Tunisian PM Highlights Importance of Ties with Qatar

Tunis, March 13 (QNA) - Tunisian interim Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa has highlighted the importance of his country's ties with Qatar in the wake of January 2011 uprising, pointing to Qatar as one of the first countries to support the will of the Tunisian people in achieving freedom, dignity and democratic transition. Jomaa made the remarks on Thursday in response to a QNA question during a press conference with GCC correspondents ahead of his tour to the region, which starts Saturday. He pointed to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's congratulations to interim President Moncef Marzouki on the passing of the Tunisian constitution as well as the Qatari foreign ministry's mentioning of the step as a historic achievement for the security and stability of Tunisia and an important step towards the establishment of civil and democratic institutions. On cooperation ties between the two countries, Jomaa expressed his satisfaction with the signs that Qatari officials showed towards participation in economic and investment projects, voicing his admiration at the Qatari development and progress under the wise leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He noted that his visit to the Gulf is indicative of the Tunisian government's strong interest in boosting ties with GCC states in the same way it does with its neighbors and the European Union. (QNA)