President Michel Sleiman toured development projects in the northern city of Tripoli Sunday, where he said that the state’s pledge to develop the north is being realized, though there is still much to be done.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who accompanied Sleiman during the tour, described the visit as “unique in its occasions and its goals,” while also underscoring Lebanon’s second-biggest city’s need for further development.

The president began his tour with a visit to the Lebanese University’s campus in Tripoli, which is currently under construction.

He was welcomed by LU President Adnan Sayyed Hussein, and was updated on the progress of the 180 square-meter-campus by Nabil Jisr, the head of the Council of Development and Reconstruction.

After touring the campus, Sleiman told reporters that the project “is vital, of extreme importance and in line with balanced development.”

Sleiman also said that when he was Army commander, he saw to it that two buildings on the site, originally used as residences for Army officers, were given to the Education Ministry for the university.

The move facilitated the construction of the university campus, where Lebanese from different areas and sects will gather, he added.

The president expressed his support for decentralization at LU: “There should be several campuses like the one that is being constructed.”

Sleiman’s second stop was at the new Justice Palace that is being built in Tripoli, where he was welcomed by Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, Transport and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi, Tripoli lawmakers Samir Jisr and Badr Wannous and head of the Tripoli Bar Association Bassam ad-Daya.

The president toured the building site and was briefed by Aridi on the pace of construction. Aridi said that the new Justice Palace could be an example for similar structures throughout the country and expressed hope that his ministry would receive adequate funds from the Cabinet to complete such projects.

Sleiman and Mikati visited Tripoli’s harbor as well, where they examined a new pier under construction.

With a length of 600 meters and a depth of 15 meters, the new pier will be able to accommodate more ships and increase productivity.

“I became confident through my tour today … that [promises] that we made about Tripoli and the north are being fulfilled,” Sleiman said. “Of course there is still much to do,” he acknowledged. The president said that Tripoli’s port was fundamental to developing the city.

From there, Sleiman moved to the city’s corniche where he launched festivities for Tripoli’s “car-free day,” an event organized by the Tripoli Youth Network in collaboration with the cities’ municipalities and sponsored by Sleiman and the Maurice Fadel Prize association.

The president kicked off a solar car race aimed at promoting a car-free city and planted an olive tree on the corniche for the occasion. Tripoli MP Robert Fadel presented Sleiman with a bronze statue of the Tal Clock Tower in Tripoli.

At the end of his tour, Sleiman attended a luncheon held in his honor by Mikati at the Rashid Karami International Fairgrounds where around 1000 guests were on hand.

Speaking during the lunch, Mikati said that Tripoli welcomes Sleiman, whom he called “the symbol of this country’s unity.”

“Tripoli tells you today that … it relies only on the state,” Mikati said. “It hopes that your visit is sign that the city and the rest of the north will make up for lost development.”

Mikati said that the people of Tripoli were keen to hear Sleiman and the prime minister pledge that the state would not abandon its responsibility toward Tripoli.

For his part, Sleiman said he that his tour left him “with great satisfaction.”

He highlighted the necessity of relaunching the Rene Mouawad Airport in Qulaiat, along with repairing and re-opening the railway in the north.

“These are necessary measures to establish administrative decentralization and balanced development,” he said, adding that Tripoli reflects Christian-Islamic coexistence, with churches standing side by side with mosques.

The Mina-Tripoli Carfree Day is an initiative of the Tripoli Youth Network, and supported by BankMed, and Maurice Fadel Prize. It aims at promoting an environmentally friendly culture in Tripoli and Lebanon by banning cars in 2 major axes of Tripoli and Mina and organizing, within this track, sports, cultural and entertaining events, to which all inhabitants of Tripoli and beyond would be invited to participate.
 
The Tripoli Youth Network is a coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations operating in Tripoli and run by young active citizens driven by a common mission to positively contribute to the city of Tripoli as well as the nation of Lebanon as a whole. The Network and its constituencies have thus joined forces for organizing their first initiative: “A Carfree Day in Tripoli Mega-Event” promoting a better environment and responsible citizenship. During this Mega Green Event we aim at:

 • Raising awareness about the environment and the environmental challenges confronting Lebanon in General and the North in particular.
 • Educating people on how they can become eco-friendly, and demonstrating in particular ways in which they can enjoy their city without necessarily being dependent on their cars, which is a major cause of air, noise, and visual pollution.
 • Giving local citizens the opportunity to enjoy the space freed from cars and rediscover their city and the treasures within it, While Remaining A POLITACILLY NEUTRAL Event.

 Carfree Day in Tripoli and Mina Cities is on Sunday the 13th of November 2011. Super shiny sun or shy sun hidden under tiny water drops, BOOK your calendar and plan for a FULLY BOOKED day from 12 PM till 6 PM!
Our program is simple! 6 hours of none stop environmental, sports, artistic, urban arts, musical, cultural, entertainment activities for everyone.
• At 12:00 p.m. – The Inauguration Ceremony Under the High Patronage of His Excellency The President of the Republic of Lebanon General Michel SLEIMAN.
 • From 1:00 pm till 6:00 pm – The Launching of all the Activities.

Have you ever thought that a huge stage will be placed in the middle of the cross roads near Dar el Chamal with famous bands and singers playing and performing for 6-8 hours none stop and another humungous stage standing in Cornish El Mina sparkling with Lebanese star bands and rocking the place where the sea breeze playing with your hair and your heart pounding from joy? Did you ever think that BENETTON’s side walk will alter to become a kids zone? Did it ever came across your mind that you can bring your couch and use the asphalt roads as your rug? Have you ever dreamed of exploring your city, walking, jogging, skateboarding, “scootering”, cycling without worrying about the horns howling and damaging your serenity and peace of mind or a crazy car or truck carless about your escapade hunting your path? Don’t you just simply wish to take a nice long walk with your friends and family, shopping, exploring, learning, enjoying and that’s in two major road axes in Tripoli and Mina when seeing them “Carfree” was only a far far far impossible day dream?

Unlimited activities, nonstop artistic performances, 6 basketball playgrounds, urban arts, graffiti, awareness stands, food, beverages, 10 km race, solar car race, bike promenades, air blown games, paint ball, and so much more; Tripoli and Mina Cities will be as never seen before!

Saturday Night-12 November 2011:

Performance by the Superstar Ragheb Alama, Ambassador of the United Nations campaign for the Environment Program. (Tickets sold at Virgin Megastores for $10, $30, $50, $200)

Sunday All Day Long-13 November 2011:

• Drawings exhibition

 • Kids zone

 • Photo Competition

 • 6 basket ball playgrounds

 • 4 football playgrounds

 • Grafitti

 • Urban arts by Gilbert Extreme

 • More than 100 stands distributed among reputable green NGOs, your favorite foods and drinks and entertaining activities

 • Scouts parades

 • 4 bus stations to pick interested participants from one location to an other

 • 10 Km Race: (in association with • 4 bus stations to pick interested participants from one location to an other

 • 10 Km Race: (in association with Ma’an Loubnan)

     - All runners MUST gather at 11:00 P.M. in the Start Area

    -The Race will start at 1:00 P.M. sharp

    - “START” location point is at the same point across the street from where the Solar Tiny Cars race will start. The 10 Km race will “FINISH” at the same point as the “START”

    - Runners will be headed towards Al Fedde Beach Restaurant, turn around Al Manara Restaurant then head back to the starting point. This course will be covered three times.

    - This is race will be supervised by the “Lebanese Federation of Athletes”

• On Mina Stage Performances: o Mr. Vergo (Arabic rap, Tripoli Band)

    - Killer Muffin(Grunge and Garage, Tripoli Band)

    - Toxic Trash(Punk, Tripoli Band)

    - Venemy (Metal, Beirut Band)

    - Kristen Hope (Folk, US Band)

     - Hezb L Taleta (Electro, Beirut Band)

     - Adonis (Arabic pop fusion, Beirut Band)

     - The Incompetents (Indie, Beirut Band)

     -  Lazzy Lung (Indie, Rock, Canada, Beirut Band)

     -  Belime

 • On Tripoli Stage Performances:

     -  Demons (Rock, Tripoli Band)

     - Mohamad Cha’ar

     - 7 Ta2aT (Rap, Tripoli Band)

     - Capoera

     -  Howl (English Pop, Tripoli Band)

     - Tirashrash

And many many more…

Under the Patronage of the First Minister Najib Mikati, Azm & Saade Association has organized the ceremony for the opening of the Health Clinic near the lebban roundabout in El Mina, in the presence of representative of the first Minister Mikati Mr. Abdel-Kader Alameddine, the president of the municipality of El Mina Ambassador Dr. Mohamad Issa, El Mina mayors, El Mina council municipality members and some of religious, political ,social and participants.

Fisrt Dr Salah Ghandour, the official head of the health sector Azm & Saade Association Dr Salah Ghandour, said : "Prime Minister Najib Mikati and his brother Taha, founded the concept of the Association Azm & Saade witch is the human well-being through the human development, and we are working together to provide health care and the highest levels of quality to raise the level of the health of our people in Mina , Tripoli and the North. " He added: "The health sector of the Association has provided more than 300,000 health care services for 60,000 people in recent years."

Second The representative of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Abdel-Kader Alameddine send the greetings of the Prime Minister to the participants and said: "This clinical join to other institutions Azm & Saade Association in Tripoli and Mina, it’s a contribution from the Association and the leadership of Prime Minister to work with the citizens in order to have a better life.

This Association is always looking to serve the citizens and help the civil society life.

He added: "Azm & Saade Association and the orientation of the president Najib Mikati have never stopped working in the development projects at all levels of health and socio-cultural ,Today we are opening the clinic whom doctors and lab are in service for El Mina citizens and after two days we ‘re going to open under the patronage of prime minister the AZM CULTUREL CENTER –House of Art to be a cultural & artistic platform that will put El Mina and Tripoli on the cultural map and tourist Arab world.