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April 12, 2013 Special Dispatch No. 5271

Chinese Delegation Visits Hizbullah Theme Park in Lebanon; Lebanese University Professor Who Works With U.S. Embassy And USAID Accompanies, Says 'We Are Very Pleased With Hizbullah's Achievements… We Salute Them'

April 12, 2013
Lebanon | Special Dispatch No. 5271

Following are excerpts from an Al-Manar TV report on a Chinese delegation visiting Hizbullah's Tourist Landmark of the Resistance, a multimedia theme park near Mleeta village in South Lebanon.[1] The delegation included former Chinese deputy foreign minister Yang Fuchang, who was accompanied by George Kallas, who is Lebanese University's Dean of the Faculty of Information and Documentation[2] (although in the clip he is identified as "Dean of Sciences"), and Wafa Berry, who is Lebanese University's Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Human Science[3] (although in the clip she is identified as "Dean of the Faculty of Social Science"), among others.

George Kallas has been involved in efforts by USAID and the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to train young journalists in conducting investigative journalism. According to a 2010 release on the Embassy website, "[t]he training materials were developed in coordination with Lebanese University, whose professors will also incorporate the materials into future journalism courses. This project is part of USAID’s $9.3 million Transparency and Accountability Grants program… [USAID/Lebanon's Economic Growth Officer Mark] Wilt emphasized the important role Lebanese University continues to take in this important field of study."[4]

The report aired on March 19, 2013.

Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV.

Reporter: "The resistance, having become an integral part of Lebanese culture, has emerged as a central theme in the academic activity of the Lebanese University, and as a means to propagate itself throughout the world. Deans and rectors of various faculties have become soldiers in our number one national cause, within the international framework of the 'Lebanese-Chinese Friendship Committee,' whose Lebanese and Chinese members visited one of the former bastions of Hizbullah in Lebanon.

"This is the Mleeta Museum for jihadi tourism in Tuffah, South Lebanon. A Chinese delegation, led by a former deputy foreign minister of China, and including many Beijing University academics and professors, visited the site. They were accompanied by Lebanese University deans and rectors. They were received by members of Hizbullah's leadership in South Lebanon, and its information department."

George Kallas, Dean of Sciences [sic], Lebanese University: "We saw that the Chinese delegation admires all the Resistance has achieved. We are proud to say that we are very pleased with Hizbullah's achievements. This is why I suggested that we salute them."

Wafa Berry, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science [sic], Lebanese University: "This is the other side of what our young men and women should be learning. This has to do with our honor. Therefore, it was only natural for the cultural exchange between China and Lebanon to include this place."

Reporter: "Members of the joint Lebanese-Chinese delegation toured the various monuments. They started with this representation of the Israeli defeat, toured the different advanced posts and tunnels of Hizbullah, and eventually reached the museum of captured military equipment."

Yang Fuchang, former Chinese deputy foreign minister: "We were very happy to visit this resistance exhibition. Indeed, the resistance of the Lebanese people has been valiant. We must make sacrifices, but eventually, the will of the Lebanese and Chinese peoples will render the resistance victorious." […]


Endnotes:

[1] Reuters, August 11, 2010.

[2] http://www.ul.edu.lb/faculte/branches.aspx?facultyid=9

[3] http://www.ul.edu.lb/faculte/people.aspx?facultyId=5

[4] http://lebanon.usembassy.gov/latest_embassy_news/press-releases2/pr041611.html

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