Lebanon

Motto: "All for country, for glory, and the flag!" Overview National name: Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (Arabic :Lubnān) Motto: "All for country, for glory, and the flag!" Independence Day : Nov. 26, 1941 President: Emile Lahoud Prime Minister: Fouad Siniora (2005) Land area: 4,015 sq mi (10,400 sq km) Population (2008 est.): 4,196,453  Governorates(Arabic: محافظات ): 6 Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Beirut,33°54′N, 35°32′E Other large cities: Tripoli, 212,900; Sidon, 149,000 Monetary unit: Lebanese pound Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian Ethnicity/race: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1% Religions: Islam 70% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite/Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite, Melkite, Syrian, Armenian, and Roman Catholic; Greek, Armenian, and Syrian Orthodox; Chaldean; Assyrian; Copt; Protestant), other 1% Agriculture: citrus, grapes,, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats. Industries: banking, tourism, food processing, jewelry, oil refining, metal fabricating. Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land. Major trading partners: Syria, UAE, Turkey, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, Germany, China, U.S., UK (2004).

Geography Lebanon is a small, predominantly mountainous country in Western Asia, on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Israel to the south。Until the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990),the country enjoyed relative calm and prosperity, driven by the tourism, agriculture, and banking sectors of the economy. It is considered the banking capital of the Levant(东地中海地区) and was widely known as the "Switzerland of the East" due to its financial power. Lebanon also attracted large numbers of tourists to the point that the capital Beirut became widely referred to as the "Paris of Western Asia."

History First settled around 3000 BC by the Phoenicians, and eventually absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire. In 1918 became a part of the French Mandate of Syria. On September 1, 1920, France formed the State of Greater Lebanon On September 1, 1926, France formed the Lebanese Republic. On November 26, 1941 General Georges Catroux announced that Lebanon would become independent under the authority of the Free French government. On November 8, 1943 the new Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the mandate. In the face of international pressure, the French released the government officials on November 22, 1943 and accepted the independence of Lebanon. The last French troops withdrew in 1946.

The first Civil war broke out in 1958 The second civil war broke out in 1975. Syrian troops intervened In June 1999, Israel bombed southern Lebanon On February 14, 2005, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated On April 26，2005, after 29 years of occupation, Syria withdrew all of its troops. On July 12, 2006, Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and that led to a conflict, known in Lebanon as July War

Political & judicial system parliamentary, democratic republic, confessionalism. to insure that sectarian（宗派的） conflict is kept at bay, attempts to fairly represent the demographic distribution of religious sects in the governing body. The President, for example, has to be a Maronite Catholic Christian, the Speaker of the Parliament a Shi’a Muslim, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim and the Deputy Prime Minister an Orthodox（正教）Christian. judicial system is based on the Napoleonic Code. Juries are not used in trials. three levels: courts of first instance, courts of appeal, and the court of cassation（取消）. system of religious courts having jurisdiction（管辖权） over personal status matters within their own communities system of military courts has jurisdiction over civilians for crimes that are considered to be security-related.

Economy The urban population in Lebanon is noted for its commercial enterprise. Over the course of time, emigration has yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world. Lebanon has a high proportion of skilled labor Lebanon's strict financial secrecy and capitalist have given it significant economic status among Arab countries. The thriving tourism and banking activities have naturally made the services sector the most important pillar of the Lebanese economy. Lebanon's lack of raw materials for industry and its complete dependency on Arab countries for oil have made it difficult for to engage in significant industrial activity.

Religions The sects were enumerated as follows: nine patriarchal（宗法） sects, one Latin church, the Protestant（新教） sect and five Muslim sects Shia Muslims is today the majority group, Maronite Christians and Sunni Muslims as the two other important groups. A fourth group, the Druze. Among the Christians, Maronites form the largest group, Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholics are the next largest groups. Among the three Muslim denominations, the Shias are followed closely by the Sunnites, the Druzes constitute a small percentage. There is also a very small minority of Jews. Even though Lebanon is a secular（世俗） country, family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person's faith. Calls for civil marriage are unanimously rejected by the religious authorities but civil marriages held in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities.

Lebanese communities around the world There are approximately 18 million people of Lebanese spread all over the world. Brazil has the largest Lebanese community abroad (8 Million). Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Great Britain, Mexico, Venezuela, USA, West Africa, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic also have large Lebanese communities.

Thank you ! The Triumphal Arch in Tyre. Temple of Bacchus Faraya, Mount Lebanon. Thank you ! The Lebanese parliament building at the Place de l'Étoile Beiteddine Palace, the venue of Beiteddine Festival. The Triumphal Arch in Tyre. Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek. Temple of Bacchus The Grand Serail, the government headquarters in downtown Beirut