LOC20:55
17:55 GMT
The Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
By Mahdi Al-Nemr (with photos)
ROME, April 16 (KUNA) -- The Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al
Thani on Monday lashed out at the UN Security Council for its "immoral stance"
on the atrocities being committed against the Syrian people.
"It's immoral for the Security Council to stand idle and fails to offer
help to the Syrian people who face killings on a daily basis," the Amir said
in a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti after
their talks at Chigi Palace here this afternoon.
He cast doubts on the prospects mediation effort of the UN-Arab League
Joint Envoy for Syria Kofi Annan and the recently formed monitoring mission,
saying: "The prospects of the success for these efforts to end the violence
there are as meager as three percent."
The failure of the international community to act and back up the peaceful
demands of the Syrian opposition over the last year prompted the opposition to
take up arms which risks sparking an all-out civil war, he cautioned.
Regarding the talks with Monti, Sheikh Hamad said they focused on the
bilateral relations in various fields, in addition to the latest developments
on the regional and international arenas.
On his part, Monti said his country backs the mediation efforts led by the
UN and the Arab League and stated support to Annan's mission.
Italy is ready to take part in the monitoring mission and help the recently
reached agreement on ceasefire stand, the prime minister affirmed.
Asked about the possibility of foreign military intervention in Syria,
Monti said his government, out of its pragmatic approach, favors waiting for
the outcome of the monitoring mission in the coming period before deciding on
the next step. (end)
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