QNA

TUNIS TUNISIAN President Dr Mohamed Moncef al Marzouki has asserted his country’s commitment towards strengthening cooperation with Qatar in all fields.

Speaking in Tunis on Thursday, before his visit to Doha for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) conference, the Tunisian president said that he would get an opportunity to meet with Qatari officials and discuss means of implementing the agreed upon projects, in addition to addressing new investments.

Marzouki said that he will lead a high-ranking delegation, including trade minister and the secretary of state for international cooperation during his visit to Doha, scheduled to begin on Friday.

A number of key issues will be discussed with special focus on the current projects between the two countries, he added.

“Many projects and concepts presented are concerned with tourism, construction, energy and combustibles and fuels. There is a sincere effort among both sides to cooperate on the projects. Tunisia feels confident that Qatar will benefit from investing in Tunisia with its attractive investment environment and open ports,” said Marzouki.

Marzouki hailed the excellent relations between Tunisia and Qatar, and said that Doha was a central point in his country’s ties with the eastern Arab countries.

“Qatar is a dear country to us. We can’t forget that it hosted our people when they were in exile, and received the Tunisian labour with dignity. It’s also the country that let the Arab voice speak out,” Marzouki added.

The Tunisian president further said that the Qatari leadership was happy with the Tunisian revolution, and wants it to succeed.

Marzouki dismissed as “nonsense” claims that Qatar interferes in Tunisia’s internal affairs.

“Tunisia is an independent country and its revolution is independent. We are very keen on our independence, and the full independence of the Tunisian decision-making process,” he said.

Elaborating on the issue, he said, “We don’t feel at any time that our brothers in Qatar want to jeopardise the Tunisian sovereignty. On the contrary, they support us without anything in return.” Marzouki also said that beleaguered Syrian President Bashar al Assad must step down and leave for Russia or Latin America, to allow peace to return in his troubled country.