Italian Foreign Minister and Secretary Clinton Discuss Syria and the Middle East

In remarks made with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her alarm at the situation in Syria and called for an immediate end to the use of violence stating that “we have to show the Syrian Government that there are consequences for this brutal crackdown that has been imposed on the Syrian people.”  Minister Frattini also called for an end to the violence and for the establishment of a dialogue with those calling for reform.  He also stated that the European countries will also impose sanctions on Syria, which  will include the suspension of the EU agreement with Syria for framework agreement and association and cooperation, in addition to a travel ban.  He also noted that in his meeting with Clinton they discussed the importance of guaranteeing stability in Lebanon and expressed concerns on the growing influence of Iran in the region.

Speaking on Libya, Secretary Clinton stated that the administration is “looking for the most effective ways to deliver financial assistance” and support to the Libyan Transitional National Council.  She also reiterated the U.S.’s commitment to Pakistan and stated that the she believed the protests in the Middle East and North Africa are a clear rejection of Osama bin Laden‘s ideology.