Lebanon Tourism: Lebanese Wine
In the ancient world, Lebanese wine was celebrated The Romans so celebrated the wines of the Bekaa Valley that they dedicated one of the largest temples to wine in the world—the famous Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek.
Lebanon Tourism: The Jewel of the Orient
Lebanon has more archeological sites to see than any country in the world. You can go north to see the Crusader-era Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles that looms over the city of Tripoli, and go on to visit Byblos, the oldest (7000 years) continuously inhabited site in the world, or Tyre and Sidon, from where the Phoenicians loaded their ships to trade across the Mediterranean.
Lebanon Economy: Challenges and Economic Growth Potential
In 2008, the first year of the Doha Agreement that signaled the end of internal violence, the economy grew by 8.5%, 9% in the following year, and is on course to grow 7% in 2010.
Lebanon Economy: Overview of Lebanese Economy 2010
Today, Lebanon is still dominated by its banking sector, which comprises 35 percent of the economy. Lebanese banking is a home-grown industry, by which is meant that it is largely dominated by old families with a deep treasure chest of banking experience that guides them through both good times and bad.
Lebanon National Debt and Privatization
Nevertheless, numerous challenges remain to be met. Chief among these are: reducing the national debt; privatizing services and industries (such as telecom ); repairing infrastructure damaged by neglect and war (presently electricity and some other services are cut for a few hours each day); increasing broadband coverage; and a host of other problems long neglected as a result of stalemated government.
Lebanon Foreign Relations
The most serious foreign policy challenge facing both the government and the economy is another war with Israel. All political parties, including Hezbollah, are committed to developing the nation’s military forces. But all also agree that until a national army is ready, Hezbollah’s armed groups may again be relied upon in the event of an Israeli attack.
Political Situation in Lebanon: Government of National Unity and Reconciliation
Mohamed Chatah, Advisor to the Prime Minister Saad Hariri, best summarizes how Lebanon plans to navigate toward the future: “Politics in the Middle East is turbulent and Lebanon is often pulled in all sorts of directions. Because Lebanon is very diverse, this results in a noisy and often difficult democracy that we have to navigate through without abandoning our principles.”
Lebanon Politics: Understanding Recent Lebanon Politics
A tectonic development in Lebanon’s political history began with the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005. This resulted in huge demonstrations on March 8 (Hezbollah and its allies) and counter-demonstrations on March 14, 2005.
Lebanon Information
Lebanon is a not quite tiny, but definitely a small country nestled along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. About the same size as Jamaica, and ten percent less than Qatar, its total area of 10,400 km2 ranks it 166th on size out of 223 of the countries of the world.
Kuwait (Facts & Figures)
Background: Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by …