Qatar Prime Minister Asserts Importance of Peaceful Power Transfer in Syria

Doha, August 04 (QNA) - HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani said he conducted phone conversations with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Arab League Chief Nabil al-Arabi, and UN-Arab League peace envoy for Syria Kofi Annan, asserting that he notified them of the Arab side's disapproval of a new joint envoy with the same authorization which had been provided to Annan, adding that a peaceful transfer of power in Syria is the only acceptable authorization. Annan has reached a result, which he mentioned in his speech; the Security Council is ineffective because of disagreements between superpowers, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said stressing that such differences should not come at the expense of the Syrian people, but unfortunately they do. The second reason was the temporization from the Syrian side as it has not yet fulfilled its obligations amid an escalation of killing and destruction, HE the Prime Minister said. HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim stressed that Arab countries will not accept another joint envoy representing them and the Security Council with Annan's same authorization because circumstances have completely changed and the only authorization should be the peaceful transfer of power in Syria. Annan did all he could to reach a solution for the crisis, but it has been clear that the other side didn't want this solution but rather favors discussions for temporization, HE the Prime Minister said, adding that the United Nations General Assembly resolution came to assert that the majority of the international community is seeking a solution fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people. Regrettably the Security Council is ineffective so any new envoy's mission (if they want the contribution of Arab countries) should be a peaceful transfer of power in Syria, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim remarked. With regards to accusations by the Syrian delegate of some countries attempting to militarize the crisis, HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani said that the Syrian side had 16 months to peacefully solve the crisis, but they favored one path, that of killing and detentions. We hoped that the Syrian crisis would be solved by the Syrians with a Syrian will, but the regime does not have solutions other than the use of force, he said. Responding to a question on whether the United Nations General Assembly's resolution paves the way for action beyond the UN framework towards the Syrian regime, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said I have previously called for such action at the Friends of Syria conference in Paris, because nations have acted in favour of peoples in different and diverse areas of the world and there should be an international will to act if the Security Council remains in its stalled condition, HE explained. HE the Foreign Minister denied as untrue French media reports on Qatar Red Crescent's transporting of weapons to Mali, stating that Qatar does not provide any party in Mali with weapons, stressing that the conflict in Mali should be resolved through peaceful means between neighboring countries and the African Union. HE asserted that the reports "are false allegations and we know their targets," adding that similar reports happened before, such as claims spread by some in the United Nations who accused Qatar and other nations of such acts. The issue of Mali is an African affair, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said reiterating that Qatar does not pursue such actions, especially because Qatar Red Crescent is engaging in a noble humanitarian work. (QNA)