Japan asserts remarkable relations with Syria
Syria-Japan, Economics, 4/1/1999

The Japanese ambassador in Damascus has asserted the remarkable relations linking Japan to Syria. He stressed his country's support for Syria's position concerning the Middle East peace process and its right to restore all its occupied territories in the Golan in line with UN resolutions.

In press statements to the Syrian media on Wednesday the Japanese ambassador in Damascus, Takishi Kagami, described the recent visit made by Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa to Japan as "very successful" and as contributing "to exchanging views on the Middle East peace process."

Kagami said that during the visit two projects were agreed to be financed by the Japanese side. He continued that the first project is a Japanese donation at a cost of US $4 million in order to implement the second phase of developing the water distribution system in the city of Damascus, and the second project is still under detailed study. It provides for establishing a port in Tartous to expand the anchoring capacity in Syria which is expected to be doubled by the year 2000.

The Japanese ambassador in Damascus reviewed areas of cooperation between Japan and Syria. He explained that value of donations offered to Syria reached in 1997 some US $28.5 million. Technical donations for the same year were estimated at US $17 million and soft loans reached US $22.6 million.

He continued that the financial aid provided by the Japanese government to Syria concentrates on boosting development so as to meet various requirements of the developing countries in the economic, cultural, educational and technical fields.

The ambassador highlighted Syria's key role in the Middle East peace process, noting several challenges Syria is facing in this respect. He hoped that cooperation between Syria and Japan will continue for the benefit of the two sides.

Previous Stories:
  Generous rainfall in Damascus following a season of drought   (3/22/1999)
  Report: Economic changes in Syria   (3/22/1999)
  On the Iraqi pipeline through Syria   (3/22/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search