Syrian interim Prime Minister Ahmad Tomeh in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Istanbul, Asharq Al-Awsat—In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, the newly elected Prime Minister of the opposition-backed Syrian interim government Ahmad Tomeh criticized the international community, saying that the Syrian opposition is frustrated with the world’s inability to take steps to end the bloodshed in Syria.
He said, “The international community has disappointed us,” adding, “Any delay in finding a political solution will open the door to major problems in the future, including extremism and radicalism.”
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat from Istanbul, Tomeh said: “If an international decision to solve the Syrian crisis were to be taken now, we would be able…to run the government efficiently and thus win back more than three quarters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) supporters. We are convinced that most of them joined the organization out of destitution and poverty.”
For Tomeh, the Islamist ISIS does not enjoy a wide support base in Syria.
He also revealed that he is putting the finishing touches to his interim government, saying that the members of the cabinet will be announced following the Eid Al-Adha celebrations, scheduled to take place sometime later this week.
Tomeh added the names of the members of the government will be submitted to the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) for a vote of confidence during its meeting on October 25.
Tomeh also discussed receiving certain promises of support from Arab and international countries for his government which, he says, will need at least USD 300 million per month in aid to operate effectively.
Responding to a question about where this government will operate out of, Tomeh told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new interim government will be based in Turkey close to the Syrian borders but refused to give any other information, citing security concerns.
The full text of Asharq Al-Awsat’s interview with Syrian interim government PM Ahmed Tomeh will be published in English soon.