[ad_1]
The meeting is very symbolic (Ramzi Haydar / AFP)
Among the political groups that fight for everything, French President Emmanuel Macron chose to start his visit to Lebanon by meeting with a national symbol whose name is the Lebanese and they do not disperse and embody Fairuz.
The Elysee Palace featured the Lebanese artist’s name at the top of the French president’s schedule during his second visit to Beirut, in less than a month.
Macron wrote in his program the phrase “A date with a cup of coffee with Fayrouz in Antelias on Monday night.”
Macron will return on Monday, and on his agenda is a full program of political meetings, in an attempt to remove the country from the political impasse that prevents the formation of an “important government” that the Elysee had presented in a document distributed to Lebanese politicians and seen by “Reuters”.
Earlier this month, Hassan Diab’s government tendered its resignation following the Beirut port bombing that killed at least 180 people, destroyed entire neighborhoods, displaced 250,000 people, demolished businesses and destroyed basic grain supplies.
The French president concluded a visit to Beirut, on August 7, and wrote on Twitter the phrase “I love you, Lebanon”, which is the title of a famous song by Fairuz that accompanied the Lebanese during the 15 years of civil war.
I love you, Lebanon!
– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 6, 2020
Macron will visit the Lebanese artist, upon his arrival Monday night, at his home in Rabieh, near Antelias, north of Beirut, away from the lens of the media.
Fairouz has a strong friendship with the French state, which was cemented in 1975 when she first appeared on French television as part of the “Special Matteo” program hosted by her friend, French artist Mireille Mathieu, and there was a song (My Love in Summer).
The relationship took a deeper shape during the Lebanese war when Fairouz threw a big party at the 1979 Olympics in Paris and sang (Paris, Oh Flower of Freedom).
And the last part of the song says (Oh France, what do you tell your family about my wounded country / about my country that is crowned with danger and wind / Our history from the beginning of time / Lebanon is wounded, Lebanon is destroyed / They say that he died and will not die / And he returns from Hajaru on top of the houses / And Tire, Sidon and Beirut are decorated).
Fayrouz received the highest French honors, including Commander of Arts and Letters from the late French President Francois Mitterrand in 1988, and the Legion of Knight Honor from the late President Jacques Chirac in 1998.
There were no comments from Fayrouz’s office in Lebanon, nor from his daughter, Director Rima Rahbani. Various artists and media professionals interacted with the announcement of the French president’s meeting with Fayrouz.
Excellent decision of the president @EmmanuelMacron to visit the legendary @FayrouzOfficial at your Antelias Residence upon arrival in 🇱🇧 on Monday.
He is arguably the most iconic, dignified and consensual Lebanese figure.
A huge contrast to the ruling mobsters! pic.twitter.com/xNCKbioxLQ– Karim Emile Bitar (karimbitar) August 28, 2020
The Lebanese artist Melhem Zein said, in a call with “Reuters”, that the French president “will obtain the Medal of Honor of the rank of Fairouz through this meeting because the meeting with her will write it in his minutes and the public will remember him more than any other political meeting. “
Zain added to “Reuters”: “I don’t think this historic opportunity will be repeated for anyone, not even for senior leaders. We all know that the story of Fairouz and the closed doors is a long story, and this is their secret that we love so much. how we love his art. Of course we will envy Macron for this opportunity, and we consider that he chose. ” In the right way, he wanted to tell us that this is the Lebanon we want … in the shining image of Fairouz who made the glory. “
Macron’s visit to Beirut is scheduled to continue until Tuesday, when he will visit neighborhoods affected and affected by the blast, and plant a cedar with Lebanese children in the Jaj forest in northeast Beirut.
(Reuters, the new Arab)
[ad_2]
