By Dr. Bahia (Betty) Abou-Hamad
Public Notary, Lawyer , Journalist and Conciliator.
Ambassador For Peace (UPF), Ambassador For Culture (Stratford University USA).
Founder of the Association for the Development of the Poetry and Heritage in Australia and the Arab World Incorporation.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Reverend Fathers, forgive me for not reciting names - Ladies and Gentlemen.
It gives me great pride and privilege to welcome each and everyone of you at the UNESCO Palace for a noble motive that is to present the Charbel Baini Award on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee - My sincere congratulations to each and every Award Recipient and in particular to Mr Sleiman Khoury, the Director of this Place who gave us the opportunity to present our Intellectuals and award them. Thank you.
Your presence here is evidence of the increasing interaction of different cultural and traditions between Australia and Lebanon.
I acknowledge and pay respect to Australia's relationship with our native country Lebanon. I am also delighted that Australia has made this ongoing commitment to participate in the development of Lebanon in numerous areas and critical moments as well. Thank you Australia.
The culture heritage and civilization of a country are the main keys towards understanding the nature of that country. The importance of heritage is clear as it is an active element and a bridge for contacts among people which enhance interaction among intellectuals with a Powerful aim that is to emphasise the importance of protecting the cultural diversity of such country in order to enhance understanding among its nations and to formulate joint interests that benefit such nations/ and other nations as well.
The Charbel Baini Award was founded by Late Dr Issam Haddad in 1992.
Dr Haddad has shown unremitting commitment to culture and development. Indeed, it is an immense pleasure and a real honour to pay tribute today to a great man like Dr Issam Haddad whose dynamism and creativity as a Poet are greatly appreciated. First and foremost, Dr Haddad was brimming with ideas. He was a temporal leader open to pluralism in a way that does him credit.
Poet Charbel Baini is a high profile Poet. Many persons and intellectuals have benefited from his dynamism and initiatives which were carried out in line with the attention to perfection that is his hallmark and of whom we are all very proud of you.
I end by quoting Dr Charles Malek /who stated in his book “Lebanon the Eternal Legacy” – and I quote “In the Holy Bible, God mentioned Lebanon 71 times, the Cedars of Lebanon 74 times, Town of Tyr 58 times, Town of Sayda 35 times, People of Sayda 4 times”. Indeed, we are very honoured about such a great privilege given by God to our native country Lebanon.
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Aujourd'hui, Je félicite chaque récipiendaire qui a manifesté un engagement sans répit envers la culture et le développement.
• Qui a créé la tolérance et la solidarité.
• Qui a travaillé sans relâche pour éviter la non-interaction entre différentes cultures et nations.
Vous êtes un modèle riche de la sociétéو et nous sommes très fiers de vous.
Toutes nos félicitations
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اختم ببضعة ابيات من الشعر للشاعر ابو الطيب المتنبي - مالئ الدنيا وشاغل الناس
وعِقابُ لُبنانٍ وكيفَ بقَطْعِه
وهُوَ الشّتاءُ وصَيفُهُنّ شِتاءُ
وكَذا الكَريمُ إذا أقامَ ببَلْدَةٍ
سَالَ النُّضارُ بها وقامَ الماءُ
مَنْ يَهتَدي في الفِعْلِ ما لا تَهْتَدي
في القَوْلِ حتى يَفعَلَ الشّعراءُ
في كلّ يَوْمٍ للقَوافي جَوْلَةٌ
في كُلّ بَيْتٍ فَيْلَقٌ شَهْبَاءُ
Thank you very much Ladies and Gentlemen for your attendance today.
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