Local daily The Peninsula has reported earlier today (January 20, 2019) that the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Lebanon to participate in the fourth edition of the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun led the well-wishers to welcome the Amir and the accompanying delegation on arrival at Rafic Hariri International Airport.

Qatar is one of only two Arab nations (the other one being Mauritania) sending heads of state to the conference after several countries announced last minute that they would send lower-level representatives.

The Amir was rumoured to initially pull out his attendance but later on confirmed Saturday. A report from Al Jazeera revealed that although a handful of Arab leaders had originally confirmed their attendance, the emir of Kuwait and the Egyptian and Palestinian presidents pulled out at the last minute.

Libya also decided to boycott the summit after members of the Lebanese Amal party tore down and burned its flag near the summit venue last week.

20 countries taking part in the summit sent delegations instead that arrived in the capital Beirut throughout Friday and Saturday.

The economic summit, which has attracted numerous leaders in previous years, is a prelude to the actual Arab League summit taking place in Tunisia in March.

It aims to make Arab leaders agree on a joint statement after discussing the Arab free trade zone and economic impact of Syrian refugees.

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Sonkie

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