QNA

DOHA THE Deputy Emir, Heir Apparent and the Deputy Commander-in- Chief of the Qatari Armed Forces His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on Thursday attended a ceremony held to honour members of the Qatari military task force in Libya.

He greeted the military officers and other officials who took part in the mission and lauded success of mission, which was executed in extremely difficult and complex conditions. He also witnessed a parade of personnel and vehicles that participated in the mission as well as a para-jumping presentation by them.

In his speech, HH the Deputy Emir said the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, took the wise and brave decision to support the Libyan people when pro-regime forces were advancing towards Benghazi to commit atrocities on unarmed civilians.

“It was a historic and decisive decision,” he said.

“Thanks to your will and commitment, Qatar will continue its development process, build a modern state and achieve sustainable development,” HH the Deputy Emir said.

Pointing out that Qatar gave unconditional support to the Libyan people’s revolution, he said Qatar’s principle remains not to intervene in any country or impose any political regime.

Earlier, Qatari Armed Forces Chief of Staff HE Major-General Hamad bin Ali al Attiyah welcomed HH the Deputy Emir.

Addressing the ceremony, Major- General Attiyah praised the Qatari Air Force for providing guidance, training and humanitarian assistance and effecting medical evacuation during the Libya mission.

The Qatari Armed Forces along with security authorities and civil bodies presented a brilliant image of the country by supporting the Libyan people in their distress, he said. He expressed gratitude to HH the Deputy Emir for his efforts in guiding the Qatari Air Forces to success in Libya.

He wished the armed forces and security and civil authorities all progress, development and success under the wise leadership of HH the Emir.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the Council’s Deputy Chairman Salem Qanan praised HH the Emir, HH the Heir Apparent, the government and the people of Qatar for standing with the Libyan people in times of adversity.

“On this day, we honour those who stood with the Libyan people during their February 17 revolution,” Qanan said, pointing to the Qatari Ali Hassan al Jabber who fell martyr in Libya during the revolution.

He said Libya will never forget Qatar for giving the revolution all help it could. A number of televised speeches were delivered during the ceremony.