Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Affirms Importance of Early Qatari Support for Lebanon in Crisis

Doha, June 13 (QNA) - HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in the Lebanese caretaker government Zina Aker affirmed the importance of early Qatari support for Lebanon in its crises and the initiatives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to support the Lebanese people. Aker noted the role of the State of Qatar, which has always led Arab solidarity and rapid support to save Lebanon. In an interview with Al-Sharq newspaper published Sunday, Aker said that Qatar has spared no effort in supporting Lebanon, noting at the same time the immediate reaction of all Arab brotherly countries in all Lebanon's crises. In this regard, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in the Lebanese caretaker government referred to the airlift of aid sent by the State of Qatar following Beirut Port explosion, including field hospitals and medical and food supplies to Lebanon. She praised the field visit of HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani to Beirut Port and his meetings with the parties in Lebanon. She also noted the support of the Qatari institutions for the rehabilitation of Lebanese universities and schools in cooperation with UNESCO, as Qatar provided $10 million in urgent support for the rehabilitation of Lebanese universities and schools. She called on all brotherly Arab and friendly Western countries to contribute to mobilizing support once again in order to save Lebanon, expressing confidence that they will respond to this call. Lebanese-Qatari relations are distinguished and Qatari officials do not miss any opportunity to express their readiness to help Lebanon and get it out of its crisis, Aker said, pointing out that the recent visit of the Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Dr Hassan Diab to Qatar and the talks he had with Qatari officials are evidence of the mutual trust between the two countries and the constant readiness to offer a helping hand. On the resumption of the demarcation of the maritime border between Lebanon and Israeli entity, HE Aker said that this sensitive and important file for Lebanon and the Lebanese and its achievement is in order to preserve Lebanon's right to its territorial waters and natural resources, especially in oil and gas. Lebanon's position is firm on the issue of demarcation in terms of Lebanon's exercise of its sovereign right and its commitment to international resolutions, she added. On the benefits of border demarcation on Lebanon, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in the Lebanese caretaker government said that this would achieve great economic and financial benefits if oil and gas were explored and extracted to get it out of the crisis it is suffering from. The Lebanese negotiating delegation made all efforts to preserve Lebanon's rights, however, some obstacles, especially from the Israeli side, halted the negotiations, looking forward to resuming them again after they have gone a long way under the auspices of the United States. On the Palestinian cause, HE Aker said that Lebanon's position remains firm and supportive of this just cause, especially the Palestinian people, in order to achieve their aspirations for the establishment of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital and the return of the Palestinians to their homeland, expressing its condemnation of the Israeli attacks on Jerusalem and Gaza that affected the safe citizens. (QNA)