A country between hope and challenge

The Delegation was invited to the Presidential Palace by H.E. President General Michel Aoun (from left to right: Dr. Wahlers, Prof. Dr. Vogel, H.E. General Michel Aoun, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lebanon H.E. Martin Huth, Resident Representative Lebanon and Head of the Rule of Law Program Middle East/North Africa Peter Rimmele)

KAS

Dr. Wahlers and the former President of the Lebanese Republic and President of Maison du Futur H.E. Amine Gemayel are signing the Memorandum of Understanding (front from left to right: Dr. Wahlers and H.E. Amine Gemayel; behind from left to right: Hana Nasser, Peter Rimmele, Prof. Dr. Vogel, Nils Woermer)

KAS

Prof. Dr. Vogel gave a lecture on religious values in politics in front of high-ranking audiences at a conference in Beirut. In the lecture, he referred to the CDU as an example for the realization of Christian values in Germany.

Conference about Christian values in Politics (from left to right: Resident Representative Lebanon and Head of the Rule of Law Program Middle East/North Africa Peter Rimmele, Dr. Wahlers, former Prime Minister H.E. Tammam Salaam, Prof. Dr. Vogel, former Prime Minister H.E. Fouad Siniora, former President of the Lebanese Republic H.E. Amine Gemayel, Administrative Director Hana Nasser and Head of Syria/Iraq Office Nils Woermer)

The Delegation met the Archbishop of Beirut, H.E. Boulos Matar

KAS

Prof. Dr. Vogel und Dr. Wahlers visiting a refugee camp in the Bekaa. They were speaking with affected families and received a briefing about the situation on the ground by representatives of the UNHCR.

The Delegation visited the Temple of Baalbek (from left to right: Administrative director of the KAS Office Lebanon Hana Nasser, Dr. Wahlers, Historian Christian Kirchner, Research Fellow of the KAS Syria/ Iraq Office Lucas Lamberty, Head of Syria/Iraq Office Nils Wörmer, Resident Representative Lebanon and Head of the Rule of Law Program Middle East/North Africa Peter Rimmele, Governor of Baalbek/ Hermel Bashir Khodr and Prof. Dr. Vogel)

KAS

The Delegation met the Governor of Baalbek/Hermel Bashir Khodr who informed the delegation about the current situation in Baalbek/Hermel and explained the complexity of the Lebanese- Syrian border. Furthermore he offered to present his assessment of the situation to the German public. Therefore the KAS invited Mr. Khodr to an informative exchange to Germany.

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Vogel, former Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia, and honorary chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and Dr. Gerhard Wahlers, Deputy General Secretary of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, have been on a visit to Lebanon from 6 to 9 February 2017. The trip involved meetings with several eminent figures, such as the new president of the Lebanese Republic, His Excellency General Michel Aoun, former President H.E. Amine Gemayel, former Prime Minister H.E. Tammam Salam, former Prime Minister H.E. Fouad Siniora and H.E. Bishop Boulos Matar.

In the talks it became clear how much the cedar state is between hope and challenge: after a long period of internal political stalemate, the country has a new president with Michel Aoun since a few months. At the same time, the neighboring regions do not settle down: regional instability, terrorism and the continuing flow of refugees from neighboring Syria have a direct impact on the political and economic situation of the country. In addition, Lebanon has become a stage for conflict of interests between Saudi Arabia and Iran that are struggling for regional supremacy.

"It is therefore all the more important that we continue to expand our cooperation with Lebanon, including political as well as non-state partners," said Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Gerhard Wahlers during the trip. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and its long-standing partner Maison du Futur (MdF). The goal of this partnership is to strengthen the exchange of information and opinions on conflict resolution, political and economic development and the promotion of dialogue between cultures in Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa region. The foundation already has two offices in Lebanon. In addition to the country project Lebanon, the countries Syria / Iraq are also processed from Beirut. Lastly, the rule of law program of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for the Middle East and North Africa, which is also managed from Beirut, will be continued under a new direction.

Press releases:

Conference:

Kataeb

L'Orient Le Jour

Lebanon Files

National News Agency

INN Lebanon

Memorendum of Understanding:

Al Liwaa

An-Nahar

Lebanon Debate

El Nashra

Shafaqna

IM Lebanon

Akhbarak

Al hadath News

Addiyar