World Has Lost Sight Of Syrians, Says Qatari Leader

The world is losing sight of ordinary Syrians with its attention fixated on Daesh, also known as ISIL and the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the leader of Qatar said Thursday.



"We face two things in Syria: Assad's regime killing it's own people, and the terrorist group," said Emir Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad bin Al Thani. "But people tend to forget millions of people who are stuck in the middle of these two threats, who demand their freedom, and who are the future of Syria."



The 34-year-old Qatari leader spoke to an audience at Georgetown University during his first official trip to Washington since he was named Emir of the Gulf state after his father abdicated the throne in June 2013.



Al Thani criticized Assad for what he said were current terrorist operations in Iraq and Syria, saying Assad has given "no hope" to his own people, who demanded justice and a better future when the bloody conflict began in 2011. 



When Syrians asked for justice, Assad responded with violence and as a result we have terrorist groups like Daesh that is now a "threat to all of us," he said.



If Syrian youth aren't given a chance for freedom, jobs and dignity but instead are jailed and excluded from society, "this is what I call hopeless," he said.



When the conflict began in 2011, there were no terrorist groups in Syria, he said, but when young Syrians stood against injustice, "we said from day one if Assad doesn't find solution, we will face terrorist groups … nobody can control." he said.



The solution to problems in the Middle East should not come from the U.S., according to al Thani.



"We shouldn't be depending on America … we should do our own work, we have capability to stay together, face terrorist groups, and help those population for their freedom," he said.



The U.S. has planned to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels to battle against Daesh, but the rebels have asked to also use the weapons against the Assad regime, which appears to be beyond the scope of the Obama administration's current goals.



More than 220,000 Syrians civilians are believed to have been killed in the country since the beginning of the conflict and almost 6 million refugees have taken shelter in neighboring countries, including Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Washington DC