A delegation from the World Lebanese Cultural Union, led by the global president Abbas Fawaz, along with his first deputy Jihad Al-Hashem, vice presidents Ali Nema Nasr, Mohammed Al-Jawzou, and Henry Bou Saab, assistant secretary-general Ahmed Assi, legal advisor Francois Alam, and ambassador Elie Turk, visited Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Fawaz informed the Prime Minister about the union’s activities and requested his assistance in enforcing Lebanese laws on the management of the union and the Lebanese diaspora, to prevent anyone from impersonating the union. He presented a memorandum containing all the official documents since the union’s establishment by a presidential decree issued by the late President Fouad Chehab in 1960, and a statement issued by the Directorate of Political Affairs and Refugees at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, confirming the validity of the results of the 19th union conference elections, which are renewed annually in accordance with the law of associations.

Fawaz requested the Prime Minister’s support for the union’s legitimacy to enhance its role and activities worldwide. He also informed the Prime Minister about the establishment of new branches of the union in Oceania, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United States of America, and Africa. All of this is being managed through a workshop from our new and modern offices in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants.

Prime Minister Mikati, in turn, expressed his understanding of the union’s situation, praised the memorandum presented by Fawaz, and promised to support this venerable expatriate institution by all means to maintain the connection between expatriates and their homeland.