Lebanon bids farewell Ghassan Tueni, Suleiman bestows upon him the Order of the Cedar

The funeral of press baron, publisher of An-Nahar, former MP and Minister Ghassan Teuni was held in St. Georges Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Nejme Square on Saturday, in the presence of PM Najib Mikati and other official figures.       

President Michel Suleiman bestowed upon the deceased the Order of the Cedar to honor his brilliant career in journalism and politics. He assigned PM Mikati with laying the medal the coffin.   In a eulogy held during the funeral, Mikati said “no word will give you the credit you deserve; you upheld the causes of Lebanon and the Arabs in all international forums”.  

For her part, MP Nayla Tueni, Ghassan Tueni’s granddaughter, promised that An-Nahar newspaper and Lebanon’s legacy will continue after his death. “An-Nahar will persist, Ghassan didn’t die, Gibran didn’t die. Oh grandfather, convey my salutations to Gibran and kiss him for me”.

The free, democratic, and independent Lebanon will not fall and we will continue on holding it high like the cedar,” she tearfully said.

“The national struggle that has not been completed yet will continue,” she declared. The last goodbye took place at 11 a.m. outside An-Nahar building in the presence of the deceased’s family, former president Amine Gemayel, MP Marwan Hamadeh, former Minister Ziad Baroud, Tarek Mitri in addition to An-Nahar staff and media figures.            

The coffin was then carried to St. Georges Greek Orthodox Cathedral. The body of the deceased will be buried in the family’s cemetery in Mar Mitr Church in Achrafieh.