The State of Qatar has been actively engaged in the reconstruction process following a massive blast at Beirut port in August last year. Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Beirut on Tuesday where he met President of Lebanon, H E General Michel Aoun, as well as the caretaker Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Parliament.
The Foreign Minister reiterated Qatar’s support to Lebanon, saying Doha will always be proactive to support the Lebanese people and help them to overcome the crisis. After the port blast, Qatar dispatched two field hospitals to Lebanon to aid the recovery efforts. Doha is also reconstructing a hospital destroyed in the blast. In addition, the State of Qatar is helping rebuild more than 55 public schools, 20 technical institutes, and 80 university buildings in Lebanon. It is also providing scholarships to 400 university students in Beirut.
The Foreign Minister also handed over a written message by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the Lebanese president, in which H H the Amir expressed Qatar’s support for Lebanon and encouraged the parties to give priority to the national interest over political interests in order to achieve political stability in Lebanon.
During his visit, Qatar’s top diplomat also called on all Lebanese parties to accelerate the efforts to find a solution to the political impasse, saying Doha will support any path leading to the formation of a government. The Foreign Minister hoped that a government supported by all factions would bring stability to the country. He wished the various Lebanese political groups success so that they prioritise the interest of the Lebanese people and work to form a government as soon as possible. “We look at the future of Lebanon as a promising and positive future, but this matter requires stability and requires a formed government. We in Qatar wish them all success in their consultations,” he remarked.
H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the process to form a government was an internal Lebanese matter, and added that Qatar --- which has good ties to various political factions in Lebanon --- is ready to play a role if requested by the Lebanese parties to do so.
Qatar’s message and the visit by the Foreign Minister complement the international efforts for political stability in Lebanon. Doha has also said that allocating an integrated economic programme to Lebanon requires the formation of a government.
