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Japan ready to build schools and hospitals in Syria — Russian Defense Ministry

Japan plans to help demine and restore infrastructure facilities in the former de-escalation zones Eastern Ghouta and Homs

MOSCOW, August 3. /TASS/. Japan has expressed readiness to implement projects for the construction and restoration of schools and hospitals in Syria, Mikhail Mizintsev, the Russian defense ministry’s National Defense Management Center, said on Friday.

According to Mizintsev, following France’s initiative to render humanitarian assistance to civilians in Eastern Ghouta, Japan came out with its own initiative to help demine and restore infrastructure facilities in the former de-escalation zones Eastern Ghouta and Homs.

"Apart from that, the Japanese side is ready to implement small projects for the construction and restoration of schools and hospitals. The Japanese leadership said it is ready to the implementation of bigger projects," he said, adding that the international community could have been more active in helping Syria revive after the war.

After a 2+2 meeting between Russian and Japanese foreign and defense ministers on July 31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the Japanese side had demonstrated interest to Russian initiatives concerning the return of refugees to Syria.