The University of the Holy Spirit – Kaslik celebrates 80 years of Lebanese -American -American relations

The Holy Spirit University – Kaslik organized a conference entitled “Diplomacy across the oceans: 80 years of Lebanese -American -American relations”, followed by the opening of an exhibition entitled “The Lebanese Journey in Latin America: from the past to the present”, in the university library, in the presence of Argentina Ambassador in Lebanon Maria Virginia Royce, Brazil’s Ambassador in Lebanon, Tizizio Costa, Ambassador of Mexico in Lebanon Francisco Romero Book, Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Uruguayan Republic of Lebanon, Georgi Dutta, as well as diplomatic, trade union, academic and cultural figures.

The conference reviewed the history of Lebanese immigration to Latin American countries since the late nineteenth century, and presented rare archives, pictures and publications that document the existence of Lebanese communities in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay. The event allowed seeing digital and printed materials from the Latin American group in the university library, which is an important reference for immigration and alienation studies.
Father Makarzel
The President of the Holy Spirit – Kaslik, Father, Professor Joseph Makarzel, welcomed in his speech to attend on this historic occasion, noting that “the countries of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay were one of the first countries in Latin America to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon after its independence 80 years ago, and stressing that“ the meeting reflects not only those historical ties, but also the continuous friendship that unites our peoples through Time and oceans. ”
He concluded by thanking the ambassadors and those present for their support and participation, calling for “this meeting to be a platform for generating new ideas, renewing cooperation, and deepening friendship between Lebanon and Latin America.”
The head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, Dr. Dominic Ham, moderated a dialogue session that dealt with diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Latin America. Each of the Argentine ambassadors, Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay’s representative stressed the importance of the human and cultural ties that preceded and established official relations, highlighting the role of Lebanese communities in building bridges between the two continents, and referring to the prospects for future cooperation in the fields of economy, education, and culture.
The meeting concluded with the opening of the archive exhibition prepared by the Library of the Holy Spirit University – Kaslik and the Center for Latin American Studies and Cultures at the University (Cecal), and reviews a distinct collection of archives, photographs, newspapers and magazines founded by Lebanese immigrants in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile in the late nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century.
It includes more than fifty newspapers and magazine, many of them with the first version, most notably the first digital version of the newspaper “Al -Fayhaa”, the first Lebanese newspaper issued in Brazil in 1894.
The exhibition highlights the rich cultural heritage of the Syrian -Lebanese spread in Latin America, and was prepared in cooperation with institutions in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile.
The Latin Latin Group reflects the intellectual and cultural contributions of immigrant communities, and it is preserved in the university library for research and study purposes.
The exhibition opens its doors to visitors from Monday to Friday, from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, and it will remain open for five months.