Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Almost everyone in the Japanese government is “just astonished” by the latest developments in Syria, a government official told Arab News Japan on Sunday.

While Japan did not consider the security situation in Syria safe enough to reopen its embassy in Damascus, TSUJI Akihiro has been acting as the country’s non-resident chargé d’affaires.

It is expected that the Japanese government will make its position clear at a meeting to be held on Monday, the official said.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Embassy in Tokyo issued a statement that said: “In order to manage the affairs of our fellow citizens, and within the framework of the relevant statements issued by the Commander of the Military Operations Department and the Prime Minister, the embassy will resume providing emergency consular services starting from Wednesday.”

It added that it hopes “a new day will bring goodness and blessings to Syria and its people, healing its wounds, strengthening its strength, and promising a prosperous future.”