Beirut: Minister of Information, Dr. Paul Morcos, on Wednesday delivered a heartfelt and eloquent speech at the opening ceremony of the 21st Arab Media Forum, held in Beirut under the patronage of President Joseph Aoun, and in the presence of Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, ministers, ambassadors, and prominent Arab media figures. Welcoming guests from across the Arab world, Dr. Morcos described Beirut as 'a city that has awaited you, that has longed for your visits, just as you, yourselves, have longed to return to it.'
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Dr. Morcos emphasized that this year's hosting of the Forum in Lebanon, after two decades of being held between Kuwait and the Arab League, was not a coincidence, but 'a gesture of trust and loyalty toward a country whose heart remains vast enough for its loved ones, even when burdened by crises.' Dr. Morcos recalled that the idea of holding the Forum in Beirut was first conceived during his visit to Kuwait five months ago, when, as he put it, 'I planted the idea as a seed, and my brother Madi Al-Khamis nurtured it until it blossomed into this all-embracing forum despite all challenges.'
The Minister went on to describe Lebanon as 'a protector of thought, a home to diversity, and a catalyst for culture,' and went on to depict it as the land 'that turned the word into a homeland, the letter into beauty, and freedom into civilization.' 'Welcome to Lebanon,' he said, 'where media is the beating heart of the nation, that heart that has dwelled in this geography for five thousand years.'
Dr. Morcos traced Lebanon's long history as a cradle of letters and learning, from Byblos, birthplace of the alphabet, to the establishment of Ain Warqa School, 'the mother of schools in the East', 227 years ago. He reminded the audience that Lebanon was home to the Arab world's first magazines, publishing houses, and television and radio stations, which made Beirut 'a vibrant workshop of thought, literature, and culture that never rests.'
The Minister then invoked the legacy of Lebanon's literary and cultural icons, Gibran Khalil Gibran, Mikhail Naimy, May Ziadeh, Saiid Akl, Amin Maalouf, Ghassan Tueni, and Talal Salman, and paid tribute to Fairuz, 'who reminds the Arab world every morning that in this East there remains a window of voice, light, longing, creativity, and mastery, and its name is Lebanon.'
Dr. Morcos explained that hosting the Forum in Beirut reflects 'a new era, an era that fills the nation with hope and elevates the word and dignifies the media: the era of President Joseph Aoun.' 'It is an era of statehood, dignity, renewal, and openness,' he said. 'Through his presence, the word grows, the media shines, and the nation rises.'
The Minister expressed profound gratitude to President Aoun for his patronage and presence, as well as to Middle East Airlines Chairman Mohammad El-Hout, and to the many Lebanese institutions and individuals who helped make the Forum possible. 'Without your love, support, and contributions, this event would never have seen the light of day,' he said.
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Morcos affirmed his faith in Lebanon's enduring cultural mission and in the values of truth and freedom that guide the media's role: 'Long live free and responsible media. Long live Lebanon.'