* Lebanese president thanks His Highness the Amir for supporting his country and lauds Qatar's prompt dispatch of aid following Beirut blast
* 'We are about to complete a study of rebuilding public schools in partnership with Unicef, and rehabilitating some damaged hospitals in Lebanon': FM

Qatar is committed to stand by the brotherly Lebanese people in the reconstruction phase following the Beirut port explosion earlier this month, support efforts to overcome the humanitarian catastrophe and continue to provide support in the light of its economic crisis and the aggravated Covid-19 pandemic, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has stressed.

He made the observation during a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in Beirut on Tuesday.

On his part, Aoun thanked His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for his stance in support of Lebanon at all times. He also appreciated the prompt response of Qatar under the directives of His Highness the Amir to provide immediate aid to Lebanon after the Beirut port explosion, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

At the beginning of the meeting, HE Sheikh Mohamed conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir to the Lebanese president and for the people further progress and prosperity. He also conveyed the condolences of His Highness the Amir to the Lebanese president for the victims of the explosion, as well as His Highness the Amir's wishes for a speedy recovery of the injured, QNA said.

For his part, Aoun entrusted HE Sheikh Mohamed to convey his greetings to His Highness the Amir, wishing him health and happiness and the people of Qatar more progress, development and prosperity.

In remarks after the meeting, HE Sheikh Mohamed said Lebanon is going through a critical time and that his visit is to convey the condolences of Qatar to the Lebanese people, and to wish a speedy recovery for those injured in the Beirut port explosion.

He added: "His Highness the Amir's directives are clear to study the projects affected by this explosion, and we are about to complete a study of rebuilding public schools in partnership with Unicef, and rehabilitating some damaged hospitals in Lebanon."


HE Sheikh Mohamed during his visit to the Beirut port blast site.

He confirmed the existence of a 'pre-plan' by Qatar to help the Lebanese people overcome the economic crisis before the explosion, adding that Qatar has views that will be discussed with the Lebanese government.

Further, he said "there is no doubt that there is a need for political and social stability in Lebanon in order to support this reform process, hoping that all political and social forces in Lebanon place the interest of the Lebanese people at the centre of these reforms and ensure that these reforms stem from the needs of the Lebanese people not from any external pressures".

HE Sheikh Mohamed also held meetings with a number of Lebanese dignitaries and officials, including Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri, Caretaker Prime Minister Dr Hassan Diab, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Charbel Wehbe, leader of the Future Movement party Saad Hariri, governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque du Liban) Riad Salame, Grand Mufti of Lebanon Sheikh Abdul-Latif Derian, Cardinal Patriarch Moran Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and secretary-general of the Lebanese Red Cross George Kittana.

HE Sheikh Mohamed also toured the explosion site at the Beirut port, where he was briefed on the extent of losses at the port and the damage inflicted on the surrounding areas.

He was accompanied during the tour by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in the Lebanese caretaker government, Zina Aker, and Qatar's ambassador to Lebanon Mohamed Hassan Jaber al-Jaber.


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