Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle issued the following statement today (19 March) during his visit to Tunis:

> “I welcome the election of Ghassan Hitto as interim prime minister of the Syrian opposition as a further step along the way to uniting and strengthening the opposition factions. The election of this expert will enhance the prospects for progress in the reconstruction of those parts of Syria no longer under the control of the Syrian regime. Germany supports the efforts being made to im