DAMASCUS, (ST)- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faysal al-Mikdad and the Resident Representative of the Regional Office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Abdessalam Ould Ahmed Saleh discussed during a meeting on Thursday ways of enhancing cooperation between the Syrian government and FAO, which is one of the oldest and most important UN organizations working in Syria.

Al-Mikdad called on FAO  to focus on its developmental task in Syria during the current era to serve the process of development in the country, hailing FAO's commitment to professionalism, neutrality, independence and non-politicization.

Damascus,( ST) - With the participation of 100 Syrian, Arab and foreign companies, the international exhibition of shoes, leathers and production requirements “Sila” fall and winter 2019-2020, which will last for four days, kicked off today in Damascus Fair ground in Damascus.

The exhibition was organized by the Arab Federation of Leather Industries, the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Industry and the Committee of Leather Industries in the Aleppo Chamber of Industry. It includes a wide range of the latest leather products, including men's, women's and children's shoes, bags, clothing, accessories and related goods.

DAMASCUS, (ST)- Syria has been enlisted among the countries which enjoy the custom privileges of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), so that the Syrian exports to any of the union's five member states will get customs cuts at 25%, according to the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade.

The kind of exports should be among the products specified in the union's adopted list.

The Eurasian Economic Union comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The Central Bank of Syria announced launching the implementation of the initiative “My currency is my power” in coordination with the Damascus Chamber of Commerce.

The initiative is launched through the intervention of the businessmen who put a special account for the Chamber of Commerce in order to reduce the exchange rate of foreign currencies against the Syrian pound in the parallel market as of today after the completion of executive procedures in Syrian Commercial Bank.

The Cabinet discussed today the humanitarian and economic consequences of the Turkish aggression on the Syrian territory and the systematic destruction of the “developmental and service” infrastructure. The displacement of thousands of civilians from their homes and areas, which caused them  great human suffering is a step towards ethnic cleansing practiced by the Turkish aggression and the armed terrorist groups which ally and back this aggression to target the Syrian territorial integrity was also reviewed.

Chaired by Premier Emad Khamis, the weekly session of the Cabinet also discussed the necessary efforts from all ministries and institutions to alleviate the human suffering of the citizens displaced by the aggression. The Cabinet decided to strengthen the presence of the State and all service institutions in the areas liberated from terrorism in the northern and eastern regions as well as to boost relief efforts to ensure the needs of the people of the country and provide all kinds of support and assistance to alleviate suffering and contain the challenges resulting from the destruction of facilities and infrastructure.

The Cabinet stressed on dealing responsibly with the citizens returning to the country who believe in the unity of the land and people of Syria, affirming that the State has the ability to restructure its strategic institutions, unlike the separatist militias that took advantage of the conditions of war and seized control of the institutions in cooperation with Syria's enemies to serve their narrow interests in time they are unable to protect these institutions and maintain the sustainability of their work and the provision of services.

In another context, the Cabinet agreed on the plan of the Ministry of Water Resources for 2020, which includes improving sewage networks, utilizing up to date technologies in this field, using spatial treatment plants for population complexes.

The Cabinet approved the study of the Ministry of Electricity on the application of the Syrian code of thermal insulation and the use of solar energy in the heating of water in the new private and cooperative residential and service buildings, in order to rationalize and reduce energy consumption and preserve the environment.

The Cabinet approved a financial advance worth 2 billion Syrian pounds for the Syrian Trading Establishment in order to be able to implement its plan for positive intervention in all governorates and offer the necessary goods to citizens at reasonable prices and quantities.

In a statement to reporters, Minister of Information ImadSara said that the situation in northern Syria as a result of the Turkish aggression was presented in details in today’s session, pointing out that the Syrian media is working to monitor and document this Turkish aggression and terrorism and the destruction of infrastructure and displacement of civilians.

The Cabinet also touched upon the issue of "SDF" militia, which caused the Turkish aggression in north Syria and the US-Turkish collusion to launch the aggression on Syria, the Minister Sara added.

He said that the Council also showcased the efforts of the Syrian to follow up the conditions of the areas subjected to aggression to contain the damage caused by it, especially with regard to the necessary needs.

For his part, Minister of Water Resources Eng. Hussein Arnous clarified that the Ministry is working on the completion of the existing treatment plants projects, especially near estuaries and drinking water, and focusingon the establishment of similar stations in each region in order to reduce the traction lines and construction, which cost huge amounts.

The Minister underlined the importance of improving the reality of health and eliminating pollution in all provinces.

 Inas Abdulkareem