The President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, expressed his pain and sadness over the death of the former Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, whose passing represented a great loss to the sister State of Qatar, to Lebanon, and to the Arab world. He said: “Lebanon, as president and people, recalls with all appreciation and loyalty the sincere fraternal positions expressed by the great deceased towards it, especially during the Israeli aggression in July 2006, where the State of Qatar, under its leadership, stood by Lebanon in one of its darkest stages, and contributed to alleviating the suffering of its people. Lebanon also highly values the initiatives launched by His Highness in the field of rebuilding Lebanese villages and towns damaged by the war, in a step that embodied the depth of Arab solidarity and the spirit of responsibility, and left a lasting impact on the conscience of the Lebanese. His Highness the late Emir was a lover of Lebanon and played an active role in bringing viewpoints closer between the Lebanese and launched initiatives that had a significant impact on the process of national reconciliation, most notably his sponsorship of the Doha Conference in 2008, which ended a critical stage in Lebanon’s modern history and restored political life to constitutional institutions and security to Lebanese territories. President Aoun offered his deepest condolences to the son of the late great man, His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who continues the path of his late father in helping Lebanon and launching commendable political and humanitarian initiatives to achieve security and stability in Lebanon and end the suffering of its people. He also offered condolences to the family of the deceased and his loved ones, expressing Lebanon’s complete solidarity with this painful affliction, asking God Almighty to cover the late great man with his vast mercy, and to inspire his family with patience and solace.