(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 8 - Some 15 Italian citizens have crossed the border from Syria into Lebanon, others went to Jordan, and at the moment no others want to leave the country where pro-Turkish rebels have overthrown Bashar al-Assad's brutal regime, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told a press conference after a meeting of the foreign ministry's crisis unit on the situation Sunday.
    "15 of our compatriots have crossed the border with Lebanon and are now in Beirut in some convents. Yesterday others had arrived in Jordan", he said.
    "There are no other Italian citizens asking to leave the country. The advice the embassy gave is to stay at home".
    As for the Italians in Aleppo, "at this moment they are calm because the situation is stable. Among those who are in Damascus, those who wanted to leave the city have done so, those who wanted to stay have stayed", explained Tajani, adding that "naturally we are ready to do whatever is necessary".
    Tajani added that he had spoken to Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, stressing the importance of preserving the territorial unity of Syria.
    "I also had a long conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan, we agreed on the importance of preserving the unity of Syria.
    "I reiterated my requests to do everything to guarantee the safety of Italian citizens and the protection of minorities, the Christian one and the others.
    "I heard him rather optimistic about the evolution of the situation, at least as far as general security is concerned".
    Tajani underlined that his Turkish counterpart "appreciated the Italian diplomatic presence in Damascus and reiterated to me that it is important for Turkey that an Italian diplomatic presence remains in Damascus for the future.
    "And Turkey is ready to collaborate with Italy from a diplomatic point of view to guarantee stability in the Middle East area".
    (ANSA).