GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT LEBANON
Government and Political
Lebanon is an Arab country. The official language is Arabic but English and French are widely spoken. Lebanon obtained its independence on November 22, 1943. It is a founding member of the League of Arab States and of the United Nations and played an important role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Lebanese flag dates from the early days of independence and is composed of three horizontal stripes: red on the top and the bottom and white in the middle with a Cedar tree covering the central part of the white stripe. The white stripe is equal in area to that of the two red stripes.
Between the years 1975 and 1991, a most devastating armed conflict took place in Lebanon. This conflict was described by the President, reflecting the opinion of most Lebanese, as 'the war of others on our land'. This was one of the most devastating wars in recent memory. Some 150,000 persons died, as many were seriously injured. The physical destruction alone was estimated by International Organizations at $25 to $30 billion which constituted close to 13 times the national income of the country at the end of the war. For the United States, these numbers would translate to 15 million dead and $85 trillion of physical destruction.
The form of government is a parliamentary democracy. The President of the Republic is elected by the Parliament for six years. The Speaker of Parliament is also elected by the Parliament but for four years, which is also the length of the period between parliamentary elections. The President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister who forms a Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet must have the approval of the majority of deputies in Parliament.
General Emile Lahoud is the eleventh president of the Lebanese Republic since Independence. The Prime Minister, Mr. Rafic Hariri,was appointed in 1993.
Official Holidays
| New Year 's Day | January 1rst |
| Islamic New Year | * May 18 |
| Ashoura | * May 27 |
| St. Maroun | February 9 |
| Birthday of the Prophet | * July 27 |
| Good Friday (West) | * April 5 |
| Easter Monday | * April 8 |
| Good Friday | * April 12 |
| Easter Monday | * April 15 |
| Labor Day | May 1rst |
| Martyr Day | May 6 |
| Virgin Mary Resurrection | August 15 |
| All Saints | November 1rst |
| Eid Al-Fitr | * February 1 |
| Independence Day | November 22 |
| Al Adha | * April 27 |
| Christmas | December 25 |
Note:
'Approximate dates: Muslim holidays follow the lunary Muslim calendar and take place some 10 to 11 days earlier each year on the Christian calendar.
Geography and Climate
Beirut is the Capital City of Lebanon. Other major cities are Tripoli (Tarablous), Sidon (Saida), Tyre (Sour) and Zahle.
Lebanon is a small and beautiful country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It is about 225 km (150 miles) in length (its coastline) and is, on average, some 45 km (30 miles) in width. The total area of the country is 10452 square kilometers or about 4500 square miles. It is bordered on the north and east by Syria and on the south by Israel.
Lebanon has a narrow coastal plane and two parallel north/south mountains (the mountains of Lebanon and anti-Lebanon) separated by the fertile Bekaa valley with its main rivers of Litani and the Orantes (al-Assi). The two highest peaks are Kournet Assaouda in the north of Mount Lebanon (altitude 3,083 meters or 10, 112 feet) and Jabal al-Sheikh (altitude 2814 metres or 9,230 feet) in the South of Mount anti-Lebanon.
The climate in the country is moderate and Mediterranean. Lebanon enjoys, on average, some 300 days a year of sunshine. The winter is mild on the coast and snowy in the mountains. The summer is hot on the coast and mild in the mountains. In some spring months, one can ski in the mountains and swim on the coast, both in the same day!
Average temperature for Beirut (coastal), Zahle (Bekaa) are given below:
Average Temperatures in Centigrade
| MONTH | BEIRUT | ZAHLE |
|---|
| January | 13 | 7 |
| February | 14 | 9 |
| March | 16 | 10 |
| April | 18 | 13 |
| May | 22 | 20 |
| June | 25 | 24 |
| July | 27 | 24 |
| August | 28 | 25 |
| September | 26 | 23 |
| October | 24 | 19 |
| November | 19 | 11 |
| December | 16 | 8 |
Economy
Lebanon enjoys a free market economy. Maximum income tax is 10 per cent and, for some types of income, less than that. Foreign currency exchange is also free: there are no restrictions on foreign currencies brought into the country or taken out of the country.
The Lebanese currency, the Lira (=100 piasters), has been strengthening against the US dollar for the past three years and is regaining its reputation as a powerful currency on the international financial markets. In spite of the devastating armed conflict that took place in Lebanon between 1975 and 1990, the growth rate of the Lebanese economy, around 8 per cent a year, is the highest in the Middle East and one of the highest in the world(for more on the economy see section on Demographics)
Lebanon has a very well educated and trained manpower in the various fields of development, including technology. As was already noted, most Lebanese speak three languages at least: their native Arabic, French and English. There are thirteen universities in the country, including two American universities: the long established (1866) American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese American University (LAU). (for more detail see section on History and Demographics)
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