Beirut, Lebanon—In preparation for the launch of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) in Lebanon, UPF representatives met with four Lebanese parliamentarians and a director general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon on September 20 and 22, 2017.
On September 20, UPF representatives met with Hon. Habib Khodr, a Lebanese member of parliament (MP) from North Lebanon.
Afterwards at the Parliament of Lebanon, they met MP Elie Marouni, who heads the Kataeb Party in Zahle, the capital of Beqaa Governorate in east Lebanon and, later, MP Nadim Gemayelat at Bachir Gemayel Foundation’s office. Hon. Gemayel is the son of the late Bachir Gemayel, a Lebanese leader who was elected president on August 23, 1982. A few weeks later, on September 14, 1982, he was assassinated.
In the evening, Mr. Thomas invited the UPF representatives to a dinner at a restaurant near the seafront.
On September 22, meetings were held with MP Bassem Shabb, a Protestant Christian who is a member of the Future Movement Party, and Ambassador Elie Tuerk, who is a director general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon. Mr. Tuerk is the nephew of the late Ambassador Fouad El Tuerk, who was a dedicated Ambassador for Peace and longtime supporter of UPF’s vision for peace.
The meetings were a good step forward in preparing for the planned launched of the IAPP in Lebanon. All four Members of Parliament and Mr. Tuerk wish to collaborate with UPF.
