Region | Lebanon
Lebanon 'senses presence of ex-PM's assassins'
Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri was a great man in his life and even greater after his death that united the country, said the Dean of the Lebanese Community in the UAE.
- By Bassam Za'za', Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 February 14, 2006
Dubai: Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri was a great man in his life and even greater after his death that united the country, said the Dean of the Lebanese Community in the UAE.
Albert Matta, President of the Lebanese Businessmen's Council in Abu Dhabi and member of the Abu Dhabi Economic Development Council, said, "The best accomplishment that Lebanon achieved last year was the Syrian withdrawal. But they left without leaving us in peace."
Matta was among a cross section of Lebanese community members in the UAE who spoke on the occasion of the first anniversary of Hariri's assassination.
He told Gulf News on Monday that Lebanon is still sensing the presence of Hariri's assassins. Everybody hopes that the UN investigations will reveal the truth, "after which the country is promised to become better," he added.
Two months ago, members of the Lebanese community in the UAE met parliamentarian Sa'ad Hariri. "We listened very well to every word he said, and I hope all the wishes for a free independent Lebanon will come true soon," said Matta.
"Unfortunately, the economy in Lebanon depends on the results of the investigation which should come soon," he concluded.
Rita Khalid, senior legal consultant at Habib Al Mulla and Co Advocates and Legal Consultants in Abu Dhabi, said prior to Hariri's assassination Lebanon, in general, was "living in a prosperous period especially in 2004" and mainly tourism.
"I imagine that his promotion and representation of Lebanon on the international front was helpful," she said. His demise brought a huge state of "insecurity and instability that we have been living with ever since," she added.
Khalid said everyone has noticed that the people staying inside Lebanon "are tired, fed up and hopeless". She said things improved slightly during the festivities in the past few months.
"I will be optimistic if we pass the next few months peacefully in terms of resolving the issues of Hezbollah and Palestinians," she concluded.
Joseph Ghusoub, World President Elect of the International Advertising Association, said, "Hariri's assassination was a black day in Lebanon's history and that still lives in our memory. Irrespective, life has to continue."
He pointed out "in the past few months the country has been living in a stage of pregnancy for which we hope to see a new birth of a better Lebanon".
Things are not moving as fast as everybody wants and at certain stages they are getting more complicated than before.
"However, I am optimistic because if we lose optimism then there will be no country," said Ghusoub.
Sa'ad Al Zein, General Manager of Abraj Real Estate Company, said a year ago and prior to Hariri's assassination the country was living in "a prosperous stage".
"Lebanon is going through a very critical stage that will hopefully take us forward towards our real position," Al Zein said.
Share this article
Popular in News
News Editor's choice
-
Protest by rights group fails to stop gory Nepal festival
200,000 animals set to be sacrificed
-
Top Korean model found dead in Paris
Kim was an accomplished painter and video filmmaker who had a solo show of her artwork in Seoul
-
Slain journalist Pearl's widow busy with new film
Widow busy producing documentary on lives of inspirational women
