Festivals take place in Saida and Tripoli despite threats‏ ‏by Islamic fundamentalists

Although the scholastic year has started, Lebanon still pursues the various summer festivals in ‎various parts of the country.  Indeed, the Saida festivals kicked off with a musical concert by ‎Lebanese pop star Nancy Ajram.  The event was held at the Saida marina and that is despite the ‎threats by Islamic fundamentalist groups which attempted to intimidate the inhabitants of the ‎city to prevent them from attending the concert.  Tripoli also had three days of festivities during ‎which the audience forgot for a while about the harsh conditions of their city despite similar ‎threats and intimidation.  In a related vein, Tourism Minister, Michel Pharaon, openedon ‎September 8th an entertainment festival for families which opened in its first edition at the Horsh ‎Beirut in collaboration with the Heinrich Boell Foundation.  The event extended over two days ‎and included activities for children as well as artistic events.  The Minister of Agriculture, ‎represented by DG Louis Lahhoud, sponsored for his part, the apples and olives festival which ‎was held last Saturday with the participationof more than 27 agricultural association from Jezzine ‎and South Lebanon.  During this festival, the President of the Federation of Jezzine ‎Municipalities highlighted the hardship that the farming sector faces as a result of armed conflict ‎in the region and the difficulties that local farmers face in marketing their produce.‎

‎(Al Mustaqbal, Al-Diyaar 18, 19 September 2016)‎