Doha: The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani yesterday said that the situations in Syria and Gaza are totally different, pointing out that Assad’s regime has killed around 50,000 Syrians, besides wounding and taking many as prisoners. He was answering a question on whether the situation in Gaza would shift the world’s attention away from the Syrian crisis.
The Prime Minister added that Syrians made the decision to go for regime-change and Qatar supports the decision. “Some think that what is happening in Gaza will divert attention from what is happening in Syria, but I do not expect that,” he said.
On whether Doha would accept an ambassador of the Syrian National Coalition, the Prime Minister said that the issue is being examined. However, he stressed that it is more important at this stage to develop the coalition.
Meanwhile, Qatar yesterday agreed to invest as much as ¤1bn ($1.3bn) in Italian companies, aiding efforts by Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Monti to breathe life into a weak economy.
Monti was on a visit of Doha during which the deal was signed.
QNA
