Rubens Hannun on Brazilian trade: “Closeness with Arab countries is strategic”
ByTheEast: The Câmara de Comércio Árabe-Brasileira (CCAB, Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce) was founded 67 years ago. Times were different then. What was its mission initially? How did it evolve?
Fadia Safi on financing NGOs: “We don’t want to shut Sesobel’s door”
ByTheEast: At the beginning of June 2019, you had announced you would be closing the gates of Sesobel on June 28, and that you would not be taking new applications because...
Karim Daoud on sustainable agriculture: “We should respect our Mediterranean diet”
ByTheEast: A transition towards sustainable agriculture in Tunisia is crucial. But Tunisian agricultural income, which usually represents 11% of its GDP, has shrunk to 9%. What are the reasons for this...
Ayman Assi on sexual health care: “Public health is at stake”
ByTheEast: How was the NGO Marsa
born?
Ayman
Assi: In the early 2000s, following the results of a study on Lebanese doctors
which shed light on the fact that the majority...
Lynn Maalouf on death penalty: “Lebanon could play a role model”
ByTheEast: Let’s begin by getting a general overview of the human rights
scene in Lebanon. Do you see any signs of progress over the last 10 years?
Lynn Maalouf:...
Igor Delanoë on Syria: “Moscow and Tehran move towards a cooperative competition”
ByTheEast: Let’s start by the Syrian issue. How could Russian diplomacy "benefit" from the disengagement of Westerners? Which political solution can Russians adapt to emerge from the war?
Asmahan Zein on labour market: “Women lack representation at many levels”
ByTheEast: A recent survey (‘Working Women in the Middle East and North Africa’, by Bayt.com and YouGov.com) ranked Lebanon as #1, vis-a-vis women and men working together in the same workplace. Are...
Fouad Zmokhol on reforming Lebanon: “It’s time to act”
ByTheEast: A few weeks ago, Beirut hosted the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit which turned out to be a fiasco. Economic commentators pointed to the humiliation faced by Lebanon because...
Tom Butler on mining sector: “We are expected to do good not just do well”
ByTheEast: ICMM focuses on mining companies’ values, such as sustainable development and CSR (Corporate social responsibility). How can you help them to improve their policy?
Tom Butler: ICMM...
Jacques Sarraf on Lebanon-Russia: “We need to establish strategic relations”
ByTheEast: How old are the bounds between Lebanon and Russia?
Jacques Sarraf: The first contact between Russia and the Lebanese population dates back to the reign of Tsar Ivan IV, who decided to support the...