Former culture ministers respond to Layyoun over decision to destroy Phoenician port

All archeological sites in Lebanon, from the Baalbek fortress to the smallest stone, have become endangered, after Minister of Culture Gaby Layyoun took the decision to destroy the ancient Phoenician port discovered in the property facing the Monroe Hotel in the region of Mina’ al-Hosn in Beirut.     

This was what former Culture ministers Dr. Tarek Mitri, MP Tamam Salam and Salim Wardeh announced during a press conference held to respond to the controversial decision of minister Layyoun.     

Salam said that the decision is a “flagrant violation” of heritage, especially that it is taken by "the person who is supposed to be entrusted with protecting history and heritage."         

For his part, Mitri called on Layyoun to justify his decision, “especially that with this decision, he violated the decisions of his predecessors without discussing the subject”.       

As for Wardeh, he said that what is happening is a crime against Lebanon’s history, adding that he decided to add the site to the General Inventory List based on the reports of 7 local and international experts who stressed the necessity to preserve this important heritage.        

In conclusion, the ministers assured that they will follow up on this issue until the end and will protect Lebanon’s archeological sites without preventing investors from carrying out their work.