Tuesday, 23 November 2010
| A delegation from the World Council of the Lebanese Cultural University of the world visited the city of Caracas, at the invitation of the Venezuelan National Council of the University headed by Michel Assaf, to participate in the laying of the cornerstone of the city's Gibran Khalil Gibran Cultural Center. The delegation included the world President of the university, Eid al-Shdrawi and his wife, Ms. Haifa, World Secretary-General Dr. Nicolas Kahwagi and his deputy Roger Hani, former world president of the university Elie governor and his wife, head of Lebanon office at the university Tony Saints, chairman of the University Business and economics committee Antoine Mansi, member of the Board of Trustees Dr. Antonio Shaheen and his wife, and representative of British Columbia Jean Abu Samra. The delegation participated in the meeting of the Venezuela branch, during which the activities of the Branch were presented five years ago, and he admired "the organization and the pragmatism of the Venezuelan Council and its unwavering commitment University laws ". Members of the community also participated in a cultural evening at a golf club, where a documentary film about the university and its activities in Venezuela and the planned project were screened. A dinner was held with the participation of my high-ranking delegation, Lebanese families and the president of the Lebanese club in Caracas Romeo Mouawad. The delegation responded to the invitation of Lebanese businessman Bakous Anton to a luncheon called by the Lebanese ambassador, during which he exchanged views on the mechanism for the implementation of elections outside Lebanon to be held in 2013. The community in Caracas participated in the celebration of the first stone for the construction of a square and library under the name of Gibran Khalil Jubran, under the patronage of Mayor Dr. Emilio Gratiron, and the laying of the cornerstone of the project. The festival opened with the speech of Venezuelan National Council Chairman Assaf, welcoming the visiting delegation, stressing that "the planned project will include the positive effects of our children in future generations." He then delivered the speech of the Lebanese community member of the Venezuelan council, writer Azzam Matar, who stressed "the meanings of culture and the importance of cultural edifices in the convergence of civilizations and the fusion of human societies." "The Venezuelan people and Venezuela, represented by the head of the donor municipality, were thanked for bringing the plot of land and the confidence placed on the shoulders of the Allbnainh Cultural University in the world, in the construction of a memorial house for the philosopher and thinker." H e emphasized the rights of expatriates and the non-settlement of non-Lebanese, and the right to acquire nationality for their beneficiaries. "The importance of the Lebanese presence in Caracas, the positive fingerprints they leave in any work they are doing, and their loyalty to Venezuela for more than 100 years of presence and interaction in this country," said Dr Emilio Gratiron, the donor's mayor. He participated in the festival, the visiting delegation, the donor mayor and his management staff, chairman of the Forum of Ambassadors in Venezuela of Lebanon, H.E. Bagjani, President of the Lebanese club in Caracas Romeo Mouawad, general president of the Monastery of St Charbel August Agustín Saab, delegate of the Shiite Islamic Center Mr. Fawzi Kanaan, President of the Lebanese Women's caucus in Venezuela Ms. Rose Marie-Light, former Venezuelan ministers and deputies, widow of the late Farid Matar, a founder of the university in the 1960s. Th e members of the delegation of the University met with the invitation of Lebanese club president Romeo Mouawad, toured in Artime and briefed on his activities, and praised "the hard work to preserve Lebanese originality by the President of the club and his team." |