'Responsibility is going to be a tough challenge'

The women are Lebanese, educated, skilled and represent half of the society. They wanted representation in the government and they have got it, according to new Lebanese Prime Minister Omar Karami.

That was Karami's explanation to the local media in Beirut when he was asked about naming Wafaa Al Diqa Hamzeh and Leila Riad Al Solh, the first female ministers in Lebanon's political history.

Wafaa Al Diqa Hamzeh, a Shiite, was named Minister of State while Layla Riad Al Solh, a Sunni, was named Minister of Industry.

"Frankly, I was astonished when I was named a state minister in the new government," Wafaa told Gulf News in a telephone interview from Beirut. "I feel very proud. It's going to be a big responsibility and I hope it will be successful. I don't have any particular agenda in mind. We will be working on social, economic and humanitarian aspects of the people's day-to-day life. Basically, I will also concentrate on raising women's issues and supporting the National Commission for Lebanese Women."

A mother of two daughters, Wafaa earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the School of Agriculture at the American University of Beirut. She has been working at the Agriculture Ministry since 1991.

"For a first-time female minister, it's going to be a tough challenge that we hope to confront successfully. It will be a short-term government and we hope to get enough support from all the parties. We are here to act and not to make promises. The government is determined to succeed."

Before being named minister, Wafaa specialised in rural development and held the post of Head of the Food Technology Authority. She has been active in women's affairs and has taken part in several overseas conferences.

Layla, the new Minister of Industry, could not be contacted because she was attending the government's first meeting.

She was born in Beirut in 1946. She is a mother of three children, Haya, Sabri and Maha, and has worked for the National Council of Tourism.

She is the youngest daughter of the late Lebanese Prime Minister Riad Solh and the widow of former minister Majid Sabri Hamade.

She is the vice-president of the Al Walid Bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation and was its spokeswoman.