HE the Prime Minister Surprised at EU Decision Not to Lift Syria Arms Embargo

Doha, February 18 (QNA) - HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, the Chairman of Arab Ministerial Committee on Syria, has said the EU decision taken today to amend the arms embargo to allow "non-lethal" aid and "technical assistance" to flow to the Syrians is "inapposite".       Responding to a question about the impact of the EU decision and the international indecision on prolonging the crisis in Syria, HE Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, told Al Jazeera that the Syrian people are paying the price for prolonging the crisis, pointing to the fact that the number of people killed as a result of this crisis continues to rise, and that the Syrian government is still taking the same approach unfortunately. As for the European Union's decision, His Excellency said: "I am surprised at this decision. What do rebels want? They want things for self-defense. For this reason I think that this decision is inapposite and will prolong the crisis, although I am confident that the crisis will end in favor of the Syrian people." On the success of the initiative proposed by Maaz al Khatib, head of the Syrian opposition coalition, and the call made by the UN - Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, HE the Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, who is also Chairman of the Arab Ministerial Committee on Syria said : "I think we know the Syrian regime procrastination on such initiatives, even if it accepted them, we know that it (the Syrian regime) buys time, but we support the Lakhdar Brahimi's efforts to find grounds for understanding between the rebels and the government, the objective of which is to implement the resolution adopted in Geneva and particularly regarding the transference of power to the people, because the people have spoken, and paid a very large amount of blood,, he said ... It is a good idea but is it have a timetable? Does it have a specific system?... because the regime might accept the initiative only for the talks. ", HE the Premier and Foreign Minister enquired. HE the Premier and Foreign Minister underlined that the best solution needs a strong resolution by the UN Security Council. On the remarks by British Foreign Secretary William Hague today in which he had announced support for al Khatib's initiative ,HE the Premier and Foreign Minister said " in fact and honesty we are for supporting the opposition with whatever it needs, even if it (opposition) takes up arms for self-defence, as there is no clear international opinion now to end this crisis. (END)