Samar Yahya Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Ziad Atallah, Consul General of Lebanon, arrived in Jeddah about three months ago, a few days prior to the holy month of Ramadan. He immediately began working to open more channels with Jeddah's Lebanese community and deepen the already solid ties Lebanon has with the Kingdom. In his first interview with a Saudi newspaper, Atallah expressed his excitement for his posting in Jeddah, noting that he received a warm welcome from the Lebanese community as well as Saudi officials and businessmen. Atallah said that he came to Jeddah full of enthusiasm coupled with a “vision to develop and energize the consulate services provided to Lebanese community.” The Lebanese community in the Kingdom is large with an estimated number of 200,000 residents; approximately half of whom live within the area covered by the consulate in Jeddah. To better interact with the community and understand the needs of Lebanese citizens, Atallah said he grouped the community into three sectors: The first sector includes top-ranking executives and CEOs of large Saudi companies. The second sector forms nearly 70 percent of the Lebanese community composed of medical doctors, engineers, teachers, managers, business owners, and employees in many and diverse positions and fields. Most residents of these sectors have no major problems, are well-adapted, and have integrated into the Saudi system. The third sector, though relatively small at an estimated few hundred citizens, is of primary concern to Atallah because among them are those facing financial challenges and legal issues. The consulate is working hard to establish communication and find ways to solve their problems and improve their conditions and well-being. The consulate seeks to bring the Lebanese businessmen of sector one together with the Lebanese of sector three so the former can help the latter with support and aid. At present, the consulate is working on collecting data about members of the Lebanese community within the areas served from Tabuk in the country's northwest to Najran in the south using diverse tools and mechanisms. One of the tools is the newly developed website www.lebanonconsulate-jeddah.com and www.lebanonconsulate-jeddah.org which will be activated on the eve of the National Day of Lebanon on Nov. 22. Besides being a communication channel where Lebanese can log in and register, the website will serve as an interactive means to apply for various consular services online. The consulate will use Facebook and Twitter ads, as well as dedicated SMS messages to announce the launch of the website. As another means of connecting with the Lebanese community, especially those living far away from Jeddah, the consulate is preparing a plan to make regular visits to distant areas and have on ground contact with the community. The consulate also plans to be the hub and the link between different Lebanese community members and their professional syndicates and associations back home in an attempt to have mutually beneficial relations. Atallah said one of his priorities was overseeing the construction of the consulate's new premises in Al-Basatin area which will be host the new Consulate Chancery, the General Consul residence, as well as a Lebanese club that will be the core for all events and gatherings and can host up to 1,000 guests at a time. On the celebration of 69th Independence Day on Nov. 22, Atallah emphasized the symbolism of the Independence Day for the unity of Lebanon and all Lebanese. “The people and government are working for more development, progress, tranquility, and stability of the country. This unity will be very clear during the upcoming celebration where people from various sectors and ages, interests, new comers and long-time residents of Jeddah will gather to celebrate the Independence Day,” he said. As per the problems the Lebanese community faces in the Kingdom, Atallah said that generally speaking the Lebanese community has no major problems. The few problems that they do face are mainly connected to iqama renewal or related issues, which are mostly solved on friendly personal basis. “Yet, in some rare cases where cordial ways are not sufficient, the new approach for the consulate is to consult a legal firm as an added value to the privileges and immunities of the consulate to combine efforts for the benefit of the Lebanese community,” he explained. The issue of Lebanese prisoners is a related legal matter that Atallah takes very seriously. He revealed that the number of Lebanese prisoners in Madinah is five and in Jeddah six, making a total of eleven violators in the vast area served by the consulate. “A relatively small number for a large community like ours,” Atallah remarked while saying that he personally visited prisoners in both cities to check on their health and how well they were being legally represented. “On this occasion I would like to thank the Saudi authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the region for their cooperation and efforts extended to Lebanese prisoners.” Atallah said. “My major concerns at present are finishing the new building to have a new atmosphere of work, see the positive results and outcome of the new website and to be able to connect and communicate with Lebanese community online and to terminate the pending legal issues with the advice and cooperation of a legal firm,” he added On tourism and cultural exchange between Lebanon and Saud Arabia, Atallah said that Saudi tourists always reflect the strong relations between the two countries. Lebanon is a very well-known tourist spot for many Saudis and citizens of Gulf countries. At present, the tourism sector in Lebanon is thriving with a high number of tourists especially Saudis and GCC citizens flocking to the country. Lebanon is hopeful that peace and stability will be maintained in the country and tourist numbers will continue to increase. Atallah praised the strong and long-lasting Saudi-Lebanese relations in which the Saudi leadership and people have never spared an effort to support Lebanon in its ups and downs. “The Lebanese people consider the Kingdom to be a strong supporter of the stability of Lebanon and well-being of Lebanese citizens,” he said. Education is another topic that Atallah highlighted. He explained that Lebanese and Saudi students who complete their high school studies from one of many international schools in the Kingdom, have no problems enrolling in Lebanese universities. However, students of some private schools might face some foreign language problems and they need intensive courses in English, French or Italian in order to successfully navigate the Lebanese higher education system. “The consulate is hopeful to establish a Lebanese school that follows the Lebanese curriculum to fulfill one of the major requests of the Lebanese community here. The consulate will work to find the right time and create the needed circumstances for the success of such a project,” Atallah explained. As part of his efforts to provide top-notch services to pilgrims, Atallah headed a delegation to receive Lebanese pilgrims every day at Jeddah's King Abdul Aziz International Airport for 14 days “to ensure their smooth flow into the Kingdom.” Atallah thanked Saudi authorities for the excellent preparations and professional care the pilgrims enjoyed starting from their arrival to Jeddah or Madinah until their safe return home. According to Atallah the Haj season was a “successful one and its success shall be attributed to the Saudi authorities”. On investment, Atallah said that Saudi Arabia is ranked the first among Lebanon's Arab trade partners, sometimes even competing with Italy, which is Lebanon worldwide number one trade partner. Saudi investments often support Lebanon. The main fields of Saudi investments in Lebanon are real estate and tourism related investments mainly hotels, beach resorts as well as malls. On the other hand, Lebanese businessmen have investments or partnerships with Saudi businessmen. The bilateral commercial and investments are huge and are also seen in mutual imports and exports. On the social level, Atallah expressed his admiration of the warm weather of Jeddah and that it forms no barrier or obstacle to daily activities. Since he arrived in the Kingdom, Atallah has visited many places in Jeddah, but wishes to see more of the active, commercial and cultural city and the surrounding areas.
