G7 meeting: US allies rule out military solution on Syria Published April 11, 2017 Share Tweet A Syrian woman, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, reacts as she stands with her children in Aleppo’s Fardos neighbourhood on December 13, 2016, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters (Picture: Getty) Germany and Italy stressed Tuesday the need for a political solution in Syria, where the U.S. has intervened with missile strikes in response to a chemical weapons attack on civilians. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7), which comprises the U.S., Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and Canada, discussed the crisis with representatives from the European Union and several Middle Eastern countries. “We do not believe that the military solution is the right one,” said Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, who hosted the talks also involving ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan. The ministers, meeting in the Tuscan town of Lucca, agreed that “Russia must not be isolated and, on the contrary, must insofar as possible be involved in the political transition process in Syria,” Alfano added. While the White House said Monday the U.S. was ready to repeat strikes against Syrian targets to prevent the use of chemical weapons, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson focused on diplomacy in talks with partners, Germany said. “Tillerson explicitly said they are seeking a non-violent, non-military way,” German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters, praising his U.S. counterpart for taking “a very realistic and clear stance.” The U.S. bombing of Syrian airfield on April 7 in response to the attack in the city of Khan Sheikhoun has confounded expectations that Donald Trump would be an isolationist president, and soured his relations with Russia. Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has condemned US actions as reckless and counterproductive. Iran, another main backer of the regime in Damascus, has expressed similar concerns. The G7 was attempting to put up a united front on Syria ahead of Tillerson’s Wednesday visit to Moscow. Calls Britain made on Monday to threaten Syria and Russia with further sanctions did not seem to make headway. Nevertheless, Gabriel urged Moscow to reconsider its support for al-Assad. “I believe that it is almost inconceivable that Russia wants to stand on the side of such a murderous regime as that of Bashar al-Assad for the long haul,” he said. North Korea’s illegal nuclear programme and the US decision to send warships to the Korean peninsula, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Libya, the threat from terrorism and migration were also on the agenda. The Lucca talks were also laying the ground for next month’s G7 summit in Taormina, Sicily, the first to be attended by Trump. NAN Share Tweet SYRIA Pope begs for immediate ceasefire in Syria Syria Bombing: How Do Tomahawk Missiles Work? Five ISIS leaders killed in Iraq, Syria Bombs rain down as Syria declares ceasefire over Shocking video of skeletal children in besieged Mosul Iranian ex-general killed fighting jihadists in Syria Turkey welcomes US Syria strike, urges no-fly zone Woman, children found dead in freezer Sponsored Links You May Like How To Buy a U.S Mega Millions Lottery Ticket From Your Mobile? 24lottos 7 Investments That'll Help Plan For The Future Womens Article Thanks to This site, You Can Now Play the USA Lottery 24lottos Top 6 High Salary Clean Energy Jobs That Are In Demand Now WomensArticle.com Love Lottery? Play To the USA Mega Millions Online! 24lottos Amazon and Google Change the R&D Race Bloomberg Scott Walker Moves To Kill A Century-Old Nature Magazine, And Readers Are Furious Huffington Post Nathan Lyon's second-innings problems in Asia ESPN Cricinfo Panera to be bought by JAB Holdings for more than $7 billion USA Today Earn Unlimited REWARDS with the Kroger REWARDS Visa BargainBriana Terrorists use the Dark Web to hide USA Today A Volcanic Explosion in Italy Injured 10 People Time by Taboola TRENDING Caitlyn Jenner finally becomes a woman BREAKING: FRSC recalls sector commander, officers who cut female officials’ hair Lagos matron disappears after calling daughter Ondo wedding: Bride, groom dated seven years – Family FRSC boss cuts hair of female officials for breaching dress code punchng.com © 1971-2017 The Punch newspaper