Hariri lays foundation stone for Balamand University’s Medical Center
14/6/2010
Our duty is to cement complete parity between Muslims, Christians’
By:
Antoine Amrieh
Daily Star correspondent
Hariri on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the Balamand University’s medical center, dubbed “The Rafik Hariri University Hospital.”
“It is an honor for me to be the son of [former Premier] Rafik Hariri and to build this hospital in your university,” said the Lebanese premier.
In a speech he delivered at Hussameddine Rafik Hariri Auditorium at the university campus, Hariri stressed that the best investment was the investment made in human resources, education and knowledge.
“After I shouldered my new responsibilities [as Lebanese premier], I became a firm believer that the youth of Lebanon are the most precious and an endless resource that we have a duty to renew with each new generation,” said Hariri.
The premier also stressed his commitment to his father’s keenness on “creating ambitions and achievements.”
Hariri praised Balamand University along with all Lebanese educational institutions for hosting students from different religious and confessional backgrounds.
“Those are academies that embrace all religions and sects with a united sense of belonging to Lebanon,” said Hariri.
Hariri also commended the Balamand University’s role in maintaining coexistence.
“Our duty is to cement complete parity between Muslims and Christians in Lebanon so that the message of Lebanon will remain that of coexistence, dialogue and moderation for all generations,” added Hariri.
He underlined that the coexistence that was laid down by the late Premier Rafik Hariri was an essential pillar in “building Lebanon and protecting it from dangers.”
The event was attended by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV, president of the Balamand University former MP Elie Salem, MPs Farid Habib, Atef Majdalani, Nicholas Ghosn, Robert Fadel and a representative of former Premier and Tripoli MP Najib Mikati.
Information Minister Tarek Mitri, Minister of State Mona Ofeish, Education Minister Hassan Mneimneh and Deputy Speaker Farid Makari, along with an array of MPs and university staff, took part in the ceremony as well.
For his part, Salem praised the donations of former Premier Rafik Hariri to the Balamand University along with his contributions to reconstructing Lebanon following the 1975-90 Civil War.
He voiced hope that laying the foundation stone for the new hospital would symbolize the emergence of a new Lebanon.
The university’s vice president, Michel Najjar, complained about the unfair distribution of medical services throughout Lebanon, with the bulk of university hospitals and medical centers centered in Beirut and Mount Lebanon.
Najjar highlighted the ongoing immigration of fresh Lebanese graduate-physicians to countries like the United States, where 400 Lebanese physicians undergo fellowships there every year.
“Because of this, we have to set up scientific standards to prepare fresh graduates for practicing their profession,” he remarked, voicing belief that more physicians would head toward the US due to the increase in demand.
The seven-story hospital will cover an area of 24,000-squared meters and will be situated at the top of the Balamand hill in north Lebanon.
Prior to his speech, the Lebanese premier held a meeting with Salem in the latter’s office during which Hariri was briefed on the designs of the new structure.
A call to all Antiochian orthodox – Let us include this request in our prayers: O’God make us worthy, we antiochian orthodox, of calling the hospital by our Lady’s of Balamand name, on her land the hospital is going to be built. God hear us.