Joint Press Conference for Qatar's Premier & Arab League Chief

Rabat, November 16 (QNA) - In a joint press conference with Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil El-Araby at the end of the emergency meeting of the Arab Ministerial Committee on the situation in Syria, HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani said that economic measures will be considered if no effective measures are taken immediately by Syrian government to cooperate with the Arab League, stop the killing and release prisoners. Asked about the nature of such measures, HE the Premier Minister said there is a study to be submitted by the ministers concerned with economic affairs to the foreign ministers for the approval, pointing to the need for the avoidance of any economic sanctions that can affect the Syrian people directly or indirectly. Responding to a question on a request by the Syrian President to convene an emergency Arab summit, HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said there is a consensus that the conditions were not suitable for such summit, adding for any Arab meeting to be held after the disruption of summits and after the recent developments in the Arab world a proper climate needed to be created. We believe that this proper climate is unavailable and to my knowledge there is no agreement to hold such an Arab summit, he added. His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani also addressed the extent of dissatisfaction among Syrians and the Arab world with regards to the Arab League's action, saying we understand that very well and I understand that the deadline given is 16 and 16 is today. This topic has been discussed with all the ministers, he added. To create a positive atmosphere to discuss the situation a lull in the discussions is required, His Excellency said, stressing we are all keen on Syria. We, he said, are talking about deadline as well as the protocol and we need to have a clear agreement on sending observers and experts to monitor the situation. According to the decision, they have three days to sign this protocol and if they signed it the mission should go there and the killing should also stop, His Excellency added. Unfortunately, over the past three days killings increased dramatically and this, of course, is depressing thing, he noted. HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister stressed that killings must stop in order to have a solution, adding that Syrian people have their own options and are free to choose a government and we do not interfere in Syrian affairs but we try to alleviate the suffering and stop the killing of the Syrian people. (END)