QNA

DOHA “QATAR is looking from a positive perspective upon the radical transformation currently underway in the Arab world and the winds of change blowing across the region,” said Assistant Foreign Minister for International Cooperation and Chairman of the Standing Committee for Organising Conferences HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Jabor al Thani.

Speaking before a meeting of the Club Monaco which started in Doha on Friday, the minister stressed on the country’s support for such changes in order to enhance the democratic process and to support freedom in the region.

“Qatar cannot stand with its hand-folded while seeing people being brutally suppressed simply because they are demanding their legitimate rights. Therefore, the country has started providing all forms of political and moral support,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

“The country believes that a comprehensive political reform process is necessary for expediting the pace of participation of the popular majority in taking high risk decisions, which may cost their lives,” he added.

On the Syrian crisis, Sheikh Ahmed warned that the continuation of the status quo in Syria threatens the entire region and will be of dire consequences unless the international community succeeds to salvage the situation seriously and effectively. “In the light of this painful reality, Qatar believes in the need that the Syrian regime should halt the killing machine and bloodshed against its own people on the basis of the Arab League initiative reached on January 22, 2012, which include an integrated plan that allows the start of a peaceful solution in Syria,” he said. “In this regard, the Syrian regime should listen to the calls of its people as well as the many Arab and international calls to make serious endeavours to accomplish real reforms aimed at achieving a peaceful transition of power and at establishing a democratic system to ensure the participation of all categories of the Syrian people,” he added.