - What happened in Syria, with the collapse of the Assad regime, was "a thunderbolt" for Iraq, and now, in the country, "as the Iraqi government itself has acknowledged, there is fear of possible negative effects". This was said by the Italian ambassador in Baghdad, Niccolò Fontana, on the sidelines of the 17th edition of the States General of Diplomacy being held at the Farnesina.
    "The strength of the Iraqi government," the ambassador noted, "is its stability, and also what it has done to improve the socio-economic condition of the population. But, if further outbreaks of tension were to be generated, outside or inside the country, this would damage the work of the government'. Baghdad, therefore, Fontana emphasised, is focusing on 'dialogue with the various regional actors', and the prime minister, Al Sudani, 'is very active, even with diplomatic missions in neighbouring countries, most recently in Jordan, to find a sort of regional balance'.