Doha Backs Lebanon's Political, Security Stability during Mashnouq Visit
Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al-Thani, expressed on Wednesday Doha's “full support for political and security stability in Lebanon.”
The PM, who also doubles as Interior Minister, told Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq on the second day of his visit to Doha that Lebanon should be “steered clear of the developments in the region, mainly the Syrian crisis and should be assisted in overcoming the current stage.”
He said Qatar has played an effective role in helping Lebanon overcome the crisis of Syrian refugees, in backing al-Mashnouq's plan to improve the condition of inmates, and meeting the needs of the Internal Security Forces and the General Security Department.
Al-Mashnouq, who was accompanied by General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, ISF leader Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous and several other top officials, invited Sheikh Abdullah to inaugurate the National Library in Beirut that has been restored by Qatar.
He said the talks between the two sides focused on an announcement encouraging Qataris to visit Lebanon after the holy month of Ramadan.
“Such an announcement has an important impact on the economic situation in Lebanon,” al-Mashnouq said.
“There wasn’t any ban on Qatari nationals. There was only a warning” not to visit Lebanon, he explained.
Following the talks that involved the Lebanese delegation and Qatari officials, the sheikh and al-Mashnouq held a one-hour behind closed-doors meeting.
The PM later threw a lunch banquet in honor of the Lebanese interior minister and his accompanying delegation.
G.K.
M.T.
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