DOHA: The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, said yesterday that the Emir’s proposal to send Arab troops to stop the bloodshed in Syria is being backed by many fellow Arab countries since it does not aim at supporting one party to win a battle but to bring the violence to an end.
The proposal is being seriously discussed and it needs a UN Security Council resolution for implementation. The Emir
H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s proposal talks of re-assembling the Arab Deterrent Forces that were once in Lebanon, the Premier said.
He was addressing a joint news conference with his visiting Lebanese counterpart, Najib Mikati.
Replying to a question regarding the presence of radical groups in Syria, the Premier said Qatar’s policy is not to support any radical group. “Whatever we are doing (as regards Syria) we are doing through the Arab League and in a transparent manner,” he stated. Qatar is providing humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon as well as within Syria.
The PM reiterated that if the situation in Syria continues to be what it is, more radical groups would emerge. Regarding the efforts of the UN-Arab joint envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, the Premier said: “We have full confidence in his abilities, but doubt that the other party (a reference to the Syrian regime) honestly wants to resolve the issue peacefully.” The Peninsula
“Talks and discussions are good, but practical steps are something else,” he said, adding that the outcome of Brahimi’s mission and his talks with Muslim Brotherhood in Syria may show some new indicators.
The Syrian regime is trying to gain time. The bloodshed in Syria does not serve any purpose either domestically, regionally or internationally and so the regime must take courageous steps to stop violence and heed the call of the Syrian people, said the PM. He said talks between the Emir and Najib Mikati focused on bilateral relations on ways to boost them.
The Lebanese Premier, meanwhile, lauded Qatar’s support for his country, revealing that the Qatari Prime Minister informed him that the Emir had ratified last morning six agreements between Qatar and Lebanon, which were put on a hold for sometime. He also pointed out that the Qatari-Lebanese Supreme Committee will meet in Doha early next year. Among other issues discussed were joint investments and Qatari investments in Lebanon. Qatar is ready to invest in projects in Lebanon that are economically feasible.
The other issues discussed involved the ban on the visit of Qataris to Lebanon due to the security situation in the region. “This has nothing to do with Lebanon. We enjoy special relations with Lebanon. That’s why we have invited its premier,” H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani said. There is improvement in the security situation and these issues are still under discussion between the two countries.
“We are fully aware of the circumstances surrounding the actions that had taken place and are sure that the Lebanese government and people reject such acts, and at the same time we understand the current situation and the circumstances our brothers in Lebanon are undergoing,” he said. The Peninsula
