HH the Emir and Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki reviewing a guard of honour in Tunis
QNA/Tunis
HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Prime Minister Hamadi al-Jebali presided over official talks between Qatar and Tunisia, which were  held at the government headquarters in Tunis yesterday evening. 
The talks were attended by members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Emir. Tunisia was represented by a number of ministers and senior officials.
Talks dealt with ways to strengthen  the “brotherly relations between the two countries in various fields as well as a number of regional and international issues of common interest”.
After the meeting, HH the Emir and the Tunisian  prime minister witnessed the signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two countries. These included an agreement on investing in Tunisian Treasury bonds, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore investment prospects in environmental preservation and supporting the efforts to combat pollution and memos on vocational training as well for co-operation in oil refining and a natural gas network programme for Tunisian cities between Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) company and the Tunisian government.
A draft MoU on co-operation between Qatar Electricity and Water Company  (QEWC) and the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG) and a memorandum between QNB and the Tunisian finance ministry were also signed. 
An investment agreement to develop a project for equipping the railway station in Soussa as well as the extension of an MoU on the Mahdia Town Project were signed by Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and the Tunisian government.
The Tunisian ministry of investment and international co-operation  and the Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) also signed an MoU on the occasion.
Before the official talks, HH the Emir and the Tunisian prime minister held a bilateral meeting . 
Following the talks, the Tunisian prime minister expressed the hope that HH the Emir’s visit would support Tunisia’s development plan and expand relations between the two countries’ peoples.
Al-Jebali expressed his thanks to the Emir and the Qatari people for their continuous support to the

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Prime Minister Hamadi al-Jebali witnessing the signing of a series of agreements and memorandums of understanding between Qatar and Tunisia

Tunisian revolution and the Arab Spring movement. He expressed his delight at the signing of the agreements which he described as “the basis for enhancing bilateral ties”.
Al-Jebali wished HH the Emir “a nice stay on the Tunisian Revolution’s first anniversary”.
The Emir expressed his thanks to al-Jebali and President Moncef Marzouki for their invitation. He called ties with Tunisia “old and strong”, saying that he was looking forward to special relations with Tunisia. The Emir added that they were fully aware of the latest developments in Tunisia in recent months, adding that Qatar supported co-operation with all Arab countries.
He added that the Arab world had an “historic” chance, in light of the Arab Spring, to form an entity similar to the European Union. He noted that the Arab League was formed prior to the EU. However, the Emir said that the lack of democracy led to a shortfall in participation in decision-making , which in turn prevented the Arab League from moving forward. “After the Arab Spring, an historic chance has now presented itself.”
He said his visit was to congratulate Tunisia on the revolution and to discuss co-operation in various fields.
The Emir arrived in Tunis yesterday afternoon on a two-day state visit.
The Emir and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Tunis- Carthage International Airport by President Marzouki.
Also on hand at the airport to welcome  the Emir and the accompanying delegation were Prime Minister al-Jebali , President of Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar, Tunis mayor Al Adel Belhassan and Qatar’s ambassador Saad bin Nasser al-Hemaidi.
A red carpet reception was accorded to the Emir.
A high- profile official delegation is accompanying the Emir during the visit.
In a statement upon arrival, the Emir said: “It gives me great pleasure to meet each of President Marzouki , Prime Minister al-Jebali and President of Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar, to congratulate them on the first anniversary of the Tunisian revolution and to exchange viewpoints on all issues of concern to relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Tunisia and other issues of mutual concern.”
The Emir voiced his conviction that the visit “would further contribute to deepening ties of co-operation between our two countries for the welfare and goodness of our two brotherly peoples”.

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