Jean Obeid
Jean Obeid | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants | |
| In office 17 April 2003 – 26 October 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Rafik Hariri |
| Preceded by | Mahmoud Hammoud |
| Succeeded by | Mahmoud Hammoud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 May 1939 Alma, Lebanon |
Jean Obeid (born 8 May 1939) is a Lebanese journalist and politician, who served at different cabinet posts last of which was foreign minister of Lebanon from 2003 to 2004.[1]
Early life
Obeid hails from a Maronite family.[2][3] He was born in Alma, a village in the Zgharta district, on 8 May 1939.[4][5][6]
Career
Obeid is a journalist[7] He started his career in journalism, where he held several high-level positions in various newspapers and magazines. He was an advisor on Arab affairs to two former Lebanese Presidents, Elias Sarkis and Amin Gemayel (1983-1987).[4] Gemayel also appointed him special envoy to Syria.[8][9] On 11 February 1987, Obeid met with Parliament Speaker Hussein Husseini and was kidnapped by nine gunmen in west Beirut.[10][11] Obeid was freed unhurt after four days.[12]
Obeid served as a member of the parliament, representing Chouf from 1991 to 1992 and Tripoli from 1992 to 2005.[2][3] He served as minister of state in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 1993. Then he was named as the minister of national education, youth and sports.[13] He was in office from 1996 to 1998. On 17 April 2003, he was appointed foreign minister in a reshuffle to the last cabinet of Hariri, replacing Mahmoud Hammoud in the post.[2][14][15] Obeid's tenure ended in 2004 and he was succeeded by Mahmoud Hammoud as foreign minister.[4][15] In 2008, he ran for the presidential elections and was considered to be possible consensus candidate.[4] Jean Obeid was a candidate for President of Lebanon and participated in the Lebanese presidential election, 2014.
Personal life
Obeid is married and has five children.
References
- ^ "Foreign ministers". Rulers. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ^ a b c "Lebanon: Ex-foreign Minister Positions Himself as Centrist for Presidency". Wikileaks. 18 November 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ a b Maraoun, Nassif. "Six candidates and one satisfactory seat. All of them extra-judicial". Tayyar. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Meet Lebanon's leading presidential candidates". Ya Libnan. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ Kechichian, Joseph A. (23 September 2007). "The wait for a leader". Ya Libnan. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "Lebanon leading presidential candidates". Lebanon Wire. 23 September 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "FPM PM: Salam plans to form a cabinet of ghosts". Ya Libnan. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ^ Eric J. Schmertz; Natalie Datlof; Alexej Ugrinsky (1997). President Reagan and the world. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-313-30115-5. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ Copps, Alan (6 April 1984). "Lebanese, Syrian leaders to hold summit meeting". Observer Reporter. Beirut. IP. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "Gemayel adviser taken captive in west Beirut". The Pittsburgh Press. 12 February 1987. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "Gemayel Adviser Reported Kidnaped in Beirut". Los Angeles Times. Beirut. 13 February 1987. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
- ^ Salameh, Rima (16 February 1987). "Druse chief says Waite being held by Shiites". Schenectady Gazette. Beirut. AP. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ "Hariri forms new government in Lebanon". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 17 April 2003. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- ^ "Lebanon's new Cabinet: Members list, observations". Lebanonwire. 18 April 2003. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ a b Rola el Husseini (15 October 2012). Pax Syriana: Elite Politics in Postwar Lebanon. Syracuse University Press. p. 250. ISBN 978-0-8156-3304-4. Retrieved 8 March 2013.