Qatar

According to reports, Qatar has made a fresh appeal for an Arab force to intervene in Syria if the ongoing diplomatic efforts by international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi fail. Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani has stated that "Arabs must think seriously about sending forces to ensure security in Syria if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the crisis." 1 He further added that, "It is not a question of intervention in Syria in favour of one party against the other, but rather a force to preserve security." Earlier, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani had noted that Arab states should intervene in Syria given the UN Security Council's failure to stop the civil war.

• 1. “Qatar revives proposal to send an Arab force to Syria”, Asharq al Awsat, January 13, 2013, available at http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=32532