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WORLD NEWS Thursday 4 OcTOber 2018

Syria hopes to jumpstart rebuilding despite massive hurdles

By ZEINA KARAM to normalize relations with
Associated Press Syria under Assad.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — But Nasri Khoury, who
With back-to-back trade heads the Syrian-Lebanese
fairs held in Damascus this Supreme Council, an orga-
month, Syria is hoping to nization set up in the early
jumpstart reconstruction of 1990s to support bilateral
its devastated cities by in- cooperation, said it is “high
viting international investors time for the Lebanese gov-
to take part in lucrative op- ernment to reconsider its
portunities. existing policy if wants to
But the absence of signifi- play a principle role in re-
cant Western participants, building Syria.”
the challenges posed by Although 38 Russian com-
international sanctions and panies took part in the Da-
the lack of a political solu- mascus International Fair
tion to the seven-year-old last month, only one made
conflict point to massive it to Tuesday’s opening.
hurdles ahead. Russia is a key ally of Presi-
The government says it dent Assad, and its military
will only award contracts support, starting in 2015,
to “friendly countries” has helped turn the tide in
that have supported Syria In this Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018 photo, Iranian Ambassador in Syria Javad Turk-Abadi speaks to his favor. Russian President
throughout the civil war. In The Associated Press during the opening of the Syria rebuilding exhibition at the fair grounds in Vladimir Putin has been lob-
an address to the U.N. Gen- Damascus, Syria. bying for Western aid fund-
eral Assembly last week, Assocaited Press ing, while helping the Syrian
Syria’s foreign minister said within Syria — and entire Arnous said 270 companies and others with their top government prepare for an
Western countries that set cities lay in ruins, their infra- from 29 countries are tak- floors collapsed could be offensive to retake the last
political conditions before structure decimated. ing part in this year’s exhi- seen on each side of the rebel stronghold of Idlib, in
committing reconstruction Syrian officials say that with bition despite the sanctions highway leading to the northwestern Syria.
funds are “neither invited the government’s military imposed on Syrian. fair — testimony to the fe- Valeriy Anisimov, who
nor welcome to help.” gains over the past year, “I don’t hope that the West rocious fighting that raged works for the Russian pet-
But the relatively small- it’s now time to focus on re- will come here, because it there for years. rochemical firm JSC Prom-
scale participation of building. had a big hand in the war At the opening of the con- catalys, says it hopes to
companies from Syria’s The government now holds against Syria,” said Youssef vention on Tuesday, Syrian tap into the underserved
allies, Russia and Iran — just over 60 percent of Syr- Alousi , sales manager at officials, journalists and visi- market but has yet to find a
both under U.S. sanctions ia’s territory, with the north Balkis Ceramics, a Syrian tors walked among stalls for way around the sanctions.
— can hardly even begin largely controlled by U.S.- tile manufacturer which construction materials, in- He said he was hoping to
to cover the enormous re- backed and Kurdish-led was showcasing, among dustrial supplies, and even speak with other business
construction costs in Syria, forces, opposition fighters other designs, a picture an Iranian maritime com- people at the conference
estimated to be anywhere allied with Turkey, and in- of Syrian President Bashar pany with intricate model about transferring money
between $250 billion and surgent groups. Assad printed on tiles. “Syr- ships. into and out of Syria.
$400 billion. A U.N. agency “The process of eradicating ia will be rebuilding Syria,” Syria’s tiny neighbor, Leba- “There are many problems
estimates the war has cost terrorism has reached its fi- he added. non, had the second high- with Syria industry because
$388 billion, and Syria says nal stages, and the recon- The exhibition is being est number of participants, of U.S. sanctions, and our
it needs $48 billion in short struction phase is knocking held at the Damascus In- with 35 companies exhibit- company is ready to pro-
term investments for the on the doors,” Public Works ternational Fairgrounds ing their products Tuesday. vide all the catalysts, all the
housing sector alone. and Housing Minister Hus- near the airport, not far Lebanese companies are technologies that Syrian
Around half of Syria’s pre- sein Arnous said Tuesday, from wrecked former rebel anxious to get a piece of customers cannot get be-
war population of 23 million after a ribbon-cutting cere- strongholds. Israel struck the reconstruction cake, cause of these sanctions,”
has been uprooted - nearly mony inaugurating the 4th targets near the airport last but the Lebanese govern- he said, adding that his
6 million fled abroad, while International Trade Exhibi- month. ment is split, with Prime Min- company is in talks with two
6.6 million are displaced tion for Rebuilding Syria. Buildings with gaping holes ister Saad Hariri reluctant oil refineries in Syria.q