therussophileorg--2019-01-18--Lebanon FM calls on Arab League to restore Syrias membership

Lebanon FM calls on Arab League to restore Syria’s membership

This  [post](http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2019/01/18/586148/Lebanon-FM-calls-on- Arab-League-to-restore-Syrias-membership)  was originally published on  [this site](http://www.presstv.ir/rss/mrss)   **Lebanon’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil has called on the Arab League to restore Syria’s membership in the regional organization, describing attempts to block the move as a “historic mistake.”**  > “We Arab nations don’t know how to look out for each other. Arab states continue to trade blame for suffering across the region rather than assembling plans to alleviate it,” Bassil said as he opened the first session of an Arab economic summit in Beirut on Friday.  Among the biggest challenges facing Arab nations, the top Lebanese diplomat said, are war, malnutrition and poverty, in addition to extremism and the denial of women’s basic rights.  “Let’s build a united Arab economic vision, based on the political principle of not attacking each other,” Bassil said.  > “Syria should return to us… Syria should be in our embrace instead of throwing it into the embrace of terrorism,” he pointed out.  Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad al-Hakim recently said the Baghdad government supports the restoration of Syria’s membership in the Arab League.  > “We discussed solutions to eliminate terrorism in Syria and support the Syrian government, its territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Hakim said at a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Baghdad on Monday.  “We also discussed supporting Iraq’s efforts to restore Syria’s (membership) to the Arab League,” he added.  On January 8, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the incumbent Damascus government needs to implement a number of measures toward the political settlement of the ongoing Syrian crisis in order for the conflict- plagued country to reinstate its membership in the Arab League.  Speaking at a joint press conference with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Cairo, Shoukry said such measures are required “in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” which endorses a road map for a peace process in Syria, and sets out the outlines of a nationwide ceasefire.  “There’s a need to get out of the current crisis in Syria within the political framework sponsored by the UN envoy in Geneva,” the top Egyptian diplomat pointed out.  The Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in November 2011, citing alleged crackdown by Damascus on opposition protests. Syria has denounced the move as “illegal and a violation of the organization’s charter.”  Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on December 28, 2018 that work at the kingdom’s embassy “in the Syrian Arab Republic was going on whilst the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Kingdom of Bahrain was carrying out its duties and flights connecting the two countries were operational without interruption.”  It came a day after the United Arab Emirates officially reopened its embassy in Damascus.  The Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the reopening of its embassy “reaffirms the keenness of the United Arab Emirates to restore relations between the two friendly countries to their normal course.”  The move “will strengthen and activate the Arab role in supporting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and to prevent the dangers of regional interference in Syrian Arab affairs,” the ministry pointed out.  On December 16 last year, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir became the first Arab League leader to visit Damascus.  Syria’s official news agency SANA said Bashir was greeted by his Syrian counterpart upon arrival at Damascus International Airport, before they both headed to the presidential palace.  The two leaders discussed bilateral ties and the “situations and crises faced by many Arab countries,” the Syrian presidency said in a statement.  Visiting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (L) meets with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad at the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, on December 16, 2018. (Photo by SANA)  SANA quoted the Sudanese leader as saying during the meeting that he hoped Syria will recover its important role in the region as soon as possible.  He also affirmed Khartoum’s readiness to provide all it can to support Syria’s territorial integrity.  Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies have been aiding Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country.  from: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2019/01/18/586148/Lebanon-FM-calls-on-Arab- League-to-restore-Syrias-membership


therussophileorg--2019-01-31--Electricity supply in Syrias Daraa province to be fully restored by 2023

Electricity supply in Syria's Daraa province to be fully restored by 2023

This  [post](http://tass.com/world/1042572)  was originally published on  [this site](http://tass.com/)  DAMASCUS, January 31. /TASS/. Electricity supply in the Syrian province of Daraa will be fully restored by 2023 after distibution substations are repaired, head of the provincial government’s electricity department Hasan Zamel told reporters on Thursday.  “The ministry of electricity in Damascus has developed a plan for full restoration of electricity in Daraa by 2023. Restoration will take so much time for two reasons: firstly, because power grids were seriously damaged by militants, and secondly, because of insufficient financing,” Zamel said.  He added that all residents will get access to electricity this year, but only at certain times of the day. Full electricity supply will be restored only in four years.  Zamel noted that “power grids in Daraa will need to be re-built from scratch.” Infrastructure damages in the Daraa province are estimated at around $85 million, whole only $11.6 million were allocated for repairs, he concluded.  In other media  from http://tass.com/world/1042572


therussophileorg--2019-02-12--Over 31000 houses restored in Syria Russian reconciliation center

Over 31,000 houses restored in Syria — Russian reconciliation center

This  [post](http://tass.com/world/1044187)  was originally published on  [this site](http://tass.com/)  MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. More than 31,000 residential buildings have been restored in Syria by February 10, chief of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides in Syria Sergei Solomatin said on Monday.  “We continue to provide assistance in restoring the infrastructure and creating conditions for refugees’ return. As of 10 February 2019, 31,200 residential buildings, 810 educational and 137 medical facilities have been restored, 999.8 kilometers of roads have been repaired,” he said.  Solomatin added that Russia continued to render assistance in ensuring the work of 10 checkpoint for refugees, adding that 221,883 people have returned to their homes by February 10.  According to the Russian reconciliation center, local residents’ protests against the presence of the US-led international coalition in Syria continued. More than 2,000 people took part in a rally in the city of Deir ez-Zor.  In other media  from http://tass.com/world/1044187


therussophileorg--2019-02-25--Iran to help rebuild Syria restore stability to country Rouhani

Iran to help rebuild Syria, restore stability to country: Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al- Assad meet in Tehran on February 25, 2019. (Photo by president.ir)  **Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Republic is ready to help Syria with its reconstruction plans and restore stability to the war-ravaged country.**  “The Islamic Republic of Iran, just like in the past, will stand by the Syrian nation and government,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Tehran on Monday.  He added that Tehran will also help Damascus with the repatriation of Syrian refugees to their homeland.  > Pointing to “highly valuable and important” achievements gained by the Syrian government and army in their battle against terrorists, Rouhani said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always stood by the Syrian nation and government in the fight against terrorism in Syria and has spared no efforts in this regard.”  He emphasized that multilateral cooperation among regional countries has led to the promotion of security across the region.  The Iranian president also noted that during a recent meeting in Russia’s resort city of Sochi, Iran, Russia and Turkey stressed the importance of protecting Syria’s territorial integrity and condemned the continued presence of US and foreign forces in the Arab country without Damascus’ permission.  Speaking at a tripartite meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on February 14, Rouhani said terrorists must not feel safe in Syria or any other part of the world.  “Terrorists must not feel safe in this country or any other part of the world and their supporters should not assume that they can play the terrorism card to their benefit in domestic, regional, or international equations,” the Iranian president said.  The Sochi summit, hosted by Putin, was aimed at solidifying the three countries’ cooperation towards returning peace and stability to Syria.  Over the past years, Iran and Russia have been respectively lending military advisory support and aerial backup to the Syrian military in its battle against militants and Takfiri terrorists. The foreign-backed groups started a campaign of bloodshed and destruction against the Arab country in 2011.  Iran, Russia and Turkey, known as the guarantor states of a ceasefire regime in Syria, have been mediating peace negotiations between representatives from the Damascus government and opposition groups in a series of talks held in the Kazakh capital of Astana and other places since January 2017.  **Read more:**  **Iran, Syria enjoy close cooperation: Assad**  Assad, for his part, said the Syrian government and nation are always thankful for Iran’s support for Damascus in the campaign against terrorists while lauding Tehran’s efforts to restore security to Syria and the entire Middle East region.  The Syrian president added that Iran and Syria enjoy close cooperation at regional and international levels, particularly at the United Nations.  Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Tehran on February 25, 2019. (Photo by president.ir)  He emphasized that the political process in Syria should safeguard the Arab country’s territorial integrity and independence and respect the demands of the nation.  Also on Monday, the Syrian president met with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.  The Leader said the Islamic Republic is honored to support Syria and considers it as equal to supporting the entire resistance front.  The Leader mentioned resistance of Syrian president and people as the main reason behind the defeat of the United States and its regional mercenaries, noting, “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers supporting the Syrian government and people as helping the resistance movement and current, and takes pride in it from the bottom of its heart.”  from: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2019/02/25/589546/Rouhani-Assad- reconstruction-terrorism-Sochi


therussophileorg--2019-07-04--Russia helps Syria to restore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Palmyra

This  [post](https://theduran.com/russia-helps-syria-to-restore-the-unesco-world- heritage-site-of-palmyra/)  was originally published on  [this site](http://russiafeed.com/)[]()   **Submitted by Olivia Kroth…**  The destruction of Palmyra at the hands of ISIS stands out as one of the most barbaric deeds during the eight-year proxy war that western governments unleashed against Syria. Known as the ‘Venice of the Sands’, the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra – located at the edge of an oasis of date palms and gardens – was a wealthy caravan centre from the 1st to the 3rd centuries after Christ, sometimes independent and at other times under the control of Rome. During the past few years, members of ISIS managed to damage or even completely destroy some of the most significant monuments in ancient Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The antique site has not been restored yet, due to the ongoing proxy war in Syria, which is secretly spurred by western states’ financial and military aid for ISIS. Russia is taking the lead as a driving force of restoration in Palmyra.  Before the outbreak of the proxy war, in March 2011, Palmyra’s UNESCO heritage site was one of the top tourist attractions in the Middle East. Since then, parts of the heritage site have been damaged constantly and one monument after the other has disppeared. Syrian government officials say they transferred about 300,000 artifacts to safe places in recent years.  UNESCO, the UN heritage agency, has called the destruction an “intolerable crime against civilization”. UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova exclaimed: “This destruction is a war crime, an immense loss for the Syrian people and for humanity. This blow against cultural heritage shows that cultural cleansing led by violent extremists is seeking to destroy both human lives and historical monuments in order to deprive the Syrian people of its past and its future. This is why the protection of heritage is inseparable from the protection of human lives, and we must all unite to put this at the centre of all efforts to build peace.”  As Syria’s loyal partner and ally, Russia has taken the lead in restoring the ancient site of Palmyra. In the coming months, Moscow will share its files on restoring Syria’s Palmyra with UNESCO, including a 3D model, Russia’s Defence Minister and President of the Russian Geographical Society (RGO) Sergey Shoigu revealed in an interview with TASS, Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Komsomolskaya Pravda.  Sergey Shoigy explained: “Combing through our archives we have uncovered photos of Palmyra, taken in 1872 by the first Russian travellers who arrived there. Now we are putting together an album, in which we want to show what was there and what has been damaged or destroyed. This endeavor is needed to understand what to do next. Therefore we are creating a 3D model of Palmyra. Soon we will send these files to UNESCO so that they can assess the overall volume of restoration works” (TASS, 19.03.2019).  Palmyra is an oasis in the Syrian desert, north-east of Damascus. Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. First mentioned in archives in the 2nd millennium BC (before Christ), Palmyra became an established caravan oasis during the times of the Roman Empire,  from the first to third centuries AC (after Christ). It grew steadily in importance as a city on the trade route linking Persia, India and China with the Roman Empire, marking the crossroads of several civilisations in the ancient world.  A grand, colonnaded street of 1100 metres’ length forms the monumental axis of the city, which together with secondary colonnaded cross streets links the major public monuments including the Temple of Baal, Diocletian’s Camp, the Agora, Theatre, other temples and urban quarters. Discovery of the ruined city by travellers in the 17th and 18th centuries resulted in its subsequent influence on architectural styles.  In 1980, Palmyra became part of the UNESCO World Heritage, due to the following criteria: “The splendour of the ruins of Palmyra, rising out of the Syrian desert north-east of Damascus is testament to the unique aesthetic achievement of a wealthy caravan oasis intermittently under the rule of Rome from the 1st to the 3rd century after Christ.  The grand colonnade constitutes a characteristic example of a type of structure which represents a major artistic development. Recognition of the splendour of the ruins of Palmyra by travellers in the 17th and 18th centuries contributed greatly to the subsequent revival of classical architectural styles and urban design in the West.”  The primitive barbarians of ISIS are certainly not able to value the architectural and cultural achievements of former times, as they are destroying one part of Palmyra after the other, claiming the “destruction of idolatry”. Religious tolerance is an alien concept to these savages, just like the idea that our global human heritage needs to be preserved for future generations.  The vandals of ISIS are too fanatic, too uneducated, too uncouth to understand that these structures from the past provide fixed locations for national narratives, constructed in the present, and are symbols for the future as well.  In August 2015, the Temple of Baal was severely damaged by ISIS. This temple of the Mesopotamian deity Baal formed the centre of religious life in Palmyra and was dedicated in 32 BC. It showed a wonderful synthesis of ancient Near- Eastern and Greco-Roman architecture. The temple had a rectangular shape and was oriented north-south.  The northern chamber was known for a bas-relief carving of the seven planets, surrounded by the twelve signs of the Zodiac. It also showed a procession of camels and veiled women. In the court there were the remains of an altar and a basin, a dining hall and a building with niches. In the northwest corner lay a ramp, along which sacrificial animals were led into the temple area. After the devastation by ISIS, only the arched main entrance into the temple is still intact, as well as its exterior walls and the fortified gate.  In the Semitic languages, Baal was a name for “Lord” or “Master”. He was probably a weather god, with power over lightning, rain and wind. The dry summers of the area were explained as Baal’s time in the underworld. His return in autumn was said to cause the storms which revived the land. Thus, the worship of Baal was connected to the region’s dependence on rainfall for its agriculture. Anxiety about the availability of water for crops and trees increased the importance of his cult, which focused attention on his role as a rain god.  In the same month of that year, August 2015, the hordes of ISIS also destroyed the Temple of Baalshamin in Palmyra. Have these architectonic jewels been lost forever? Following the recapture of Palmyra by the Syrian Army in March 2016, the director of antiquities Maamoun Abdelkarim stated that the Temple of Baalshamin along with the Temple of Baal would be rebuilt, using the surviving remains.  The temple of Baalshamin’s earliest phase dates back to the late 2nd century BC. Its altar was built in 115 BC. It represented a fusion of ancient Syrian and Roman architectural styles. The temple’s proportions and the capitals of its columns were Roman in inspiration, while the side windows followed the Syrian tradition. The side walls were decorated with pilasters.  Baalshamin was another Semitic God venerated in Syria. The name means “Lord of the Heavens”. His attributes were the eagle and the lightning bolt. He formed a triad with the lunar god Aglibol and the sun god Malakbel.  In Palmyra archaeologists found the limestone relief “divine triad”, dating back to the 1st century BC. It shows Baalshamin in the middle, surrounded by Aglibol on the left and Malakbel on the right. The three deities wear breastplates with lamellas. All three hold a sword decorated with gems in their left hand. The right hands are missing. We do not know if they made a gesture of blessing or if they held a spear. In the background there is an inscription in the old alphabet of Palmyra.  The necropolis of Palmyra also became a victim of ISIS attacks. In September 2015, the terrorists blew up a total of six funerary towers, including the three best preserved. They destroyed the tower of Kithot (44 AC), the tower of Iamblichos (83 AC) and the tower of Elahbel (103 AC). Outside the city limits lie various burial grounds, which are named after their location as the north, southeast, southwest and western necropolis in the “Valley of Graves”.  According to the inscriptions these sepulchres were erected between 9 BC and 128 AC. The funerary tower of Elahbel was the largest tower. In these sepulchres, where numerous dead found their final resting place, four storeys were connected by narrow spiral staircases. The exterior of the tower tombs was usually plain. Inside, however, they were richly decorated with architectural and sculptural ornaments.  Just one month later, in October 2015, ISIS blew up  the Monumental Arch, also called the Arch of Triumph or Arch of Septimius Severus. It was built in the third century AC, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, which lasted from 193 to 211 AC. This arch linked the main street of the Colonnade with the Temple of Baal.  The  Monumental Arch consisted of a large gateway in the centre, flanked by a smaller opening on both sides. It was decorated with ornate stone carvings, including reliefs depicting plants or geometrical designs. The reliefs on the Monumental Arch were described by UNESCO as “an outstanding example of Palmyrene art”. It was one of the most lavishly adorned monuments of the ancient desert town.  Appalled by so much destruction, the famous Russian maestro Valery Gergiev gave a concert in the ruins of Palmyra, on the 5th of May 2016. He conducted the Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra from Saint Petersburg at Palmyra’s Roman Theatre. The conductor led the orchestra through pieces by the Russian composers Sergei Prokofiev and Rodion Shchedrin. Russian soldiers, government ministers, journalists and many interested Syrian spectators were present.  The maestro described the concert as a protest against the barbarism and violence exhibited by ISIS terrorists, who had used the Roman Theatre to execute prisoners. On this occasion, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin addressed the audience by video link from his Black Sea residence in Sochi. He called terrorism a contagion, of which the world needed to rid itself.  “I regard the concert as a sign of gratitude, remembrance and hope,” he said, adding that everybody should be grateful to “those who fight terrorism without sparing one’s own life.” The Russian President called on people to remember “all victims of terror” and to “hope not just for the revival of Palmyra as cultural heritage of humanity but also for the rescue of modern civilization from this terrible menace – international terrorism.”  “The concert in Palmyra is a highly spiritual response to those who wanted to destroy Syria, to split the country along national and religious lines,” Konstantin Dolgov, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs human rights chief, wrote on Twitter (RUSSIA TODAY, 05.05.2016).  The concert was titled “Pray for Palmyra. Music revives ancient remains”. Its date coincided with the handover of Aleksander Prokhorenko’s remains for burial. The Russian special forces officer died in Syria, surrounded by ISIS terrorists. He was killed in April 2016, when Palmyra was recaptured by the Syrian Army, while Russian air strikes provided support.  Back in Russia, maestro Valery Gergiev gave an interview, in which he called the concert in Palmyra a ” humanitarian gesture. An act of sympathy and support. People there have experienced terrible events. We heard explosions in Palmyra at a distance of several kilometres, while we prepared for our rehearsal. The theatre has about two thousand years of history. It is superb, beautiful, a magnificent architectural ensemble, worthy of humanity.”  This concert, however, did not impress ISIS. The terrorists continued on their rampant path of destruction. In December 2016, ISIS destroyed the Tetrapylon, a monument marking a major road intersection along the colonnaded street of Palmyra. It was a testimony to the grandeur of the era around 270 AC, during which Queen Zenobia had reached the height of her power.  Tetrapylon were monuments which the Romans placed at the intersections of major streets. They had four openings and were associated with the worship of Janus, the Roman god of gates and doorways. The Tetrapylon of Palmyra was a striking example of this form of Roman monument. Each of the four groups of pillars supported 150,000 kg of solid cornice. It was one of the rare structures in Syria, where pink granite columns were employed. The granite came fron Assuan in Egypt.  Septimia Zenobia (240–274 AC) was a Queen of the Palmyrene Empire. She was a cultured monarch and fostered an intellectual environment in her court, which was open to scholars and philosophers. Queen Zenobia was tolerant toward her subjects and protected religious minorities. She maintained a stable administration, which governed a multicultural and multiethnic empire. Her rise and death have inspired historians, artists and novelists. Zenobia has become a patriotic symbol in Syria.  In the Russian Empire, Empress Catherine the Great was likened to “Queen Zenobia, the powerful ruler of the Palmyran Empire, who conquered Egypt and a large swathe of Anatolia. In the time of Pushkin, Russian writers further developed the allusion, drawing more generally upon the reputed beauty and cultural richness of Roman Palmyra”, Gilbert Doctorov notes in his interesting essay, “Civilization returns to Palmyra – while the West scoffs” (GLOBAL RESEARCH, 08.05.2016).  The Roman Theatre, where maestro Gergiev and the Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra had played, was severely damaged by ISIS, in January 2017. It dates back to the 2nd  century AC. The theatre was constructed in the centre of a semicircular colonnaded piazza, which opened up to the South Gate of Palmyra. The main entrances were 3,5 metres wide, leading to a stone-paved orchestra with a diametre of 23,5 metres. The orchestra was bounded by a circular wall with a diametre of 20,3 metres. The proscenium wall was decorated with ten curved and nine rectangular niches placed alternately.  When ISIS recaptured Palmyra at the beginnning of 2017, they completely destroyed the facade of the theatre, according to Mamoun Abdulkarim, Director of the Syrian government agency of antiquities and museums. Syrian authorities reported that satellite images showed signs of intentional destruction.  Mikhail Piotrovsky, a scholar of Arabic and director of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, said that it was an act of reprisal in response to the classical concert staged by Russia. Drone footage shot by the Russian Ministry of Defence showed that the theatre was partially destroyed. The central part of the stage suffered severe damage.  Palmyra was retaken by Syrian government forces, in early March 2017. The Syrian authorities hoped that tourists could return soon but nothing has come of it yet. Restoration of the damaged sites had to be postponed. The governor of Homs, Tar al-Barazi, told the press that Syrian Palmyra would be ready to welcome its first tourists in the summer of 2019 (TASS, 15.08.2018). Due to the ongoing war, however, his hopes have been crushed. Some western powers and their proxy ally ISIS seem to have a geopolitical as well as a military interest in keeping the pot boiling.  The director of Russia’s Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg offered expertise to help restore the ancient Syrian city. “Restoring Palmyra is the responsibility of all of us,” Mikhail Piotrovsky told TASS. “Restoring Palmyra is a long-term task, and it is essential that we take our time,” he said, estimating that up to 70 percent of the ancient historic site could have been damaged or destroyed. He noted that Russia has “plenty of experience with restoring destroyed historic monuments”, notably after World War II (TASS, 02.06.2016).  Rebuilding, reconstructing, recreating and restoring cannot be carried out when a war is still ongoing and should not be rushed. Yet one thing is clear: the victorious side will decide how to carry out this post-war work in Palmyra. Surely the Syrian Government, with Russia’s help, will authorize the plans and supervise their implementation.  Meanwhile, the world is waiting for the restoration of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Syria and the Russian saying is still valid: “Pray for Palmyra”.  * * *  _**Olivia Kroth:** The journalist and author of four books lives in Moscow._   Her blog: [https://olivia2010kroth.wordpress.com](https://olivia2010kroth.wordpress.com/)  Liked it? Take a second to support The Duran on Patreon!  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therussophileorg--2019-08-06--Syria Restored centuries-old market to reopen in Aleppo

Syria: Restored centuries-old market to reopen in Aleppo

This  [post](http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2019/08/06/602864/Restored-Centuriesold- Market-Aleppo)  was originally published on  [this site](http://www.presstv.com/RSS/MRSS/1)  In this July 27, 2019 photo, a Syrian man walks on the newly renovated al- Saqatiyah Market in the old city of Aleppo, Syria. (Photo by AP)  **The historic al-Saqatiyah Market in Aleppo is to be reopened after being carefully restored as shown in footage filmed on Tuesday.**  The market or Souq, is part of the ancient Bazaar in the Ancient City of Aleppo, a UNESCO world heritage site which was damaged during the eight-year Syrian conflict. Many of the old markets are still in ruins.  The renovation work was undertaken by the Aleppo City Council and according to Husam Halabim, an official from the Old City Directorate, the project used traditional construction methods with painstaking attention to the design of the original building.  The venture was partially funded by the Aga Khan foundation at a cost of $400,000 (€357,168) and took eight months.  Those renovating the market hope that the restoration work will attract shopkeepers to return and eventually bring back life to what was once a hub of activity. The official reopening is set to take place later this month.  (Source: Ruptly)  from: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2019/08/06/602864/Restored-Centuriesold- Market-Aleppo


therussophileorg--2019-08-22--Russia ready to help Syria to restore Palmyra museum Hermitage Director

Russia ready to help Syria to restore Palmyra museum – Hermitage Director

This  [post](https://tass.com/society/1074614)  was originally published on  [this site](http://tass.ru/en/rss/v2.xml)  ST. PETERSBURG, August 22. /TASS/. Russian specialists and experts are willing to take part in restoring the museum of the ancient city of Palmyra. However, monument restoration is not in talks right now, the issue will be decided by the international community after the hostilities in Syria end, Director of the Russian Hermitage Museum Mikhail Piotrovsky told reporters on Thursday.  “We are willing to participate in the restoration of the Palmyra museum, as well as reopening the Damascus museum. To these ends, the works on 3D geodesic footage and technical drawings will continue. We will exhibit it in the Hermitage, it will become a basis for the Syrian restoration artists’ internships,” he said following the talks with Head of the Syrian Directorate- General for Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) Mahmoud Hammoud that were held on August 20.  According to Piotrovsky, the cooperation agreement with the Syrian side is planned to be signed in November.  Piotrovsky’s assessment suggests that it will take 1-2 years to restore the Palmyra museum since the beginning of reconstruction works. He pointed out that many exhibits were successfully salvaged and preserved, however, they require restoration as well. The museum displays will be enlarged by the monuments’ digital models created by Russian specialists.  “We need to reconstruct the building, update the displays and breathe new life into it [the museum]. It will be a museum that is simultaneously traditional and modern. The Hermitage Museum will take part in creation and structuring of it, we will gather colleagues and partners. We will rebuild the museum and cultural life will immediately begin there, touristic life, it will mean new jobs,” the director of the Russian Hermitage Museum said.  ## World Heritage Site  The ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, often referred to as the Bride of the Syrian Desert, was an important hub along ancient trade routes, particularly the Great Silk Road, in Western Asia. Its heyday encompassed the 1st-3rd centuries AD, when a number of architectural monuments were built in the city, which have been preserved in the desert up to this day.  UNESCO placed Palmyra on its list of world cultural heritage sites. The militants who controlled Palmyra from May 2015 through March 2016 and from December 2016 through March 2017 destroyed a number of monuments there.  The devastation prompted Russian restoration artists form the Hermitage Museum and other agencies to join the work to collect materials and data on the condition of the World Heritage Site.  In September 2016, after Syrian government forces had liberated the city, a Russian expert team, headed by the Institute’s Deputy Director Natalya Solovyova, went to Palmyra in September 2016 in order to record the scale of the destruction, take photos and create a 3D model of the complex. The 3D model of Palmyra was created based on photos taken by archeologists from the Institute for the History of Material Culture at the Russian Academy of Sciences and the State Hermitage Museum.  It took Russian experts about a year to create the model, which currently presents the most complete and up-to-date information about the city’s condition.  This year, Russian archeologists are planning to record more footage of the treasured monuments in Palmyra to update the 3D model.  World Heritage Site  The ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, often referred to as the Bride of the Syrian Desert, was an important hub along ancient trade routes, particularly the Great Silk Road, in Western Asia. Its heyday encompassed the 1st-3rd centuries AD, when a number of architectural monuments were built in the city, which have been preserved in the desert up to this day.  UNESCO placed Palmyra on its list of world cultural heritage sites. The militants who controlled Palmyra from May 2015 through March 2016 and from December 2016 through March 2017 destroyed a number of monuments there.  The devastation prompted Russian restoration artists form the Hermitage Museum and other agencies to join the work to collect materials and data on the condition of the World Heritage Site.  In September 2016, after Syrian government forces had liberated the city, a Russian expert team, headed by the Institute’s Deputy Director Natalya Solovyova, went to Palmyra in September 2016 in order to record the scale of the destruction, take photos and create a 3D model of the complex. The 3D model of Palmyra was created based on photos taken by archeologists from the Institute for the History of Material Culture at the Russian Academy of Sciences and the State Hermitage Museum.  It took Russian experts about a year to create the model, which currently presents the most complete and up-to-date information about the city’s condition.  from https://tass.com/society/1074614


therussophileorg--2019-09-18--Turkey Russia Iran agree on steps to restore peace in Syria

Turkey, Russia, Iran agree on steps to restore peace in Syria

This  [post](https://www.opednews.com/articles/Turkey-Russia-Iran-agree-by-Abdus- Sattar-Ghaza-Assad_Hassan-Rouhani_Iran_Putin-190918-130.html)  was originally published on  [this site](http://www.opednews.com/newsfeed.xml)  Turkey, Iran and Russia have announced the formation of a committee to draft a new Syrian constitution as first step in a political solution to 8-year war in Syria and condemned the U.S. decision to recognize Syria’s occupied Golan Heights as Israeli territory.  The formulation of the committee came after a meeting in Ankara of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.  Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday (Sept 16) hosted his Russian and Iranian counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani, which was the fifth such summit since the trio launched the Astana talks nearly three years ago.  The meeting was billed as a chance to focus on Idlib, the final rebel stronghold where an offensive by Syrian Govt forces, backed by Russian airpower, has killed hundreds of civilians and threatened Turkey with a fresh exodus of refugees, according to Al Jazeera.  “During the summit, we made important decisions that will create hope for a political resolution in Syria. We have once more declared that all of us have the same sensitivity when it comes to the territorial integrity and political unity of Syria. We have underlined the rejection of giving support to terrorist organizations on the grounds of the fight against Daesh,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a press conference.  “We have displayed a constructive and flexible approach regarding the procedural rules and members of the constitutional committee. We have shown effort to advance the political process. Henceforth, problems about the establishment of the committee have been eliminated with our joint efforts,” Erdoğan said.  The formation of the constitutional committee is to be kicked off as soon as possible, in accordance with the United Nations, after the meetings, Erdoğan underlined.  Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s remarks on the constitutional committee, saying they hope work will start immediately. “We hope that it will overhaul the constitution,” he said.  For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the list for the committee has been approved, and the work should begin right away.  “As a result of this convention, the decision to form the constitutional committee has been made. The said committee should start work in Geneva as soon as possible,” Putin said.  **Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)**  Ankara is also concerned about the threat to its troops based at 12 observation posts set up around Idlib as well as the enclave of Syrian Kurdish-controlled territory along its border, according to Al Jazeera.  Turkey has agreed, along with the United States, to set up a corridor along the border with the northeastern area under the sway of the US-backed Kurdish- dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).  Ankara considers the SDF a terrorist group with ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged a 35-year armed actions inside Turkey.  Rouhani and Putin stressed the need to combat “terrorism” in Idlib and in other parts of Syria, suggesting alignment with Ankara’s view of the SDF.  “It’s not a good day to be an SDF member,” said Selim Sazak, a researcher at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs in the US.  [Next Page](https://www.opednews.com/articles/2/Turkey-Russia-Iran-agree-by- Abdus-Sattar-Ghaza-Assad_Hassan-Rouhani_Iran_Putin-190918-130.html)   **1**  | [2](https://www.opednews.com/articles/2/Turkey-Russia-Iran-agree-by-Abdus- Sattar-Ghaza-Assad_Hassan-Rouhani_Iran_Putin-190918-130.html)  | [3](https://www.opednews.com/articles/3/Turkey-Russia-Iran-agree-by-Abdus- Sattar-Ghaza-Assad_Hassan-Rouhani_Iran_Putin-190918-130.html)  from https://www.opednews.com/articles/Turkey-Russia-Iran-agree-by-Abdus- Sattar-Ghaza-Assad_Hassan-Rouhani_Iran_Putin-190918-130.html


therussophileorg--2019-11-14--Russian minister calls to redouble efforts to restore Syrian monuments

This post was originally published on this site  PARIS, November 14. /TASS/. Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Mikhail Kotyukov believes that it is vital to amplify efforts to restore ancient monuments in Syria, he said at the General Policy debate of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris on Thursday.  “I would like to repeat my call from this podium to boost efforts to restore Syrian monuments that suffered at the hands of terrorists,” he stressed. “Faced with this challenge, we should demonstrate the aforementioned intellectual and moral solidarity based on UNESCO ideals and principles.”  In his speech, Kotyukov specifically highlighted the topic of developing new technologies which leads to “cardinal changes in the society structure increasing need in social sciences.” “We are convinced that the Management of Social Transformations (MOST – TASS) Programme should focus on global inter-subject problems guaranteeing UNESCO’s leading role as a laboratory of ideas,” he added.  The minister voiced hope that “the General Conference greenlights drafting of recommendations on artificial intelligence ethics.” “We are willing to share our potential in this area accumulated when Russia was drafting the National Strategy of Developing Artificial Intelligence,” he pointed out. The minister believes that UNESCO should pay special attention to “the ethics of information society, responsible behavior of media participants, security of digital infrastructure, increasing quality of journalist education and professional standards.”.


therussophileorg--2019-01-02--Saudi Arabia will fund the reconstruction of Syria

This  [post](http://www.voltairenet.org/article204582.html)  was originally published on  [this site](http://www.voltairenet.org/)<http://www.voltairenet.org/local /cache-vignettes/L150xH94/arton204582-2fe7e.jpg>  According to President Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia could providing the core funding for reconstructing the Syrian Arab Republic.  Over the last seven years, Saudi Arabia has spent more than 500 billion dollars to bring down the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The only reason Saudi Arabia had criticized him was because he was not Sunni. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia was willing to accept that the Republic remains intact and that his vice president succeeds him.  The Saudi decision was taken after the Sudanese President, Omar al-Béchir, paid a visit to Damascus.  from http://www.voltairenet.org/article204582.html


therussophileorg--2019-01-23--The European Union decrees sanctions against Syrians that seek the reconstruction of their homeland

This  [post](https://www.voltairenet.org/article204842.html)  was originally published on  [this site](http://www.voltairenet.org/)<https://www.voltairenet.org/local /cache-vignettes/L150xH94/arton204842-3921c.jpg>  On 21 January 2019, the EU Council published a new list of sanctions against Syria. These sanction target businessmen or Syrian businesses that are participating in the Marota City project.  The European Union recognises that, apart from rare exceptions, none of the persons sanctioned under the new list have participated in any way in the Syrian conflict. They are being imposed for their intention to participate in the reconstruction of the country.   According to the UN, the Syrian reconstruction process would require a minimum of 300 million dollars. In addition to rehabilitating certain areas, creating new cities will be indispensable, given that important city centres had been completely destroyed. It is in this perspective that Marota City is the most important project being undertaken.  In addition to sanctions that were already in place, the new EU decision, raises the number of persons under sanction to 270 and the number of firms to 72.   In October 2017, the then number 2 in the UN’s hierarchy, the US Jeffrey Feltman, imparted directly to all members of the UN family – without going through the Security Council, the following instructions:   • deny all urgent help to the Syrian population;   • oppose any type of assistance to Syria; and   • oppose all form of reconstruction in this country  [[1](https://www.voltairenet.org/article204842.html#nb1)].    VIDEO  from https://www.voltairenet.org/article204842.html


therussophileorg--2019-01-28--Congress to Pass Sanctions Against Syria Reconstruction

This  [post](https://russia-insider.com/en/congress-pass-sanctions-against-syria- reconstruction/ri26055)  was originally published on  [this site](http://russia-insider.com/en)  The US/al-Qaeda regime-change onslaught failed so now posturing US politicians [will do everything they can](https://theintercept.com/2019/01/25/syria- sanctions-bill-assad/) to make sure Syria goes through the same sanctions hell Iraq did 1990-2003:  [![](https://i0.wp.com/www.therussophile.org/wp- content/uploads/2017/07/ASAMI-1-728x90.jpg?fit=728%2C90&ssl=1)![](https://i0.wp.com/www.therussophile.org /wp- content/uploads/2017/07/ASAMI-1-728x90.jpg?fit=728%2C90&ssl=1)](https://www.therussophile.org/linkout/1067590)  > **On Tuesday, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to impose new sanctions on the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and its allies,** and those who do business with them. The move comes a month after President Donald Trump’s announcement to withdraw troops from Syria, and as some Arab governments are thawing relations with the Assad regime, which has all but secured a military victory after nearly eight years of war. **The measure has been passed by the House twice in previous sessions, and a companion bill currently remains pending in the Senate.**  >  > House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., reintroduced the standalone version of the Syria bill, [H.R. 31](https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20190121/BILLS-116hr31-SUS.pdf), which passed under fast-track procedures. On the Senate side, the bill is one provision rolled into a foreign policy-related package called the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act, **with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as a lead sponsor.** Senate Democrats blocked the bill — designated as S.1, which symbolizes heightened importance — on the grounds that Congress should reopen the government before considering unrelated legislation.  Specifically the US “lawmakers” target anyone engaged in reconstruction:  > The current version of the bill **imposes sanctions on anyone engaging in “significant financial, material, or technological support to, or knowingly engages in a significant transaction with” the Syrian government or the governments of Russia and Iran in Syria.** It includes an exception for nongovernmental organizations operating in Syria, and it directs the president to come up with a plan regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syrians in need.  >  > **The Syrian government has been courting investors to help rebuild parts of the country decimated throughout the multi-pronged Syrian war.** Reconstruction plans have largely focused on areas destroyed by Syrian and Russian bombs, like parts of Damascus and Homs, and not cities like Raqqa, which the U.S.-led coalition flattened in its fight against the Islamic State. **Western governments have said they will not contribute to reconstruction efforts** until progress is made toward a peaceful settlement to the war. The European Union this week imposed a new round of [sanctions](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syria-is-ready- to-court-investors-but-europe-wants-to-prevent-that/2019/01/23/a40abe52-1e4b- 11e9-a759-2b8541bbbe20_story.html?utm_term=.0f0bf20c88e0) on business executives and entities doing business with the Assad regime.  This is the same script from Iraq where the US first destroyed water treatment plants then imposed sanctions so they couldn’t be put back online. But hey, don’t worry, the bill “isn’t targeted against the Syrian people” because small amount of humanitarian aid by NGOs will still be allowed in:  > **“This isn’t targeted against the Syrian people, it isn’t targeting humanitarian aid,”** Brand said. “If you look specifically at Section 3, to be precise, there’s waiver language that’s in there **to ensure that NGOs are not penalized regarding the distribution of aid in the regime areas.”**  Oh, so the US will do everything it can to stop reconstruction which would take billions and the cooperation of major powers and companies, but Syrians are welcome to any crumbs humanitarian aid organizations can get in — how graceful!  The difference between Syria 2019 and Iraq 1990 is that this time around Moscow isn’t part of the sanctions regime. Syria will never be as isolated as Iraq where hundreds of thousands died as a result of the post-war sanctions demanded by Bush. Thank god! Thank god for Russia!


therussophileorg--2019-06-21--SCO chief says international efforts important for Syrias reconstruction

SCO chief says international efforts important for Syria’s reconstruction

This  [post](https://tass.com/world/1064950)  was originally published on  [this site](http://tass.com/)  BEIJING, June 21. /TASS/. The Bishkek summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) emphasized the importance of further international efforts to assist Syria in its post-war reconstruction, SCO Secretary General Vladimir Norov said at a press conference on Friday.  “The member states reiterated their common position that there is no alternative to resolving the situation in Syria through dialogue based on ensuring the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” Norov pointed out.  “The member states believe that cooperation within the Astana process has created conditions for advancing the political settlement process performed and guided by Syrians in order to find solutions in the interests of the Syrian people and the international community,” the SCO secretary general noted. “In this regard, the summit highlighted the importance of further international efforts to assist Syria in its post-war reconstruction,” he said.  The SCO summit, which took place in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek on June 14, involved the leaders of Russia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as observer countries – Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia – and representatives of the United Nations, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Executive Committee and the Eurasian Economic Commission.  The next summit is scheduled to be held in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk on July 22-23, 2020.  from https://tass.com/world/1064950


therussophileorg--2019-07-26--Rebuilding Aleppo Before after photos show reconstruction of key Syrian sites destroyed by Wester

Rebuilding Aleppo: Before & after photos show reconstruction of key Syrian sites destroyed by Western-led bombings

This  [post](https://www.sott.net/article/417422-Rebuilding-Aleppo-Before-after- photos-show-reconstruction-of-key-Syrian-sites-destroyed-by-Western-led- bombings)  was originally published on  [this site](http://www.sott.net/xml_engine/signs_rss)  sott.net/news  Syria’s ancient city of Aleppo was filled with bustling markets and historical buildings before it was engulfed in the devastating conflict. Now, before and after photos show progress in rebuilding its war-torn sites.  The reconstruction challenge is stark: In December 2018, the UN cultural agency UNESCO said 10 percent of Aleppo’s historical buildings had been destroyed, and as much as 60 percent of the Old City, a World Heritage Site, was severely damaged.  [![Old Aleppo](https://i1.wp.com/www.sott.net/image/s26/531654/large/5d3acfccfc7e9340698b459f.jpg?w=1165&ssl=1)![Old Aleppo](https://i1.wp.com/www.sott.net/image/s26/531654/large/5d3acfccfc7e9340698b459f.jpg?w=1165&ssl=1)](https://i1.wp.com/www.sott.net/image/s26/531654/full/5d3acfccfc7e9340698b459f.jpg?ssl=1 "© SANA")  © SANA   Renovations of one of the ancient markets in Old Aleppo  After Damascus regained control over the whole city in 2016, some restoration work began – however, significant progress has been hindered from outside. While allies like Russia, Iran, and China have made investments in the country, reconstruction efforts have been complicated by sanctions imposed on President Bashar Assad’s government by Western countries.      Some locals finally began to enjoy the fruits of their labor by the end of March, when an Armenian church, [Forty Martyrs Cathedral](https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/1112423023339098114 "https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/1112423023339098114"), hosted its first mass. Restoration work on the 14th century church began more than a year prior to bring it back to its former glory after it was damaged in April 2015 during shelling.  [![Old Aleppo](https://i1.wp.com/www.sott.net/image/s26/531655/large/5d3acfcafc7e9340698b459e.jpg?w=1165&ssl=1)![Old Aleppo](https://i1.wp.com/www.sott.net/image/s26/531655/large/5d3acfcafc7e9340698b459e.jpg?w=1165&ssl=1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.sott.net/image/s26/531655/full/5d3acfcafc7e9340698b459e.jpg?ssl=1 "© SANA")  © SANA   Renovations of one of the ancient markets in Old Aleppo  Major progress can also be claimed by those involved in the effort to return the city’s incredible historical markets to their former glory.  Citizens have also [taken to the streets](https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/1048277314553954309 "https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/1048277314553954309"), quite literally, to [lend a hand](https://twitter.com/maramka94/status/1048617011641765888 "https://twitter.com/maramka94/status/1048617011641765888") in efforts to rebuild and [reconstruct their city.](https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/1047944434208399361 "https://twitter.com/sahouraxo/status/1047944434208399361")  [![damascus](https://i0.wp.com/www.sott.net/image/s26/531656/large/5d3acfc9fc7e9340698b459d.jpg?w=1165&ssl=1)![damascus](https://i0.wp.com/www.sott.net/image/s26/531656/large/5d3acfc9fc7e9340698b459d.jpg?w=1165&ssl=1)](https://i1.wp.com/www.sott.net/image/s26/531656/full/5d3acfc9fc7e9340698b459d.jpg?ssl=1 "© SANA")  © SANA   A restored flower fair in Teshreen park in the center of the Syrian capital, Damascus  from https://www.sott.net/article/417422-Rebuilding-Aleppo-Before-after- photos-show-reconstruction-of-key-Syrian-sites-destroyed-by-Western-led- bombings


therussophileorg--2019-12-04--Syria’s Post-War Reconstruction: 600 Establishments Resume Work at Aleppo Industrial City, Sheikh Na

Syria’s Post-War Reconstruction: 600 Establishments Resume Work at Aleppo Industrial City, Sheikh Najjar

This post was originally published on this site  Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city and the region’s economic power horse is getting back on its feet again, despite all the efforts by the US and its NATO stooges and terrorists.  It’s moving forward slowly but steadily, with over 600 establishments resuming work at the once-thriving Aleppo Industrial City at Sheikh Najjar, which Turkey’s madman Erdogan and his anti-Islamic Muslim Brotherhood criminalslooted to its skeleton and then destroyed like all other areas infested by followers of these two cults.  The following report by SANA from the Aleppo Industrial City at Sheikh Najjar reveals the latest updates there:  The English transcript of the above video  Investment in the Sheikh Najjar industrial city in Aleppo is growing steadily in light of providing the necessary requirements for the industry in terms of infrastructure services and the facilities granted for the reconstruction of facilities affected by terrorism, and building new blocks and supplying them with production lines.  Hazem Ajan – Director of Sheikh Najjar Industrial City: After the city completed most of its service projects for production facilities and delivered basic services of electricity and water to the production workshops in the industrial city we moved on with our plans to strategic projects in the city like the Exhibition City that provides basic promotion of the city’s products in particular and local products in general, because it was selected as an exhibition city at the level of Aleppo province.  The project of labor housing has also started on an area of 258 hectares in coordination with the Public Housing Establishment, we are currently coordinating with the Union of Artisans in the first handicraft area, which provides about 500 artisans plots.  600 industrial establishments currently operating took off in the Industrial City, 50% of them are textile establishments, followed by engineering industries with about 150 establishments and the rest is distributed to the chemical and food industries.  Hussam Salahia – Owner of a textile facility: After the liberation of the industrial city we returned and renewed our work and now produce bathrobes and dyeing yarns, our yarns industry is national product.  Anas Dabbagh – owner of a facility for engineering industries and heaters: We were working before the war and despite the crisis and the damage done to us where the factory was sabotaged, we re-repaired and worked and continue to work. We produce everything related to heaters, we provide the needs for the local market and we export to Lebanon and other countries.  Omar Oso – Owner of Food Industries Establishment: We manufacture tahini and halawa in addition to jam. Production stages start with sesame, we add sugar to make halawah.  Syria is under unprecedented draconian sanctions by the USA and a host of countries under its control, these sanctions are imposed to punish the Syrian people for not accepting the US hegemony like its other slaves around the world and to impede the rebuilding of the country after almost 9 years of the US-led War of Terror.  Note to readers: please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc.


therussophileorg--2019-12-15--Iran to build over 30,000 housing units in Syria to help with reconstruction

This post was originally published on this site  BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:30 A.M.) – The Deputy Minister of Public Works and Housing, Mazen Al-Lahham, announced on Sunday that the files of 26 real estate development zones had been prepared for implementation as residential areas at the country level.  During a special interview with the Syrian newspaper Al-Watan, Al-Lahham said: “Concerning the recent visit of the ministerial delegation to Iran, it was agreed during the talks on a final formula for the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries, and the completion of some points related to it.”  Al-Lahham stressed, “One of the most important points mentioned in the executive program agreed upon is to present the Syrian side with a list of priority projects in implementation, including a project to build 30 thousand housing units in the governorates.”  Al-Lahham indicated that one of the issues agreed upon is to provide the necessary facilities to establish Iranian-Syrian joint governmental companies in the fields of building and construction, roads, bridges and transport infrastructures, studies, consultations and engineering services in accordance with the regulations and laws in force between the two countries.  Al-Lahham indicated that it was agreed to hold meetings between businessmen and Iranian contracting companies willing to work in the field of public works and housing in Syria.


therussophileorg--2019-10-12--Ukraine has no money for reconstruction of Donbass – lawmakers

This post was originally published on this site  KIEV, October 12. /TASS/. David Arakhamia, head of President Vladimir Zelensky’s Servant of the People faction in Verkhovna Rada (parliament), said that Ukraine does not have money for Donbass’ reconstruction.  “We are aware that we have no money for the reconstruction of Donbass. We will have to look for it somewhere,” he said in an interview with a Ukrainian media outlet.  Earlier, President Vladimir Zelensky asked Ukrainian entrepreneurs to assist in reconstruction of Donbass.


therussophileorg--2019-07-06--Irans contribution is needed to rebuild Iraq after Daesh Envoy

Iran’s contribution is needed to rebuild Iraq after Daesh: Envoy

This  [post](http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2019/07/06/600319/Iran-support-Iraq- reconstruction-envoy-Qandil)  was originally published on  [this site](http://www.presstv.ir/rss/mrss)  File photo shows Iraq’s ambassador to Iran Sa’ad Jawad Qandil.  **Iraq’s ambassador to Iran says the Arab country dearly needs Tehran’s economic and technical support as it seeks to rebuild territories ravaged by Daesh terrorists while insisting that US pressure would fail to break the intimate bonds between the two neighbors.**  “Huge damage was inflicted on Iraq during the time of Daesh and we need Iran’s contribution to reverse the damage,” said Sa’ad Jawad Qandil while addressing a trade conference in Tehran on Saturday.  Qandil said US economic sanctions on Iran would be no deterrent to Iraq and its efforts to consolidate trade and business ties with its Iran, insisting the two neighboring countries were “determined to weather the crisis”.  He said Iraq’s refusal to adhere to US sanctions on Iran was meant to compensate Iran’s support for Iraq which persisted until two years ago when the Arab country purged Daesh militants from its territories.  > “As Iran was beside Iraq at the time of Daesh insurgency, now Iraq will stand by its friendly and neighboring country during sanctions,” said the Iraqi ambassador.  In his speech, Qandil expressed hope that the value of trade between Iraq and Iran could increase from the current level of $12 billion and reach a target of $20 billion a year.  He said that Iraqi embassy in Tehran was ready to issue free-of-charge visas, which has been in place for Iranian pilgrims since last year, for businessman, saying the process would be carried out  in the shortest time possible.  The envoy also called for setting up industrial zones in regions near the border between Iran and Iraq, saying the move would lead to economic developments in those areas.  from: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2019/07/06/600319/Iran-support-Iraq- reconstruction-envoy-Qandil


therussophileorg--2019-09-25--Iraqi president demands international help for reconstruction after victory over terrorism

This  [post](http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2019/09/25/607114/Iraq-Salih-terrorism)  was originally published on  [this site](http://www.presstv.com/RSS/MRSS/1)  Iraq’s President Barham Salih addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City, New York, the United States, on September 25, 2019. (Photo by Reuters)  **Iraqi President Barham Salih has called for international assistance to rebuild the war-ravaged Arab country in the aftermath of victory over the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.**  Addressing the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Salih stated that his country is at the doorstep of positive development after defeating the extremists, warning of attempts by Daesh remnants to re-organize.  The Iraqi president further noted that the Baghdad government values developing bilateral relationships with its neighbors in order to transform the country from a battlefield to an economic hub in the Middle East region.  Salih also called for efforts to help Syrians reach a political solution to nearly nine years of conflict.  He then condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial pledge to annex the Jordan Valley and the adjacent northern Dead Sea in the occupied West Bank as blatant violation of international law and regulations.  The Iraqi president finally urged the international community to help reduce tensions in the Persian Gulf, and expressed serious concern over the Saudi-led military campaign against Yemen.  from: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2019/09/25/607114/Iraq-Salih-terrorism


therussophileorg--2019-09-20--Russia expects to cooperate with China on Syrian recovery

This  [post](https://tass.com/politics/1079130)  was originally published on  [this site](http://tass.ru/en/rss/v2.xml)  MOSCOW, September 20. /TASS/. Moscow hopes to cooperate with Beijing on Syria’s post-conflict recovery, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said in an article published in the International Affairs magazine.  “Beijing is raising its profile in Syrian affairs, which opens up the possibility of China participating in the post-conflict recovery along with Russia and other states as the situation in Syria noticeably improves,” the senior diplomat stated. “We aim to cooperate with China extensively in resolving Syria’s current issues and promoting the soonest normalization of the lives of the Syrian people. We commend Russian-Chinese cooperation against the peremptory attempts by the West to accuse Damascus of chemical attacks and in this context, impose unnatural attributive functions to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.”  Speaking of Russian-Chinese international cooperation, Morgulov pointed out the similar approach of both countries regarding the situation in Venezuela. “The attempts to carry out an unlawful coup in Venezuela with active outside support cause a deeply negative reaction among sensible people,” he noted. “Moscow and Beijing do not approve of “color revolutions”, regardless of which appealing mottos are being used. The only acceptable way to regulate the situation in the Bolivarian Republic is to launch inter-Venezuelan dialogue between the conflict parties with the aim to reach a political and legal solution to the crisis.”  “As for the international community, Beijing and we both think that it must aid this process instead of meddling in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state,” the diplomat stressed.  from https://tass.com/politics/1079130