Qatari Premier Addresses UN Security Council Meeting on Syria

New York, January 31 (QNA) - HE Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, who is also Chairman of the Arab committee on the Syria stressed that repression in Syria reached to unimaginable degrees, and that the government killing machine in Syria is still working very effectively, warning that the situation there is sliding into civil war. HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, noted in his speech before the special session of the UN Security Council to discuss the developments in Syria that the Syrian forces committed systematic violations that may rise to the level of crimes against humanity, citing in this regard testimonies and convictions of many human rights organizations and international humanitarian organizations that condemned the killing of thousands of civilians, including hundreds of children shot dead by security forces and the army. HE the Premier and Foreign Minister refuted the allegations by the Syrian regime on foreign plots targeting the country, stressing in this context that the Syrian government has not made any sincere effort to interact with the efforts of the Arab League solution. HE the Prime Minister expressed his aspiration of the positive attitude by the UN Security Council to support the Arab position on the Syrian crisis and to support the Arab League plan to resolve the Syrian crisis, asking the Council to shoulder its responsibilities, and support the Arab sanctions on the Syrian regime. He also urged the Syrian regime to promptly respond to the Arab and international endeavors and efforts to stop the bloodshed and to adoption of a peaceful political process leading to a peaceful transition of power while ensuring civil and human rights for the Syrian people and achieving its aspirations to freedom and democracy. HE Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani said that the Security Council members agreed to hold this meeting to carry out the task entrusted to them. HE emphasized that the interest of Syria is the first and utmost goal, and consequently, protecting Syria's sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity and ensure its stability. HE the Premier and Foreign Minister emphasized the Syrian people's need for cohesion, unity and harmony so as to protect all ethnic, religious and social groups. HE added that the eyes of the bereaved, orphans, widows and thousands of wounded and detainees, displaced persons, children and youth, the elderly and women are looking to the Security Council out of the hope that it would support them and achieve their wishes of a dignified life based on justice, truth and good governance. HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim stressed that the realization of the hopes of the Syrian people is in the hands of the Security Council and added that it is the responsibility of the Council to help the Syrian people. HE the Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani reiterated that the Arab League has sought reaching a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Syria, through a gradual process began with the Arab Initiative of 17/08/2011 that urged the parties of the Syrian crisis to establish a comprehensive dialogue, reaching the Arab League council resolution on 26/10/2011 that demands the immediate cessation of violence against civilians, and forming a committee chaired by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim to contact the Syrian leaders and to hold a dialogue, supervised by the Arab League, with the Syrian opposition in order to achieve peaceful settlement for the crisis, as well as to avoid the falling of more victims and slipping into major confrontations. HE the Premier and Foreign Minister went on to say that the Ministerial Committee held discussions on October 26, 2011 in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and at its meeting with the Syrian side in Doha on October 30, 2011 reached an agreement on an action plan which was welcomed by the Arab League Council at its extraordinary resumed meeting at the ministerial level at the Secretariat General on November 2, 2011, where the Syrian side approved the following plan: - Stop all acts of violence from any source to protect the Syrian citizens. - The release of the detainees because of current events. - Evacuation of cities and neighborhoods of all armed manifestations. - Open the way for the Arab League concerned organizations, Arab and international media to move freely in all parts of Syria in order to get acquainted with the reality of the situation and monitor what is going on. As stated in the plan to proceed with the Committee of Ministers to make tangible progress in the implementation of the Syrian government pledges to make the necessary contacts and consultations with the government and the various spectrums of the Syrian opposition in preparation for the national dialogue within two weeks of its date . Unfortunately the Syrian government did not comply fully with the implementation of their commitments and immediately by the Arab League Initiative , which was adopted on 2 November, prompting the Arab League Council at the ministerial level to decide on the November 12, 2011 to adopt of a number of measures, including economic and political sanctions against the Syrian government, and call upon all the Syrian opposition parties to meet at the headquarters of the Arab League in three days times to agree on a unified vision for the next phase of transition period in Syria. At that meeting, after that idea of ??sending an Arab observer mission to the Syria was crystallized which was not meant to give any party an opportunity to gain time, but for the purpose of stopping the violence and bloodshed. The Arab League Council agreed on the draft protocol on the legal status of the mission assigned to verify the implementation of the Arab plan to solve the crisis and to provide protection for civilians, and in case of the Syrian government failure to sign the Protocol or in non-compliance or non-stop killings and release of the detainees, the decision stipulated that the Arab League Economic and Social Council to hold a meeting to consider to impose economic sanctions. The UN Secretary-General was informed about the decision and he was asked him to take the necessary measure as per the UN related Charter in order to support the efforts of the Arab League. HE the Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani said the Arab League Council at the ministerial level on November 27, 2011 adopted a package of sanctions, including the cessation of flights to Syria in a way that would not affect the Syrian people. The Ministerial Committee agreed in its meeting in Doha on December 3, 2011 on the details related to these sanctions. HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim added that the Arab Ministerial Committee continued its meetings to follow up the developments in the Syria , and held a meeting in Doha on December 17, and in Cairo on January 8, 2012 .. With all these efforts, including contact with the Syrian government, the Syrian side tended to make amendments to the draft Protocol and raised queries demanding answers and explanations for a period which lasted more than a month reflecting clearly Syrian procrastination to shirk its responsibilities in the implementation of commitments, which confirmed the absence of political will by the Syrian government to sign the Protocol and the commitment to implement the terms of the Arab plan. After the collapse of the barrier of fear the popular self-defense began against acts of repression by military, security apparatus, and the Syrian government signed the Protocol on December 19, 2011, and subsequently the Arab Observer Mission was sent to Syria, as the first experience in the history of the Arab League. In fact, the Syrian government has not implemented key provisions of the Protocol, especially those relating to the immediate implementation of the Arab Plan of Action it approved, HE the Premier and Foreign Minister noted . HE the Premier and Foreign Minister urged the council to appreciate the reasons why the Arab Countries adopted its decision, pointing to the ministerial committee meeting in Cairo on 22nd of January which thoroughly reviewed the report of the observation mission, and issued a decision included an agreed-upon initiative on a comprehensive plan for the peaceful settlement that can be accepted and implemented by all the parties and in good faith. This plan, he said is the road map consistent with the Charter of the United Nations to democratically and politically address the crisis, aiming to achieve a peaceful transition of power, that it provides for the formation of a national government to be chaired by an agreed-upon person and with the participation of the opposition taking the task of preparing for a free multicandidate presidential parliamentary elections, conducted under Arabic and international supervision. HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor said the resolution extended, the Arab observers mission for a month. He said that that the Arab League Secretary General announced on January 28, the suspension the mission work until the matter is presented to the Council due to seriously deteriorating security situation and the escalation of the security option. HE the Premier and Foreign Minister stressed that the Arab League started its efforts to resolve the crisis in Syria with good faith but all the endeavors were lost t because the Syrian government was not sincere in cooperating with the initiative and had, unfortunately, no solution but killing its people and rejecting the Arab Initiative, claiming that this was a call for internationalization. HE the Premier and Foreign Minister said we come today to call on the UN Security Council shoulder its responsibilities as per the UN related Charter to the face of human tragedy taking place in Syria by issuing a clear decision to support the Arab initiative and the resolution adopted by the The Arab League Council at the ministerial level on January 22, 2012, which I referred to its content and that the Security Council is to take all measures based on the decisions of the Arab League, especially economic decisions and stop of flights to Syria. HE the Premier and Foreign Minister said : We do not ask for military intervention, but we want to significant economic pressure, hoping that the Syrian regime would be aware that there is no escape from the demands of its people, nor do we aim to change the regime because this would matter is for the Syrian people. The continuation of this situation in Syria threatens the whole region and threatens , unless we redress the situation seriously and effectively, HE the Premier and Foreign Minister said adding that the Arab League has made sincere efforts to resolve the crisis. He expressed hope that Syrian regime would be wise and realize that its approach in Governance is no longer consistent with the logic of the times. Concluding, HE the Premier and Foreign Minister urged the UN Security Council to adopt the draft resolution submitted by the Kingdom of Morocco and otherwise we would be sending a wrong message to the Syrian regime encouraging it to persist in repressing its people, a matter which leads to serious consequences on international peace, security and stability in Syria and the region as a whole, HE the Premier and Foreign Minister said.(END)