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The financial crisis that Lebanon is going through prevented the organization of a celebration commemorating the country’s accession to the Francophonie.
The Lebanese Minister of Culture in the caretaker government, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada, attributed this measure to the crisis that Lebanon and the Lebanese are suffering from. This is at a time when the collapse of the national currency is setting records in the exchange rate of the Lebanese pound against other currencies, as the price of one US dollar reached 150,000 pounds. As a reminder, this price was divided by one hundred, or 1,500 pounds for one dollar, only three years ago.
The media office of Minister Muhammad Wissam al-Murtada issued the following statement: “Because of the compelling economic conditions and the living suffering under which the Lebanese are suffering, the Minister of Culture decided to cancel the celebration that he had intended to hold at the UNESCO Palace on 31/3/2023 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Lebanon’s accession to the international organization.” He also decided to suffice with the cultural demonstration that the Ministry of Culture held yesterday at the Grand Serail to celebrate the anniversary, in agreement with the Regional Office of La Francophonie and under the auspices of His Excellency the Prime Minister, in the presence of a crowd of ambassadors of Francophone countries, ministers, deputies, those concerned with cultural affairs, and friends and partners of the Ministry of Culture.