Lebanon
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Name: The Republic of Lebanon National Name: Al Joumhouriya al Lubnaniya History: It was seat of ancient Phoenician (were people living across the Mediterranean before the rise of Cyrus the Great), later Alexander the Great destroyed and burnt Tyre, leading Phonic city in a war. Then it came under the Romans and when Christianity was introduced it was ruled by Arabs and Turks. After capturing Syria from Ottoman Empire by Anglo French, in 1918 French received mandate over this region and Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for over 400 years. They separated out region of Lebanon in 1920 and from 1920 to 1946 it was under French rule till it gained independence. Religious divisions and civil wars of 1958 and 1975 are part of Lebanese history. The Lebanese Armed Force (LAF) have extended authority over two third of the country. Israel had withdrawn its Forces from Lebanon in May 2000. Location: Eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea between Syria and Israel Area: 10,400 sq km Borders: Bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south. Coastline: 225 km Terrain: Along the Mediterranean lies the Narrow coastal plain. Two mountain ridges separated by a high plateau run from north to south. El Bequa (Bekaa valley) separates Lebanon and Anti Lebanon mountains. Forests cover some of the mountains. Climate: Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and mild cool winters. Heavy winter snow. Capital: Beirut Currency: Lebanese Lira (LL) (LBP) Population: 3,874,050 (July 2006 est) Population Growth Rate: 1.23% (2006 est) Population below Poverty Line: 28% (1999 est) Nationality: Lebanese Ethnic Group: about 95% of the people are Arabs, 4% are Armenian and 1% others. Many Christian Lebanese do not identify as Arabs but call them selves Phoenicians. Religion: More than half (57%) of the inhabitants are Muslims, 39% are Christians and 1.3% others. Language: Arabic is the official language and French and English and Armenian is also spoken. Literacy: Adult literacy rate is very high, about 87.4% of total population, male 93.1% of total population and female 82.2% (2003est) Independence: 22 November 1943 from League of Nations mandate under French administration. National holidays: Independence Day on 22 November Government: Parliamentary Democratic which implements a special system known as Confessionalism. Constitution: 23 May 1926, has been amended many times recently in 1989. Legal System: Mixture of Ottoman Law, canon law, Napoleonic code and civil law, has not accepted compulsory (ICJ) jurisdiction. Suffrage: 21 years of age, compulsory for male and authorized for women with elementary education at age 21. ExecutiveBranch: President is the chief of the State and Prime Minister is the head of the Government. Cabinet is chosen by the Prime Minister in consultation with President and member of the National Assembly. Legislative Branch: Unicameral National Assembly or (Majlis Alnuwab in Arabic) or Assemblee National in French. It has 128 seats and members are elected by popular vote. Judicial Branch: It has 4 courts of Cassation, 3 for civil and commercial case and 1 for criminal cases. Constitution Council (Taif Accord) works for rules on Constitutional laws. Supreme Court hears the charges against the President and the Prime Minister if any. Flag: Green Cedar tree in center of white band, bounded by 2 horizontal equal red bands on top and bottom of the flag. Economy: War has damaged Lebanons economic structure and internal Lebanese political tension continues to hamper economic activity. Industries: Banking, tourism, food processing, jewelry, cement, textiles, minerals and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining and metal functioning. Exports: Authentic jewelry, fruits, tobacco, inorganic chemicals, construction minerals, textile fibres, paper and electric power machinery. Imports: Petroleum products, cars, clothing, meat and live animals, paper, Textile fabric and tobacco. Internet Country Code: .lb Calling Code: +961 Motto: "We are all for the Country, the Sublime and the Flag" is written in Arabic (Kulluna li- l watan, li ula - wa alam. National Anthem: "Kulluna lil watan lil lila lil alam". |