Discover Lebanon - Découvrez le Liban
 A Church in Beirut |
There are important foreign communities living in the country : Between 500.000 to 1 million Syrians are seeking for jobs in Lebanon, around 400.000 Palestinian refugees are living in temporary camps, 200.000 Armenians, 100.000 Kurds…
There is a great diversity of religions : Around 55% of the population are Muslims, the rest are Christians. The main religions are : Muslim Shiites, Christian Maronites, Muslim Sunnites, Christian Orthodox Greeks, Druzes, Orthodox Armenians and Christians.
Generally each communities are living in a clearly defined area in Lebanon :
- Muslims Shiites are located in the south between Saida and Tyr and in the Bekaa Valley.
- Muslims Sunnites are located in the west of Beirut, in Tripoli and in the north until Syria.
- Christians are located from Beirut east to Enfé 70 kilometres north of Beirut.
- Druzes are located in the Chouf mountains.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
The country can be divided in four different regions.
The coastline: This small piece of land between the Mediterranean and the mountains is where most of the population is living. Major cities and towns like Beirut, Tripoli, Jounié, Saida, Tyr are situated along the coast. The density of the population is very high in Beirut in the north of it until the town of Byblos 30 kilometres north of the capital. The climate is sub-tropical, there is no frost. Winters are humid and mild; summers are dry and very hot. Agriculture in this area consists mainly banana plantation especially in the south between Saida and Tyr and Olive groves in the north near Tripoli.
 Lebanese mountains in winter |
The mountains: Next to the narrow coast line a chain of mountains call Mont-Lebanon crosses the country. The highest point is 3090 meters above the sea. Plantation and climate depend of the ground elevation. You find olive, orange and citrus groves; apple and pear trees. During the summer many Lebanese spend the weekend in the mountains to avoid summer heat. During winter the mountains are a paradise for all wintersports.
The Bekaa Valley : this fertile area is a farming region. Mediterranean climate with cold winters and hot dry summers permits tomato, potato, bean, and grapefruit plantations. Rain fall is limited throughout the year. Major cities are Baalbek and Zahlé.
L'anti-Lebanon : This arid chain of mountains is the natural frontier between Lebanon and Syria.
ECONOMY
 The rebuild center of Beirut which cost billions of dollars need new activities
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During the period 1990-1998 the average increase of the economy was 7,7%. Since this booming period, Lebanon has dropped in deep crisis. The national growth was just 0,4% in 1999.
This year the trend seem to be the same : The budget deficit reached the tremendous amount of 46,9% of the expenses during the first 6 months of 2000. The national debt amounts to around 21 billions of dollars. The deficit of the trade balance is also a major problem. For the year 2000 the total export of Lebanon is expected to reach 710 millions of dollars while the total import for the same period will be around 6.160 millions of dollars. The trade balance deficit is expected to be 5,4 billions of dollars for 2000.
Nevertheless, there are some green lights for the future:
- Since the pullback of the Israeli army, confidence and stability will help foreign investors to increase their investments in the country.
- The potential for the tourism sector for the region is high : . Around 700.000 arriving travelers to the brand new Beirut Airport are expected for the year 2000. (Including business, tourists and expatriates). A future agreement with Syria to make a common visa facility for tourists traveling between Lebanon and Syria will help tour operators to develop the sector.
- A recent change of powership in Syria and recent vote in Lebanon in September 2000 may help the country to develop and to engage a real privatization program and to reform the public sector.
-Increase of the oil price since one year will help the middle-east to recover from economic crisis.
POLITICAL SYSTEM
 Beirut Grand Serail Building |
There are 128 deputies in parliament elected for four years. 50% should be Muslims, and 50% Christians.
Traditionally the president of Lebanon comes from the Christian Maronite community and the prime minister from the Muslim Sunnite community. Currently the president is Mr. Emile Lahoud since November 1998. A new prime minister will be nominated in the next weeks.
Recent deputies election in September 2000 brought the victory of the opposition parties and especially of the former prime minister Mr. Hariri.
Since the Israeli army left the south of the country in May 2000, there are two foreign armies remaining in Lebanon :
- The united nation is watching the Lebanese/Israeli border with around 6000 troops in the south,
- the Syrian army is in the rest of the country with an estimated 30.000 troops.
