Beirut, (SANA) – Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani lauded the Arab efforts led by Syria and Saudi Arabia to support Lebanon and preventing it from falling into circumstances that benefit its enemies, noting that these efforts were crowned by the visit of President Bashar al-Assad and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to Lebanon.

In a speech during a dinner banquet held at Baabda Palace by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman in his honor, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa said that Lebanon is facing challenges of special nature and undergoing a sensitive stage, praying for this stage to pass peacefully.

For his part, President Sleiman affirmed the strength of the relations between Lebanon and Qatar which led to holding the Lebanese National Dialogue in the Qatari capital of Doha in 2008, resulting in overcoming a crisis affecting Lebanon at the time.

The Lebanese President thanked Qatar for its support of Lebanon in international circles, particularly in the face of the Israeli enemy.

He also wondered how the international community speaks of just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East when it fails to provide the necessary means to implement resolution of international legitimacy and confront Israel's criminal practices in the occupied Arab lands.

Earlier, President Sleiman and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa held talks in Baabada Palace on bilateral relations and the regional situation.

H. Sabbagh