Arab News Japan 

TOKYO: The Syrian presidential election, which was held last week and led to a sweeping victory for incumbent president Bashar Assad, “was not compatible with the Security Council Resolution No. 2254, which supports free and fair elections under a new constitution,” Japan’s foreign minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu said on Tuesday. 

“In order to realize a political solution to the Syrian crisis, Japan believes that all Syrians must be able to participate in the elections, which should take the form that is generally understood in the international community; this is Japan’s position,” Motegi said in reply to a question from Arab News Japan.  “We have repeatedly approached the Syrian government to make a constructive response.”

Motegi added: “Under such a situation, we are not able to see any constructive response from the Syrian government; a ceasefire has not been realized in Syria and there is no progress in the political process. It is regrettable and Japan is concerned about this situation.”

“To reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis, Japan has been continually asking for a constructive response from the Syrian government to realize some kind of political process. We will work in cooperation with the international community and continue with our diplomatic efforts.”