Prince Moulay Rachid, King Mohammed VI of Morocco at Doha airport with Qatari Crown Prince Sheik Tamim Ben Hamad Al Thani
MAP, Associated Press (Doha, Rabat, and Beruit, October 19-20, 2012) — HM King Mohammed VI, accompanied by HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, arrived in Qatar Friday on the third stop of the Morocco sovereign’s tour of Gulf countries and Jordan. HM the King is in Doha for talks with HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad al Thani on bilateral ties and developments in the region, in particular the Palestinian issue and Syrian crisis.
The crisis in Syria was implicated in the news of Friday’s deadly car bombing in Beirut, which Morocco condemned as “a criminal act seeking to undermine the security and stability of the sister nation of Lebanon.”
Morocco expressed its sincere condolences to the Lebanese government and heartfelt compassion to the families of victims of the attack, which wounded 80 people and killed eight, including chief of Internal Security Forces Wissam Al Hassan, in the Al Achrafiya neighborhood of Beruit.
Rescue worker carries injured boy at scene of explosion in Beirut / AP
Associated Press reported Saturday that Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati linked the bombing to Syria and an investigation by Al Hassan that had uncovered what authorities said was a Syrian plot to provoke chaos in Lebanon with bombings and assassinations.
Morocco urged the Lebanese to remain unified in the face of the attack and foil attempts to lead the country and region into a spiral of violence and hostilities.
In Doha, the Morocco delegation noted Qatar’s role in humanitarian efforts to help refugees of the Syria conflict, in particular partnering with Morocco to set up a hospital at the Al Zaatari camp in Jordan, which King Mohammed VI visited earlier this week. Foreign Minister El Othmani said the Qatar and Morocco positions on Syria are clear and based on the triumph of the Syrian people.
King Mohammed VI is leading a delegation on his tour of Gulf states and Jordan that includes his advisors, Omar Azziman, Zoulikha Nasri, Fouad Ali Al Himma and Yasser Znagui, Foreign Minister Otmani, Minister of Economy and Finance, Nizar Baraka, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Aziz Akhannouch, Minister of Equipment and Transport, Aziz Rebbah, Minister of Health, Houcine El Ouardi, Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, Fouad Douiri, and General Abdelaziz Bennani, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the South Zone.
