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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!uhog.mit.edu!rutgers!gatech!purdue!yuma!longs.LANCE.ColoState.Edu!bh437292 From: bh437292@longs.LANCE.ColoState.Edu (Basil Hamdan) Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon,soc.answers,news.answers Subject: soc.culture.lebanon FAQ, part 2/2 Message-ID: <Jun15.213340.67437@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> Date: 15 Jun 93 21:33:40 GMT Sender: news@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU (News Account) Reply-To: bh437292@longs.lance.colostate.edu (Basil Hamdan) Followup-To: soc.culture.lebanon Organization: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 Lines: 1658 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu Frequency: monthly Nntp-Posting-Host: mears.lance.colostate.edu Comments: Also available at the ftp site borg.poly.edu (128.238.10.106) in pub/scl as filename "lebanon-faq/part2" Expires: Thu, 15 Jul 1993 00:00:00 GMT Summary: This article contains a list of questions asked frequently by newcomers to soc.culture.lebanon;it then provides answers to them. Please read this before posting to the group. Rules of net etiquette specify that newcomers to a group should read the FAQ (this file) and spend some time reading the group before posting to it; this helps ensure that postings are appropriate for the type of discussion in the group. Please send all updates/additions/corrections to this FAQ to bh437292@lance.colostate.edu (Basil Hamdan) Note Reply-to: line - automatic if you reply to this article. (Date of last modification: June 14, 1993.) Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu soc.culture.lebanon:9914 soc.answers:243 news.answers:9442 Archive-name: lebanon-faq/part2 Last-modified: 1993/06/15 Version: 1.6 ******************************************************************************* 20. Is there a good Lebanese recipe book ? Fann-Al-Tabkh by Georges Al-Rayess. *The* book on Lebanese cuisine. This book is a classic, and is extremely thorough. Not for the amateur cuisinard or the faint-of-heart, though. Can be obtained from Librairie Antoine in Beirut. For a more practical and less complicated cookbook, see Madeleine Farah's book 'Middle-Eastern Cuisine' There is also "Cooking the Lebanese Way" by Cedar Hashashe. Another alternative is a book, that is not specifically Lebanese but contains many Lebanese and other Middle Eastern recipies: Claudia Roden: A New Book of Middle Eastern Food. Penguin. Sahtayn! ******************************************************************************* 21. Are there recipes available on the net ? Yes! Telnet to Archie and search for recipies with the command: prog recipies. Here you will get the address of the servers that have on- line recipies. Choose the server closest to you and FTP the file(s). following are addresses to Archie servers: archie.doc.ic.ac.uk [146.169.11.3] UK/European Imperial, London, UK archie.funet.fi [128.214.6.100] European FUnet, Helsinki, Finland archie.au [139.130.4.6] Australian Deakin, Geelong, Australia archie.sura.net [128.167.254.179] World SURAnet, Maryland, USA archie.rutgers.edu [128.6.18.15] World Rutgers, New Jersey, USA archie.unl.edu [129.93.1.14] World Lincoln, Nebraska, USA archie.ans.net [147.225.1.2] World ANS, New York, US archie.mcgill.ca [132.206.2.3] World McGill, Montreal, ******************************************************************************* 22. Is there an ftp archive site for Lebanese art works ? There is an effort undertaken by Barre Ludvigsen and Berthe Choueiry to provide a multimedia server of cultural material relating to Lebanon and the Middle East. Material is deposited as it appears and as people contribute. Everyone is urged to contact Barre Ludvigsen at <borrel@sigallah.dhhalden.no> or to directly add to the collection and contribute under the cultural material heading. Barre will be happy to help anyone who feels they might have something to contribute, but feels unable to manage the technical aspects. ______________________________________________________________________________ ** Pictures, texts and sounds from Lebanon ** This is a overview of the /users/choueiry directory of the liasun3.epfl.ch anonymous ftp server. This area is a cultural repository of texts, images, sounds and animations related to Lebanon and the Middle East in the form of a hitch-hiker's multimedia server. (See the general remarks at the end of this message.) Read these first! /users/choueiry/README.etq /users/choueiry/README.ftp /users/choueiry/README.gif /users/choueiry/README.msg /users/choueiry/README.snd /users/choueiry/README.uu General description of contents (May 15, 1993): /users/choueiry/ miscellaneous graphics images, text and message files /users/choueiry/aleppo-Syria recent photographs from Aleppo and Syria /users/choueiry/bin sound utilities for IBM PC, Mac and Unix /users/choueiry/bonfils photographs from Lebanon 1870-1900 /users/choueiry/Bibliography bibliographies on text sources about Lebanon /users/choueiry/fairuz songs (soundbytes), songtext, pictures and animation of and by Fairuz /users/choueiry/Language information files on aspects of the Lebanese and Arabic languages /users/choueiry/maps maps of Lebanon, general and detailed /users/choueiry/sabah pictures of Sabah and Mohamed Fawzei from an early film /users/choueiry/sahrathub songs (soundbytes) with Fairuz and Wadi el Safi /users/choueiry/samiraToufiq soundbytes and animations of/by Samira Toufiq /users/choueiry/umKoulthoum soundbytes, song texts (as gifs) of several Um Kalthoum songs /users/choueiry/wadielsafi soundbytes by Wadi el Safi /users/choueiry/1968 some photographs from 1968 (Beirut and Saida) /users/choueiry/giha Giha gif and story Nineteen files about the reconstruction of Downtown Beirut are also posted at this ftp site, in the subdirectory beirut-reconstruction. These articles first appeared in the Lebanese monthly construction, Industrial and management magazine "Al-Handasah". They appeared as three seperate articles and thus they are named accordingly. The articles are in "Gif" format and are NOT uuencoded. The retriever of the articles should make sure that all ftp'ing is done in the binary mode. In addition to the files mentioned above, another article concerning the same subject is posted in the same directory. The article is retyped from a Canadian daily newspaper " The Toronto Star". Anonymous ftp site: liasun3.epfl.ch Directroy: /users/chouiery/ beirut-reconstruction ** Reconstruction ** alh49p1.gif - alh49p4.gif alh50p1.gif - alh50p4.gif alh54p1.gif - alh54p11.gif article The filenames indicate the issue in which the article appeared and which of a total number of pages in the article. A map of Lebanon is also available at this site in gif format and in bitmap format (.BMP file). The bitmap file is intended to be used as wallpaper under Windows on a PC (where you can use Paintbrush to visualize it & edit it). The gif format is usually used by unix users and is visualized with a viewer software such as xv or an equivalent one. Both files are in directory : /users/choueiry/maps filenames: MAP.BMP for the bitmap format file MAP.gif for the gif format file and don't forget to switch to binary mode (type binary at ftp prompt) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a purely experimental server maintained on a voluntary basis by individuals whose contributions are made on their spare time. Therefore, no support in the use of this server is given by the staff of epfl. If you cannot find the help you need in the README files, refer to the sysop of your local system for help. As for support from contributors to this server, use them only as a last resort. Before attempting to download or reading any of the files on this server, we ask you *please to read the REAME files*. File types are as follows, remember to set the correct transfer mode and note the filesize before downloading: .gif - graphics image (pictures or Arabic texts) .snd - soundbyte .au - soundbyte .uu - uuencoded file (mostly graphics) .msg - message .JPEG - graphics image .tiff - graphics image .anim - directory of sequential .tiff "movie" images Files with other extensions will usually be text files where the extension denotes the character of the file contents. ******************************************************************************* 23. What is the best way to deal with multiple system TVs and VCRs and how can I get my VCR tape converted to a format that works in Lebanon ? Three solutions : 1. Buying a switchable television and use your video recorder. 2. Buying a switchable video recorder (PAL / SECAM / NTSC) and a PAL / SECAM television. 3. Buying a switchable video recorder (PAL / NTSC) and a PAL / SECAM television. First case : You can watch to french and foreign broadcast, you can use your video recorder and your tapes, but you can't record french broadcast. Second case : You have still to find a french PAL / SECAM television. That should not be that much expensive. But : in that case, you can watch the local broadcasts, watch your tapes AND record local broadcasts. I don't know how much costs a switchable television, but as for the video recorder, it's about 300.000 yen in Japan for the only model available. That video recorder converts any video signal to any other. Some people may point out that the conversion is not perfect. That's true. In fact, the signal conversion achieved by that video recorder is a VERY LOW COST conversion. It converts SECAM to a pseudo PAL, PAL to a pseudo NTSC, but that's neither a professionnal quality, nor a broadcast quality. Just for information : a professionnal quality PAL/SECAM/NTSC converter (the converter only) costs 1.800.000 yen. Third case : There is another video recorder (AIWA) which converts NTSC to PAL only. That one is quite cheap (60.000 yen here in Japan). That one with a french SECAM / PAL television would make it, if you don't expect too much quality, and if you don't record SECAM broadcasts. About the quality : There are some video recorders allowing to make low speed records (one third of the normal speed). Up to six hours on one tape, but of course lower quality. The quality of a low cost converter is about the same... The ideal solution : you buy a switchable television AND a switchable video recorder. In that case, you can record in any format you want and use your tapes in any country. Since you don't need the signal conversion, you get a broadcast quality image in any case. _______________________________________________________________________________ Here are some recommendations for businesses that will convert VCR tapes from one standard to another : DAKE International 3208 Foxboro Dr. Richardson, TX 75082 (214) 234-8518 1pm-9pm The cost is $18.50 per tape which includes a new tape and shipping. They can convert to any TV system: PAL, SECAM to NTSC or vice versa. Another one is in Raleigh, NC. It provides conversion from and to any format (VHS, VHS-C and 8 mm types of cassettes). This will allow playback of videotapes made overseas, here on U.S. TV's and VCR's (NTSC System). The service will also convert the other way around,(i.e. from U.S. system to any of the systems used anywhere else in the world - PAL, SECAM, etc..) Mailing Address: INTERNATIONAL VIDEO CONVERSION 520 Harvest Lane Raleigh, NC 27606-2217 Phone: (919) 233-8689 Fees: $24.90 + $5.00 S&H (Price of a High Grade Cassette Included, 2hrs or less) Delivery: Mailed back the next day, express shipping at request. Payment: Check, Cash or Money Order mailed with tape. Conversions from photographic pictures, slides, 8, super 8, 16 mm movies to any of the video standards are also provided. A third one is: SOMI International 50 Summer Street Edison, NJ 08820. Phone 908 548 3065 Their price is good ($12.99 for a regular 2-hr tape and $17.99 for more than 2-hr tape, include $3/tape for postage and handling). Fourth recommendation : This information was obtained from listings in VideoMaker Magazine. Another good company is: RVT 1911 Douglas Boulevard #85 Roseville CA 95661 (916) 773-3705 The approximate cost is around $25 for 2 hours including tape and return shipping. CA residents have to pay tax at 7.25%. They have a 24 hour turnaround time. ******************************************************************************* 24. What are newborn names that could be used for Lebanese children living abroad that would work in both Lebanon and western societies. For girls: If names sound alike (Homonyms) the first one mentioned will be the Arabic spelling, then the English (or the English equivalent): Dana Danah The name that got the most votes from the net Dania Dina Dima Farah Farrah Faten Hala Hana Hannah Jihane Johayna Joumana Karima Laura Leila Leyla/Layla Lina Lubna Mariam Myriam Marwa May Maya Mona Moniya Nadia Nadine Najat Nariman Nour Noura Nora Rania Salam Samar Summer Samia Sawsan Susan Safiyya Sofia Sara Sarah Sourayya Sukayna Yasmin Jasmin For boys: Yusef Joseph Ree'an Ryan Kareem Nabil Bill Waleed Sami Nadeem Fadi Chadi Chad Fouad Fred Raji Roger Ya'oub Jacob/Jake Ree'an Ryan Naji Farid Ramzi Ramsey Samir Sam Rabih Robbie ******************************************************************************* 25. I plan to go home soon and I have heard rumors that the draft will be re-instituted, do you have any additional information about it ? I was born in 1923 and I am afraid that I would be subject to the draft ! The latest on the subject and the most recent decision is that men born during 1972 and later years will be drafted. The same was also confirmed recently in some of the arabic papers published in Canada. Originally it was thought that only those of 1975 will be drafted, but it was later decided to go with 1972... ******************************************************************************* 26. Where can I get a copy of the English translation of the Lebanese Constitution ? A Translated copy of the Lebanese Constitution is archived on borg.poly.edu (128.238.10.106) as /pub/scl/constitution. To obtain a copy from ftp enabled sites the following commands should be followed: ftp borg.poly.edu (or ftp 128.238.10.106) login name: anonymous password : send id as password cd pub/scl get constitution ******************************************************************************* 27. Where can I get a copy of the English translation of Taef Agreement ? A Translated copy of the Taef Agreement is also archived on borg.poly.edu (128.238.10.106) as /pub/scl/taef To obtain a copy follow similar procedure as the one followed in the previous question using at the end : get taef (instead of get constitution) ******************************************************************************* 28. I need to ship a car/or some merchandise to Lebanon, do you know of a shipping company that handles this ? There is a Lebanese person that handles shipping cars (among other things) to Lebanon. His name is Hassan Issa, and his home phone is : (316) 636-4612 You can mention that Hassan Hammoud referred you. It may be very helpful. ******************************************************************************* 29. I suddenly developped an urge for Middle-Eastern cuisine, can you help me quench this horrifying thirst ? You can try to prepare any of the following recipes: Tabbouleh 1 cup fine bulgur 1 bunch green onions, chopped 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped fine 1 small bunch mint, chopped 3 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped 1/4 cup olive oil juice of 2 lemons 1 to 2 ts salt fresh ground pepper to taste Soak bulgur in hot water for 30 minutes or until no longer crunchy. Drain in fine strainer then squeeze excess water out by hand. Return bulgur to bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Use the lemon juice to taste. >From "Cooking the Lebanese Way" by Cedar Hashashe (inexpensive paperback from AH & AW Reed) slightly adapted by me: Tabbouli 225g (1c) fine cracked wheat 1 large onion 2 - 3 c parsley 1/2 c olive oil 1 c fresh mint juice of 3 lemons 2 not-quite-ripe tomatoes black pepper cinnamon (2 heaped tsp) Soak the wheat 1 hr in cold water. Finely chopped parsley, mint (I usually am forced to use dried mint which is quite adequate), tomatoes and onion. Put in a large bowl. Drain wheat and sqeeze out all moisture with hands. Toss onto salad. Add spice, lemon juice and oil. Mix well. Season to taste so that salad is distinctly lemon-tasting and highly spiced. Baba Ghanouj 1 eggplant (about 1.25 lbs.) 1/4 cup of olive oil 1 clove of garlic, crushed 1/2 cup of lemon juice 1/4 cup of tahini 2 T of minced parsley 1. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and make several incisions in the flesh. Sprinkle the exposed meat with salt and let it drain for 30 minutes. 2. Coat a baking pan with the olive oil and place the eggplant face-down in the pan. Bake it in an oven preheated to 400F for about 20 or 30 minutes, until tender. 3. Remove the eggplant and let it cool. Then scoop out the pulp and place it in a food-processor or blender. Discard the skin. 4. Place the garlic in the blender with the eggplant and puree. Add alternately the lemon juice and the tahini. Finally, blend in the parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper if desired. 5. Chill before serving. Sprinkle with paprika to add a bit of color, if you like. Serve with raw vegetables and toasted pita triangles. Falafel 1 lb. dry ful (fava beans) 1 small onion 1 bunsh of chopped parsley 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 t. ground coriander 1/4 t hot red pepper (optional) 1 t. baking soda 1/2 t. cumin Salt and pepper to taste 1 T. flour Soak ful in cold water for a few days, changing water daily. When ready, peel ful and grind with onion in meat grinder. Add all ingredients, mixing well. Grind mixture a second time. Form into patties and fry. Variation: Soak 3/4 cup of dry homus with ful. Then follow above directions. Stuffed Grape Leaves in Oil. 1 lb tender grape leaves 12 oz. rice 12 oz chopped red onions 4 bunches parsley chopped fine 12 oz ripe tomatoes chopped very fine 2 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. spices (mixed cinnamon and sweet + hot pepper) 2 1/5 lb sliced tomatoes 1 pt. boiling water. 2 oz. lemon juice 4 oz. oil potatoes cut in the thickness of 1 1/2 inch. My Lebanese mother-in-law adds garbanzo beans as well, about a cup or so with the above proportions. Note that these are the "lentin" variety; there are also grape leaves with meat, for those who eat meat. As hinted above, rolling the leaves is the tricky part an the book doesn't explain how to do it. Could anyone provide any hints on that? Nothing substitutes for experience. When my wife and I make grape leaves, hers are always much tighter and more consistent than mine. But I'm learning! Here's how we do it: Lay the leaf face down in front of you, with the stem end towards you. (Be sure to remove the stem, by the way). Put a tablespoon or two of the stuffing in the middle of the leaf. Fold in the sides, then roll up the leaf starting with the end that is closest to you. It's very much like rolling a burrito, if that's any help. When cooking, be sure to put a plate on top of the grape leaves, so that they don't expand too much. Also, we like to crush some garlic and sprinkle it on top of the grape leaves before cooking. Sahtain! Knafi (bil Jibn or Ushta): I have recently learned to make Knafi, and if I do say so, I think I have become very good at it. I use the shreded stuff, not the breadcrumb crust. First prepare the syrup ('ater) from twice as much sugar as water with some lemon juice and orange-blossom water (mazaher). Mixing in honey makes it taste more familiar to American palates, and putting in a tiny amount of Carob molasses (dibs) makes the flavour "heavier" (i.e. more like something cooked). The syrup goes in the fridge. Next I prepare the clotted cream ('ushta). The ingredients are: One liter milk, 1/4 litre heavy cream and one teaspoonful rosewater (maward) Prefereably boiled over a light flame in a wide, shallow tray over two burners. After that, it needs to be left at room temperature overnight so that the thick layer of stuff on the surface can trigger the coagulation of a greater of the milk/cream mixture. Adding the rosewater after most of the boiling is done is a good thing to do. You may refrigerate the 'ushta now if you want to do this later. The cheese could be Lebanese white cheese (jinbi baidha) if you can get it or mozerella otherwise. The shredded dough needs to be well buttered : pouring melted butter over it is not enough, you have to leave some butter in solid form and rub it in to make sure every strand is coated. I assume this will not be a problem with breadcrumbs. Also, using clarified butter is a good thing to do if you have time. (If you are still with me, you probably have time ;) In order to clarify the butter, melt it and throw away the parts that float or sink (unless, of course, you have some REAL samneh!). One layer of knafi in the tray followed by the cheese (cut into any shapes you wnat: it'll melt anyway), covered with the 'ushta and topped off by another layer of buttered knafi is the final configuration. Bake at 350 for half an hour then raise the temperature to 450 to brown it; remove when it looks brown enough (unless you see smoke, which is another indication it is done :>). Ragout of Green Beans (Loobyieh ou rozz) --------------------- Ingredients: 2 lbs. 10 oz green beans strung and cut 1 lb meat cut in medium-sized pieces 7 oz. onions chopped 6 cloves of garlic cut 5 oz. butter 2 tbs salt 1/2 tbs pepper 2 pts 2oz boiling water 2 lb tomatoes cut in slices Clean and string beans and cut them in halves. Melt butter in a pot and fry onions, garlic and meat. when onions turn brown add tomatoes, then beans, salt and spices. After two minutes turn the beans with a flat ladle. Repeat this four times. Add boiling water and cook fast for 30 minutes. Reduce heat and continue cooking, stirring occasionally until beans are done. Serve with rice on the side. Potato kibbeh recipe from the book _The Art Of Cooking_ or Fann al Tabkh Potato Kibbeh Ing. 1 kg. of potatoes 1 cup of Burghul (soaked in water) [alternatively called Bulgur] 1/2 cup of flour 2 onions (chopped) 3 cloves of garlic (chopped) 1 bunch of fresh cilantro (or coriander) chopped salt (to taste) 1 gram of ground white pepper 1 gram of ground black pepper 1 pinch of cumin 1 pinch of nutmeg 150 grams of olive oil Boil potatoes, taking extra care not to overcook them, peel potatoes. Saute' onions, garlic and cilantro in a little bit of olive oil. Mash the potatoes, mix in the flour, the burghul (after draining them and squeezing excees water out), the spices and the sauteed ingredients. Form into small patties, and fry them in olive oil over medium heat for approximately 20 minutes (until they are golden brown color). Eat. Sahtain Here is another recipe for "Potato Kibbeh". I suppose this one is a "jabalieh"!! Mountaineer Potato Kibbeh ;-) 3 potatoes (large) 1/2 cup of Burghul Na'em (Fine Bulgur) 1 onion 1 to 2 cloves of garlic (according to taste) 3 tablespoons of Tehini Boil potatoes and peel. Mash the potatoes and the onion together using either a hand-mill or a food processor. I have personally found that a mill usually gives better results (maintains a solid mixture). Add the burghul and the garlic and mix well. You may choose to pass everything through the mill or food processor once more to get good mixing. Finally, add the tehini and again mix well. If you find the tehini to be a little too thick, add some water. Serve chilled on a platter and decorate with fresh mint leaves and olive oil. Good appetite. Mjadara recipe. Ingredients: 1 cup of lentil (the orange-colored type that you can find in health stores international stores and even some groceries) 4 cups of water 1/2 cup of rice 1 huge onion pepper and salt to taste (a couple of pinches should do) Chop the onion and fry with some oil until moderately brown. Place the rice lentil and water in a pot, add the salt and pepper and the onion and bring to a boil. After the mixture reaches the boiling point, reduce temperature to low, cover the pot, and let simmer for 20-40 minutes. I like the mjadra to have a pudding consistency. So uncover the pot 30 minutes after letting it simmer to check if the pudding consistency has been reached. If the thick pudding consistency was not achieved, then cover the pot again and let simmer for 10 minutes. Keep checking until the pudding consistency has been achieved. At this point, pour content in deep dishes and let cool in room temperature. When cooled, the mjadra will become firm. Get a small white onion, cut it in quarters and place in saucer w/ cold water. Heat some Lebanese bread. And... sahtein... Hint: it takes me a couple of times before I fully achieve the desired flavor when I cook. My first time around is usually experimental, though I learn from it in order to perfect the dish the second time around. My latest experiment was Mloukhieh. That was rather complicated but it turned out delicious!! Sambusik. Meat Filling: 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 teaspoon allspice 1 small onion chopped Pinch of cinnamon .5 to 1 lb ground beef or lamb Salt and pepper to taste 3 to 4 tablespoons of pine nuts 2 teaspoons of lemon juice Melt butter in saucepan and add onion. Saute' until tender and then add meat. Cook until just brown, then add remaining ingredients. Cook and stir about 2 minutes. Spinach Filling: 1 lb spinach fresh or frozen Juice of one squeezed lemon 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 teaspoon sumak 1 small onion chopped Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 crumbled feta cheese or cottage cheese Rinse spinach throughly several times and trim off stems. Chop leaves and drain well. If you use frozen spinach, squeeze dry after thawing and fluff with a fork to separate. Put it in a large bowl, and then start heating olive oil and add onion. Saute' about a minute and then add this to the bowl of spinach. Add remaining ingredients and toss/ stir gently to mix well. Cheese Filling: 1 cup crumbled feta, ricotta, 1/2 cup fresh parsley or Syrian cheese Salt and pepper to taste 1 small onion grated Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Prepare filling. Preheat oven to 350F. Using filo dough (about 20 sheets for each recipe, or one box), cut lengthwise into thirds (making long, thin strips). Keep the rest covered with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. Using one strip (of the three), take one from the top and brush it with clarified (melted) butter. Then continue until you have a total of four, all stacked on top of each other, each one brushed with butter (except the top one). Place a heaping tablestoon in the corner of each strip, and fold it flag- flag fashion, to make a triangle. Place seam-side (when you are done folding it, it looks like a seam - just turn it upside down) on a baking sheet with as many as the baking sheet can hold, but give each a little space inbetween. Brush each top with butter and bake about 15 or 20 minutes or until the top is golden. If your butter starts to get cold (hard to brush sheets with), just put it on the stove for a few minutes until it melts. The butter is best when it is melted, but not too hot. It is good to use a paint brush to brush the sheets, and I don't know if you've ever made baklawa before, but follow the directions of thawing the filo dough. It is hard to make sometimes, but if you have it at the right temperature, it will work very well. Be sure to cover the dough that you are not using, to make sure it doesn't dry out on you. I think this is the best recipe (easiest), but if it's the first time you are using it, it won't take very long before you know how to wrap each triangle. Salam and sahteen, Rice Bidfeen Recipe ------------------- Ingredients: 3 lb. rump of lamb with bones (boneless beef can be substituted) 2.5 lb small onions 1.25 lb rice (soaked) 3 tsb cumin 1/2 tsp spices * 8 oz. soaked chickpeas (or Garbanzo beans) 11 oz. butter 3.5 tsp salt 3 pts water (9pts if "American" rice is used) Cut meat into medium-sized pieces. Melt butter in a pan and fry the meat and bones till they are a golden brown. Lift meat and bones into a pot and add salt, pepper and water and allow to boil for about an hour. In the meantime, fry the onions and chickpeas in the same butter in which the meat was fried, until golden brown. Add onion, chickpeas with the butter to the boiling meat. Add cumin and spices. After the meat is done, remove a large portion of the meat, onions and chickpeas and put them aside. Add the rice to the water and remaining meat. Cook rice until it's done. When ready to serve, put rice in a platter and arrange the meat and onions that were put aside on top of it. Yogurt can be served on the side. * A mixture of cinnamon and hot and sweet peppers. Pita Bread Recipe This recipe comes from Bernard Clayton's "New Complete Book of Breads, Revised and Expanded", Simon and Schuster, 1973, p 679 I have tried the recipes for pita in Moosewood and in Beard on Bread but this one has consistently produced the best results for me. If you have any interest in making breads, Clayton's book is a must! PITA - eight 6-inch pieces The pieces of dough must be rolled flat before they are placed into a hot (500F) oven. The dough should be rolled to a thickness of no more than 3/16 inch. This is the thickness of a wooden yardstick, the kind given away at country fairs, auto dealers, and paint stores. It can be used as a gauge. The oven heat generates steam inside the pita which causes the dough to puff into a ball. Later, as it cools the dough will collapse. The oven must be hot. If it is not, the piece of dough will think it is meant to be a bun, and will rise slowly but without the all- important pocket in the center. While this is a yeast dough, it puffs because of the steam. The yeast only adds flavor and texture. Don't overpower the dough with flour or it will be too dry to allow sufficient steam to be generated. Leave the dough on the soft side. Sprinkles of flour will take care of stickiness. Ingredients: 2.5 cups bread flour, approx. 2 tsp salt 1 Tbs sugar 1 package dry yeast 2 Tbs oil, olive oil preferred 1 cup hot water (120-130F) Eight 7-inch squares of aluminum foil Into a large mixing bowl measure 1 cup flour and stir in the dry ingredients. Add the oil and hot water. Mix for about 30 seconds to blend and then beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for three minutes. Stir in the balance of the flour, 1/2 cup at a time. The dough should be a rough, shaggy mass that will clean the sides of the bowl. If the dough is moist, add a small amount of flour. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead with a rhythmic motion of push-turn-fold. Knead for about 6 minutes. Preheat oven to 500F. Divide the dough into eight pieces. Roll into balls, cover with wax paper or a towel, and let rest for 20 minutes. With the palm of your hand, flatten each ball into a disk. With a rolling pin, flatten the dough into a disk about 6 inches in diameter and 3/16-inch thick. Their thinness is more important than making perfect circles. Irregularity adds charm! Place each round on a prepared piece of foil. Placing the rounds on the foil rather than on a baking sheet or stone allows a softer heat to surround the dough. A direct thrust of heat from a baking sheet or stone would form a crust difficult to puff. Carefully place 2 or 3 of the breads (on their foil) directly on an oven rack in the oven. Back for about 8 minutes, or until they are puffed. Repeat with remaining disks. Place the pitas under the broiler for 2 minutes if a browner crust is desired. Remove the breads from the oven and wrap in a large piece of foil. The tops will fall and there will be a pocket in the center. Serve warm, or let cool and freeze. Thaw before using. To reheat, stack several in a pile, wrap in foil, and place in 375F oven for 10 to 15 minutes. ******************************************************************************* 30. How can I get the latest travel advisory for Americans wishing to visit Lebanon or the Middle-East ? A collection of all travel advisories released by the State Department during the last 4+ months is FTPable from RASCAL.ICS.UTEXAS [128.83.138.20] file Travel-Advisories in directory misc/misc. There is another copy of these travel avisories in, /pub/travel-advisories/advisories on ftp.stolaf.edu ******************************************************************************* 31. Are there available statistical and basic general information about Lebanon, and what are they ? Here are two listings of general information about Lebanon, one is taken from the CIA fact book and has information dated to 1992, the other is from another database (Kaleidoscope) and has information dated to 1990. ******* DISCLAIMER ********* These were published "as is", with no editing on my part, so if anyone wishes to disagree with the numbers or the information offered, please address your grievances to the issuing agency, not me. By publishing these, I do not imply that what is in them is "the" truth, however, I think that the information can be of some use to someone interested in Lebanon. As always, one has to be careful to not take everything one reads as god given or indisputable. ******************************** a) CIA Factbook on Lebanon listing (dated 1992): Lebanon Geography Total area: 10,400 km2 Land area: 10,230 km2 Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut Land boundaries: 454 km; Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km Coastline: 225 km Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern Lebanon since October 1976 Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa` (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt; water-surplus state in a water-deficit region Land use: arable land 21%; permanent crops 9%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and woodland 8%; other 61%; includes irrigated 7% Environment: rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, ethnicity; deforestation; soil erosion; air and water pollution; desertification Note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary Lebanon People Population: 3,439,115 (July 1992), growth rate 1.6% (1992) Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: -5 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 43 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.6 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Lebanese (singular and plural); adjective - Lebanese Ethnic divisions: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1% Religions: Islam 75%, Christian 25%, Judaism NEGL%; 17 legally recognized groups - 5 Islam (Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Isma`ilite, Shi`a, Sunni); 11 Christian, consisting of 4 Orthodox Christian (Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Nestorean, Syriac Orthodox), 6 Catholic (Armenian Catholic, Caldean, Greek Catholic, Maronite, Roman Catholic, and Syrian Catholic) and the Protestants; 1 Jewish Languages: Arabic and French (both official); Armenian, English Literacy: 80% (male 88%, female 73%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 650,000; industry, commerce, and services 79%, agriculture 11%, government 10% (1985) Organized labor: 250,000 members (est.) Lebanon Government Long-form name: Republic of Lebanon; note - may be changed to Lebanese Republic Type: republic Capital: Beirut Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Biqa, `Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) Constitution: 26 May 1926 (amended) Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943) Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet; note - by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi`a Muslim Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab, French - Assemble Nationale) Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases) Leaders: Chief of State: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989) Head of Government: Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri (since 13 May 1992) Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations; most parties have well-armed militias, which are still involved in occasional clashes Suffrage: compulsory for all males at age 21; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education Elections: National Assembly: elections should be held every four years, but security conditions have prevented elections since May 1972; in June 1991, the Cabinet appointed 40 new deputies to fill vacancies and balance Christian and Muslim representation; the legislature's mandate expires in 1994 Communists: the Lebanese Communist Party was legalized in 1970; members and sympathizers estimated at 2,000-3,000. Member of: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Lebanon Government Diplomatic representation: Ambassador - no ambassador at present; Mission is headed by Charge; Chancery at 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-6300; there are Lebanese Consulates General in Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles US: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER; Embassy at Antelias, Beirut (mailing address is P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut, or Box B, FPO AE 09836); telephone [961] 417774 or 415802, 415803, 402200, 403300 Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band Lebanon Government Note: Between early 1975 and late 1976 Lebanon was torn by civil war between its Christians - then aided by Syrian troops - and its Muslims and their Palestinian allies. The cease-fire established in October 1976 between the domestic political groups generally held for about six years, despite occasional fighting. Syrian troops constituted as the Arab Deterrent Force by the Arab League have remained in Lebanon. Syria's move toward supporting the Lebanese Muslims, and the Palestinians and Israel's growing support for Lebanese Christians, brought the two sides into rough equilibrium, but no progress was made toward national reconciliation or political reforms - the original cause of the war. Continuing Israeli concern about the Palestinian presence in Lebanon led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982. Israeli forces occupied all of the southern portion of the country and mounted a summer-long siege of Beirut, which resulted in the evacuation of the PLO from Beirut in September under the supervision of a multinational force (MNF) made up of US, French, and Italian troops. Within days of the departure of the MNF, Lebanon's newly elected president, Bashir Gemayel, was assassinated; his elder brother Amin was elected to succeed him. In the immediate wake of Bashir's death, however, Christian militiamen massacred hundreds of Palestinian refugees in two Beirut camps. This prompted the return of the MNF to ease the security burden on Lebanon's weak Army and security forces. In late March 1984 the last MNF units withdrew. In 1988, President Gemayel completed his term of office. Because parliamentarians failed to elect a presidential successor, Gemayel appointed then Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Gen. Michel Awn acting president. Lebanese parliamentarians met in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, in late 1989 and concluded a national reconciliation pact that codified a new power-sharing formula, specifying reduced powers for the Christian president and giving Muslims more authority. Rene MUAWAD was subsequently elected president on 4 November 1989, ending a 13-month period during which Lebanon had no president and rival Muslim and Christian governments. MUAWAD was assassinated 17 days later, on 22 November; on 24 November, Ilyas Harawi was elected to succeed MUAWAD. In October 1990, the civil war was apparently brought to a conclusion when Syrian and Lebanese forces ousted renegade Christian General Awn from his stronghold in East Beirut. Awn had defied the legitimate government and established a separate ministate within East Beirut after being appointed acting Prime Minister by outgoing President Gemayel in 1988. Awn and his supporters feared Ta'if would diminish Christian power in Lebanon and increase the influence of Syria. Awn was granted amnesty and allowed to travel in France in August 199l. Since the removal of Awn, the Lebanese Government has made substantial progress in strengthening the central government, rebuilding government institutions, and extending its authority throughout the nation. The LAF has deployed from Beirut north along the coast road to Tripoli, southeast into the Shuf mountains, and south to Sidon and Tyre. Many militiamen from Christian and Muslim groups have evacuated Beirut for their strongholds in the north, south, and east of the country. Some heavy weapons possessed by the militias have been turned over to the government, or sold outside the country, which has begun a plan to integrate some militiamen into the military and the internal security forces. Lebanon and Syria signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation in May 1991. Lebanon continues to be partially occupied by Syrian troops, which are deployed in Beirut, its southern suburbs, the Bekaa Valley, and northern Lebanon. Iran also maintains a small contingent of revolutionary guards in the Bekaa Valley to support Lebanese Islamic fundamentalist groups. Israel withdrew the bulk of its forces from the south in 1985, although it still retains troops in a 10-km-deep security zone north of its border with Lebanon. Israel arms and trains the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), which also occupies the security zone and is Israel's first line of defense against attacks on its northern border. The following description is based on the present constitutional and customary practices of the Lebanese system. Lebanon Economy Overview: Since 1975 civil war has seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Following October 1990, however, a tentative peace has enabled the central government to begin restoring control in Beirut, collect taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. The battered economy has also been propped up by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers. Family remittances, banking transactions, manufactured and farm exports, the narcotics trade, and international emergency aid are main sources of foreign exchange. In the relatively settled year of 1991, industrial production, agricultural output, and exports showed substantial gains. The further rebuilding of the war-ravaged country could provide a major stimulus to the economy in 1992, provided that the political and military situation remains reasonably calm. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $4.8 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate NA (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1991) Unemployment rate: 35% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $533 million; expenditures $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.) Exports: $700 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious and semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal products partners: Saudi Arabia 16%, Switzerland 8%, Jordan 6%, Kuwait 6%, US 5% Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.) commodities: NA partners: Italy 14%, France 12%, US 6%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3% External debt: $900 million (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: 1,381,000 kW capacity; 3,870 million kWh produced, 1,170 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil refining, chemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating Agriculture: accounts for about one-third of GDP; principal products - citrus fruits, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish), sheep, and goats; not self-sufficient in grain Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium and hashish for the international drug trade; opium poppy production in Al Biqa` is increasing; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, Israel, US, and the Middle East Lebanon Economy Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $356 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $664 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $962 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $9 million Currency: Lebanese pound (plural - pounds); 1 Lebanese pound (#L) = 100 piasters Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (#L) per US$1 - 879.00 (January 1992), 928.23 (1991), 695.09 (1990), 496.69 (1989), 409.23 (1988), 224.60 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year Lebanon Communications Railroads: system in disrepair, considered inoperable Highways: 7,300 km total; 6,200 km paved, 450 km gravel and crushed stone, 650 km improved earth Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation) Ports: Beirut, Tripoli, Ra'Sil`ata, Juniyah, Sidon, Az Zahrani, Tyre Merchant marine: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 236,196 GRT/346,760 DWT; includes 36 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 2 vehicle carrier, 2 roll-on/roll-off, 1 container, 8 livestock carrier, 1 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 3 bulk, 1 combination bulk Civil air: 19 major transport aircraft Airports: 9 total, 8 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m; none under the direct control of the Lebanese Government Telecommunications: rebuilding program disrupted; had fair system of microwave relay, cable; 325,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM (numerous AM and FM radio stations are operated inconsistently by various factions), 13 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth station, erratic operations; 3 submarine coaxial cables; radio relay to Jordan inoperable, but operational to Syria, coaxial cable to Syria Lebanon Defense Forces Branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) (including Army, Navy, and Air Force) Manpower availability: males 15-49, 750,319; 465,938 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $271 million, 8.2% of GDP (1992 budget) /Lebanon/ b) Kaleidoscope listing (dated 1990): KCWD/Kaleidoscope Copyright (c) 1993 ABC-Clio, Inc. COUNTRY: LEBANON LOAD: April 16, 1993 GENERAL INFORMATION Note: Due to unstable political and social conditions caused by the current civil war, data for Lebanon are often unavailable and frequently based on estimates.| Capital: Beirut Location: Lebanon is located in western Asia on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Syria to the east and north and Israel to the south. Time: 7 hours later than US Eastern Standard, 2 hours later than Greenwich Mean Currency: 100 piastres = 1 Lebanese pound Weight & Measure System: The metric system is in use. AREA: 4,036 square miles Land Use: 29.13% cropland; 0.98% permanent pasture; 8.11% forests and woodland; 61.78% other (mostly desert). Arable Land: 29% Arable Land per capita: 0.27 acres Coastline: 140 miles Land Borders: 282 miles POPULATION: 2,913,000 (1990 estimate Rank: 114-th Population Density: 722 inhabitants per square mile (1990 estimate Population Distribution: 83.74% urban (1990 estimate Population Growth Rate: 2.05% per year (1990-95 proje Regional Population: (not available) MAJOR CITIES POPULATION: (1980 estimate Beirut 702,000 Tripoli 175,000 Zahleh 47,000 Sidon 25,000 Tyre 14,000 VITAL STATISTICS Average Life Expectancy (years): 68.50 years (1990-95 proje Male 66.60 years (1990-95 proje; Female 70.50 years (1990-95 proje Age Distribution: (1990 estimate 0-14: 35.30% 15-64: 59.60% 65+: 5.10% Median Age (years): 21.50 years (1990 estimate Maternal Mortality: (not available) Infant Mortality: 40.00 (per 1,000 live births) (1986) HEALTH CARE Hospital Beds: 43 (per 10,000 pop.) (1982) PAGE 15 KCWD (c) 1993 ABC-Clio, Inc. LEBANON Doctors: 12 (per 10,000 pop.) (1986) CULTURE Ethnic Composition: Lebanese - 93%; Armenian - 5%; other - 2%. Religion: Moslem and Druze - 57%; Christian (mostly Catholic) - 42%; other - 1%. Language: Arabic is the official language, while French is a common second language. Kurdish, English and Armenian are spoken by some groups. Education: Illiteracy: 25%. In 1984, there were 329,340 primary school students; 230,934 secondary school students; 37,036 vocational school students; and 70,510 students in institutions of higher learning. In 1980 there were 1,663 students in teacher training schools. ECONOMIC DATA ( amounts expressed in US$ ) Budget: Revenues: $ 331,000,000 (1986); $ 582,600,000 (1985). Expenditures: $ 467,500,000 (1986); $ 692,900,000 (1985). Budget Deficit: as % of GDP: (not available) Expenditures by Function (as % of total): (1985) Community, social and personal services 10.77% Government services 10.19% Fuel and energy 5.42% Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 8.54% Manufacturing and construction 16.46% Transportation and communication 3.74% Trade, restaurants and hotels 28.29% Commerce 15.58% Economic Aid Extended: (not available) Economic Aid Received: Gross non-private: $ 101,900,000. US only: $ 24,000,000. (1985) External Public Debt: $ 443,000,000 (long-term). Service payments: $ 114,000,000. (1987) Gross National Product (GNP): $ 6,050,000,000 (1984) GNP per capita: $ 2,292 (1984) Gross Domestic Product: $ 1,800,000,000 (1985) GDP % by sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing - 9.20%; mining - 0%; manufacturing - 12.16%; utilities - 5.06%; construction - 3.19%; commerce - 28.63%; transportation and communication - 3.78%; other - 37.98%. (1980) GDP per capita: $ 687 (1985) International Liquidity: Reserves (minus gold): $ 977,800,000. Gold reserves: 9,222,000 fine troy ounces. (1988) Consumer Price Change: (not available) Imports: Consumer goods, petroleum products, machinery. Total Imports: $ 1,806,800,000 (1988); $ 833,600,000 (1987); $ 899,700,000 (1986). Exports: Textiles, metals, machinery, foodstuffs, jewelry. Total Exports: $ 575,500,000 (1988); $ 291,700,000 (1987); $ 220,500,000 (1986). Trading Partners: (Imports-1987) Italy - 14.00%; France - 12.00%; US - 6.00%; Turkey - 5.00%; Saudi Arabia - 3.00%. (Exports-1987) Saudi Arabia - 16.00%; Switzerland - 8.00%; Jordan - 6.00%; Kuwait - 6.00%; US - 5.00%. Tourists: Total: (not available). Revenue: (not available). Country of origin: (not available). Balance of Payments: (not available) Labor Profile: Agriculture, forestry and fishing - 22.83%; manufacturing - 9.93%; transportation and communication - 4.53%; construction - 5.52%; other - 57.19%. (1985 estimate Agricultural Products: Citrus fruits, potatoes, sugar beets, grapes, apples, grain, olives, tomatoes. Industrial Products: Cement, processed food, textiles, refined petroleum, timber, jewelry, tobacco manufactures, chemicals. Natural Resources: Salt, limestone, iron, wood. ENERGY Electric Power Generation: 4,839,000,000 kWh.; kWh. per capita: 1,480. (1988) Generating Capacity: 1,381,000 kW. (1988) Nuclear Power Plants & Output: None (1987) Crude Oil Production: None (1988) Natural Gas Production: None (1988) EMBASSIES Canadian Embassy in Lebanon, None US Embassy in Lebanon, Avenue de Paris (Corniche), Imm. Ali Reza, Beirut Lebanese Embassy in Canada, 640 Lyon Street, Ottawa K1S 3Z5, Tel: (613) 236-5825 Lebanese Embassy in US, 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, Tel: (202) 939-6300 TRAVEL NOTES Climate: The climate varies with altitude. During the summer the coastal lowlands are hot and humid and during the winter they are mild and damp. The weather in the mountains is cool in the summer, with heavy snowfall in the winter. Health Precautions: (not available) Holidays: 1990| Jan 1 (New Year's Day), Feb 9 (Feast of St. Maron), Feb 23 (Leilat al-Meiraj), Mar 22 (Arab League Anniversary), Apr 13-16 (Easter, Western and Eastern Churches), Apr 27 (Id al-Fitr), May 1 (May Day), May 24 (Ascension Day, Western Church), Jul 4 (Id ul Adha), Jul 24 (Islamic New Year), Aug 2 (Ashoura), Aug 15 (Assumption), Oct 2 (Mouloud), Nov 1 (All Saints' Day), Nov 22 (Independence Day), Dec 25 (Christmas), Dec 31 (Evacuation Day). Miscellaneous: Before the beginning of the civil war in 1975, Lebanon was a major tourist center because of its natural beauty and such historic sites as Baalbek and Byblos. TRANSPORTATION Roads: Total miles: 4,580; paved miles: 3,896. (1989) Vehicles: Registrations: 539,729. Passenger cars: 473,372; persons per car: 5. Trucks and buses: 49,560. (1982) Railroads: Total track-miles: 235 (1989). Passenger-miles traveled: 1,757,900; freight-ton miles carried: 24,018,100. (1973) Ports: Total: 6. Major: 3 (Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon). Cargo loaded: (not available); unloaded: (not available). (1989) Merchant Fleet: 102 freighters; 9 bulk carriers; 3 tankers; 613,000 dwt. tons. (1985) Civil Aviation: Total airfields: 10; usable: 9; permanent surface: 5; runways over 8,000 ft: 3 (1989). Commercial aircraft over 20,000 lbs take-off weight: (not available). Scheduled airline traffic: passenger-miles 420,066,400, international 420,066,400; short ton-miles 22,673,500, international 22,673,500. (1986) AGE 17 COMMUNICATION Radio: Stations: 8 (1989). Receivers: 2,100,000; per 1,000 pop.: 802. (1985) Television: Stations: 15 (1989). Sets in use: 800,000; per 1,000 pop.: 305. (1985) Newspapers: Major dailies: 13. Combined circulation: 234,000; per 1,000 pop.: 89. (1984) Telephones: Sets in use: 325,000; per 1,000 pop.: 114 (1989). Subscriber lines in service: (not available). (1982) ARMED FORCES Total Armed Forces: 16,500 (1988) Active Armed Forces (% of pop.): 0.68 (per 1,000 pop.) (1988) Although the regular armed forces represent less than 1% of the population, there are at least three private armies in Lebanon and at least 22 militias, the most powerful of which are Shiite-controlled. The largest of the militias, Amal, has an estimated 10,000 armed personnel, with as many reservists. In addition, there are approximately 25,000 Syrian troops in Lebanon, more than 1,000 Israeli soldiers (mostly in the south), and hundreds of armed Palestinians in the Bekaa Valley. A peacekeeping force comprising soldiers from 11 nations, the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL), also maintains a presence in southern Lebanon. | Annual Military Expenditures: $ 100,000,000 (1986); $ 150,000,000 (1985). Military Service: (not available) ARMY Personnel: 15,000 Organization: 5 brigades Major Equipment: (1988) 288 tanks: 135 M48A5 60 AMX-30 medium 50 T-54 25 AMX-13, light 18 M-41, light Armored personnel carriers include: 400 M113A2 80 M113A1 70 Saladin 16 M59 VAB-35 Panhard M3 Saracen Antitank missiles include: AT-3 Sagger Milan Surface-to-surface missiles include: 20 MGM-71, TOW AS.11/SS.11 M88A1 recovery vehicles Howitzers include: M109A2 M98 Guns include: 60 84mm Charioteer self-propelled antitank 18 155mm M144 18 105mm 15 40mm M-42 self-propelled, antiaircraft 10 122mm 6 75mm 20mm antiaircraft Mortars include: 120mm M1950 120mm M1965 81mm M125A2SPM 60mm M27/31 60mm HB, light 88mm, 83mm rocket launchers Army Aviation: None NAVY Personnel: 500 Organization: The naval base is located at Juniye. Major Equipment: (1988) Patrol craft include: 6 Aztec class 9-meter, 28 tons 3 Byblos class coastal Tarablous class, 90-tons Tracker Mk 2 class, 31 tons 2 French Edic class landing craft, 670 tons Naval Aviation: None AIR FORCE Personnel: 1,000 Organization: The operational base is at the Juniye-Jubayl highway strip. Major Equipment: (1988) 12 fighter aircraft: 9 IIIE Dassault Mirage 3 F-70 Hawker Siddeley Hunter 14 trainer aircraft: 6 126 Bulldog 5 CM-170-2 Super Magister 2 T-66C Hunter 1 IIIBL Dassault Mirage 2 transport aircraft: 1 Dove 1 Turbo Commander 690B 36 helicopters: 12 Aerospatiale SA 330 Puma 10 Aerospatiale SA 316 Alouette III 7 Agusta-Bell AB-212 4 Aerospatiale SA 342K Gazelle 3 Aerospatiale SA 313B Alouette II Missiles include: Matra R-530 air-to-air AS.11 air-to-surface GOVERNMENT Lebanon (al-Jumhuriyah al-Lubnaniyah -- Republic of Lebanon) is a republic with a parliamentary form of government. The Government was virtually irrelevant from 1975 to 1990 due to a civil war that divided the country into regions controlled by militias associated with religious and ethnic factions, including Druze, Sunni and Shiite Moslems, and Maronite Christians. Syria and Israel have maintained troops in various parts of the country since the early 1980s. The National Assembly's (see below: Legislature) failure to elect a successor to President Amin Gemayel in September 1988 prompted Gemayel to appoint an interim military government headed by army chief Gen. Michel Aoun. When in November 1989 Rene Mouawad was elected President, Aoun refused to relinquish power; Mouawad was assassinated by unidentified assailants 17 days after taking office. Although current President Elias Hrawi was installed later that month, he did not take effective power until late 1990, when Syrian and Lebanese forces expelled Aoun from his East Beirut stronghold of two years. Most other militias withdrew from the Beirut area soon thereafter and relocated in southern Lebanon. Constitution: The Constitution was promulgated on May 23, 1926 and amended several times, most recently in 1990. According to the National Pact of 1943, which provides for the proportional allocation of Government offices among various religious and ethnic groups, the President must be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Moslem, and the president of the legislature a Shiite Moslem. Executive: The President (head of state) is elected by the National Assembly for a 6-year term. While he or she may serve multiple terms, they may not be consecutive. The President appoints the Prime Minister (head of government) in consultation with the National Assembly. Amendments passed in 1989 transferred other executive powers from the President to a half-Christian, half-Moslem Cabinet. Legislature: A 1990 constitutional amendment expanded the unicameral National Assembly from 99 to 108 members, elected to 4-year terms, with seats equally divided between Christians and Moslems. Formerly, the National Pact of 1943 mandated the distribution of seats between Christians and Moslems according to a 6 to 5 ratio. Judiciary: Four courts of cassation, comprising at least three judges each, head the independent judicial system, which also includes 11 appeals courts and 56 courts of first instance presided over by one judge. Specialized judicial bodies include: a 6-member council of state that deals with administrative cases; a court of justice, consisting of a president and 4 judges, that hears matters affecting state security; and Islamic, Christian, and Jewish courts, which handle marriage, divorce, death, and inheritance issues. Local Government: The country is divided into 6 provinces (muhafazat). Each province has a Governor -- appointed by the President -- and a provincial council. Election Qualifications: All males 21 years of age and older are required to vote. Voting is optional for women 21 years of age and older who have completed an elementary education. Chief Government Officials: President: Elias HRAWI - since November 1989. Predecessor: Amin GEMAYEL, from September 1982 to September 1988. Prime Minister: Umar KARAMI - since December 1990. Finance Minister: Ali Yusif al-KHALIL - since November 1989. Note: The following ministers took office on Dec 24, 1990. Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister: Michel al-MURR. Foreign Affairs Minister: Faris BOUEZ. Justice Minister: Khatchig BABIKIAN. Interior Minister: Maj. Gen. Sami al-KHATIB. Economy & Trade Minister: Marwan HAMADI. Public Works & Transportation Minister: Nadim SALEM. Political Parties: Political parties are largely organized along sectarian lines, with members motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations. Many have well-armed militias, although a number of them ceased activity following Government changes in late 1990. Major parties and those with representation in the National Assembly are listed below. The Parti Socialiste Progressiste (PSP -- al-Takadumi al-Ishtiraki -- Progressive Socialist Party), founded in 1948, is a largely Druze organization that advocates socialism and has an anti-Western, nationalist orientation. The PSP has 10 Assembly members. The Parti National Liberal (al-Wataniyin al-Ahrar -- National Liberal Party) is right-wing group with 9 members in the Assembly. It is mainly Maronite, promotes a federal system of government, and is known for its anti-Palestinian stance. The nationalist and right-of-center al-Kata ib al-Lubnaniyah (Phalanges Libanaises -- Phalangist Party) is the largest Maronite party and has 7 members in the Assembly. Samir Geagea leads the Phalangist militia. The Bloc National (al-Kutla al-Wataniyah -- National Bloc) is a right-wing Maronite group that advocates power sharing between Christians and Moslems and the exclusion of the armed forces from politics. There are 5 National Bloc members in the National Assembly. The Parti Dashnak (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) advocates collective leadership and socialism. It has 5 Assembly members. Hizb al-Baath al-Arabi al-Ishtiraki (Arab Socialist Renaissance Party), a secular pro-Syrian party advocating Arab union, has two National Assembly members. Branches of the party can be found in several Middle Eastern countries. A pro-Iraqi wing, also known as al-Baath, has existed since 1976. The hard-line Parti Communiste Libanais (LCP -- al-Hizb al-Shuyu i al-Lubnani -- Lebanese Communist Party) was founded in 1924, banned in 1939, and legalized in 1970. Primarily Christian in the first 50 years of its existence, the LCP became predominantly Moslem following the onset of the 1975-1990 civil war. It holds one Assembly seat. The Parti Socialiste Nationaliste Syrien (National Syrian Socialist Party) advocates the creation of a "Greater Syria" embracing Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Palestine. It has one member in the National Assembly. Shiite Moslem in orientation, al-Amal (Movement of the Deprived) is a politico-military group that supports the 1979 Iranian Revolution and aligns itself with Syria. The militia, led by Cabinet Minister without portfolio Nabih Berri, has fought against pro-Palestinian Moslems, pro-Iraqi Baathists, and the Christian right. An offshoot of al-Amal, Hizballah (Party of God) is a fundamentalist Shiite organization with ties to the Iranian regime of the late Ayatollah Khomeini. The group has claimed responsibility for various terrorist acts. A militant Shiite group based in the Baalbek region, al Jihad al-Islami (Islamic Jihad or Holy War) has claimed responsibility for various kidnappings of foreigners in Lebanon, as well as other terrorist acts. Results of Recent Elections: The last general election was held in May 1972; subsequent scheduled elections have been postponed. Of the 99 deputies elected in 1972, 30 have since died, many in the civil war. In 1972, the required distribution of seats was as follows: Maronite Christians - 30; Sunni Moslems - 20; Shiite Moslems - 19; Greek Orthodox - 11; Greek Catholics - 6; Druzes - 6; Armenian Orthodox - 4; Armenian Catholics - 1; Protestants - 1; others - 1.// Note: Information on the distribution of seats following 1990 constitutional amendments was not available at press time. ******************************************************************************* end of part 2/2