Moncef Al-Marzouki:Numerous Projects Between Tunisia and Qatar in Light of Strong Relations

Tunis, April 19 (QNA) - HE Tunisian President Dr. Mohamed Moncef Al- Marzouki has asserted his country's commitment towards strengthening cooperation between Tunisia and the State of Qatar in all fields, particularly in light of the distinct relations between the two countries. In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) published here on Thursday , the Tunisian President said that his visit to Doha due to start tomorrow, Friday to attend the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) would present an opportunity to meet with Qatari senior officials and discuss means of implementing the agreed upon projects, in addition to addressing new investments. Al-Marzouki explained that he will lead a high ranking delegation including the Trade Minister and the Secretary of State for International Cooperation during the visit to Doha. A number of issues will be discussed with Qatari officials, most importantly advancing and rapidly proceeding with current projects between the countries towards completion, he added. Many of the projects and concepts presented between Tunisia and Qatar are concerned with tourism, construction, energy, and combustibles and fuels , said the Tunisian President . An honest willingness to cooperate is present between both sides and Tunisia feels confident that Qatar will benefit from investing in Tunisia with its attractive investment environment and open ports on many countries, Marzouki indicated. Marzouki hailed as excellent the relations between Tunisia and Qatar, and said that Doha is a central point in Tunisia'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 labor with dignity. It's also the country that let the Arab voice speak," Marzouki was quoted as saying in his exclusive interview with QNA. The Tunisian president further said that HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is happy with the Tunisian revolution, wants it to succeed, and that Qatar is willing to help the Tunisian economy. 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," he said. Elaborating the Tunisian President said, "We didn't feel at any time that our brothers in Qatar want to jeopardize the Tunisian sovereignty. On the contrary, they support us without anything in return," said Marzouki, noting that "croaking voices" that criticize Qatar, don't represent the Tunisian people who are grateful to their Qatari brothers. On the effect of Libya's current situation on Tunisia, Marzouki said in his interview with QNA that its ''Libya'' stability is considered a focal issue to Tunisia, indicating cooperation and coordination over security and politics are underway on a great level between the two countries. The Tunisian President highlighted the strong integration between the people and governments of Libya and Tunisia, recognizing the difficult stage the country is witnessing after an armed revolution. He explained that Tunisia closely follows Libyan affairs as its future is associated with it. On his view of the Syrian crisis, Tunisian President Al-Marzouki asserted to QNA that there was no clear solution to the conflict. Al-Marzouki considered UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's mission to have almost failed, attributing that to the Syrian regime's lies and procrastination in reluctance to its success. The solution lies in the hands of China and Russia because if they pressure Al-Assad's regime while denying him access to weaponry and encircling him, he would not stand strong facing everyone, Al-Marzouki proposed. The Tunisian President opposed foreign military intervention describing its effect as "an explosion in the area", as it is evident that nobody is prepared to send soldiers including Turkey and Europe. Talk over arming the opposition seems logical, but will provide the regime with a pretext for military conflict it could attempt to justify with failure of political means, he explained. A civil war would follow, forcing opposition to the negotiating table as the regime blackmails it into accepting its presence, Al-Marzouki remarked. The President considered mimicking Yemen through a transitional government possibly from within the regime headed by the Syrian President's deputy to be the least worst scenario now in Syria, given the elections take place within one year under the supervision of an Arab peace-keeping force maintaining security. The regime heads in Syria need to be pressured and the Syrian revolution regains its peace upon entering into civil disobedience, only then can an Arab peacekeeping intervention in Syria be considered with the acceptance of Syrians and the reassurance of minorities, explained the Tunisian president. Elaborating Al-Marzouki said that Al-Assad needs to leave, possibly to Russia or Latin America, but may he leave with his people so we could bring peace back to Syria. It would have been possible to approach the popular revolution then politically pressure Al-Assad's regime, but that did not happen. This is a phase where all of the unfavorable solutions come into action, including armory, external intervention, among others resulting in a worse situation, said the Tunisian President. Over hosting Al-Assad in Tunisia if he steps down, Al-Marzouki indicated that the issue was unrealistic, clarifying his response was to a journalist who had asked if Tunisia would accept Al-Assad's stay in the occasion Russia refused it. It was a "joke", "nonsense", the Tunisian President described hosting Al-Assad in Tunisia, explaining that it had been blown out of proportion into a political issue. Al-Marzouki aimed to express that Al-Assad should be given space to leave whenever he decides, prioritizing an end to the massacre. It is worthy to mention that the friends of syria conference was first held in Tunis on Feb.24 in which Qatar called for an Arab force to provide "security for the Syrian people". (QNA)