US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Rome yesterday, where today he will participate in a ministerial meeting on Syria. At 18 pm he will meet Prime Minister Mario Monti at Palazzo Chigi.
In addition to Kerry, the leaders of the Coalition of opponents, led by Moaz al Khatib and considered by the West as the only legitimate spokesperson for Assad's opponents, and the 11 "Friends of Syria" countries will meet in the capital at Villa Madama.
Kerry will leave Rome on Friday morning headed for Ankara, the fifth leg of the "Listening Tour" (after London, Berlin, Paris and Rome), the "listening journey", i.e. his first overseas mission, which will then continue to Cairo, Ryadh , Abu Dhabi and Doha.
Washington's intention is to "accelerate" the political transition in Syria: "We are examining the way forward," Kerry said during the French leg of his European tour.
According to Reuters, quoting sources within the Obama administration, the United States would be ready to offer the rebels food and medicines, while continuing not to offer weapons. However, according to the Washington Post, it is possible that a decision is made to send civilian and military equipment, such as bulletproof vests, armored vehicles and means of communication.
At the meeting in the capital, said one of the opposition spokesmen, Riad Seif, the movement will explicitly ask for "qualitative military support" to arrive at a "political solution from a position of strength".
