Bassel: They Are Sectarianizing Affairs in Lebanon... And They Took Our Right!

Under the patronage of leader of the "Strong Lebanon" bloc MP Gebran Bassel and Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nizar Hani, the Lebanese Association for Studies and Training, the "Petroniates" association, and the municipality of Batroun organized the "Village Fairs in Batroun" event for agricultural, food, and handicraft products at the Benroneyat Association, attended by General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Louis Lohoud and various stakeholders and participants.

In his speech during the event, Bassel said the gathering reminded him of the core idea behind the founding of "Petroniates," noting that it originated from the "Batrounese pantry," and that his connection to this pantry is tied to land, identity, history, and what distinguishes Lebanon.

He clarified that he has always considered the Lebanese product—especially those linked to food industries—as a "national product," stating: "They criticized me politically for this word and took it in another meaning, but I consider it connected to everything that defines this country."

He pointed out that the food industry begins with agriculture and land, emphasizing that preserving land in a small country like Lebanon first goes through agriculture, then through industry that develops agricultural products and enables their domestic consumption or export abroad.

He highlighted the importance of trade in the lives of Lebanese people, considering it part of their nature "from Phoenician days to our present and future," adding that the commercial instinct among Lebanese is so strong "that we even use trade in politics."

Bassel linked food products to tourism and culture, stressing that the Lebanese table forms a fundamental pillar of Lebanese culture. He noted that wine is a key element in France, wine and cheese in Italy, and olives and olive oil in Spain, asserting that food products in these countries are not mere details but integral parts of their cultures.

He added that the same applies to Lebanon, where gatherings around the Lebanese table reflect its history and family values, contributing to preserving one of the core values in Lebanese society—the family—and affirmed that food products are also essential to provide real livelihoods.

He spoke about challenges facing the sector, pointing to the need for more legislative frameworks and support to help develop it, along with the necessity of raising awareness among Lebanese farmers to achieve higher quality standards.

He highlighted the work of the Lebanese Association for Studies and Training, stressing the importance of elevating the quality of Lebanese products to make them more capable of export and to become genuine sources of income for Lebanese citizens.

He said Lebanon’s area is limited, "but we have competitive advantage in quality, and we have the Lebanese flavor across all kinds of foods—from tabbouleh to hummus and others," stressing that no matter how hard others try to imitate Lebanese cuisine, they will never replicate its unique essence.

He affirmed that agriculture matters deeply to him "on a national level," as he sees it as a fundamental strength of the Lebanese economy and a major competitive edge, citing the experience of the wine sector and its development.

He recalled his experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noting that the idea of economic attachés originated from the wide Lebanese diaspora, saying that the presence of nearly 14 million Lebanese abroad represents a huge opportunity, as regular consumption of Lebanese products by each diaspora member could open vast markets for Lebanese food exports and turn them into a cornerstone of the economy.

He expressed gratitude to Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani, praising his activity and considering the Batroun day an example of such work.

He also addressed the importance of preserving forest resources, recalling past disputes over forest rangers, stating that the issue was "regional, not sectarian," and that the goal was ensuring forest rangers were present in all regions to ensure actual protection of forest wealth.

He added: "They are sectarianizing affairs in Lebanon, and they took our right to add more personnel so there would be real protection coverage," noting numerous disagreements he had with individuals and politicians over forest resources.

He also commended General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Louis Lohoud, considering his movement and activity essential.

Bassel concluded by affirming the importance of Batroun as a unifying space, saying: "I am happy that everyone meets in Batroun, and that Batroun reaches everyone. This is the Lebanon we want—a mixed, diverse, rich in diversity, which can dispel the idea that we cannot live together. We cannot live apart; we do not wish to live apart; this is our choice."

Hani: Batroun Is a Model for a Complete District from Sea to Ain Tannourine

On his part, Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nizar Hani affirmed that Batroun serves as a model that successfully stimulated the economy through a series of small-scale initiatives positively impacting economic activity.

He said to Bassel and the audience: "Mr. Minister Bassel, friends, the agricultural family, and partners of the Ministry of Agriculture, Batroun is a model that stirred the economy, and we carried out small actions that benefited the economy."

He pointed out that Batroun is a complete district "from sea to Ain Tannourine," meaning it possesses all the elements enabling it to launch environmentally, agriculturally, and culturally.

He noted that the stations visited during his day in Batroun were rich in content, covering various aspects of the agricultural sector, explaining that fishermen were heard, their concerns discussed, and the new maritime fishing law examined. Additionally, discussions occurred with the Union of Municipalities on forest issues and street dog problems, alongside the beekeeping sector and ways to generally develop agriculture.

He confirmed that every point discussed during the visit will be followed up, expressing hope for progress across the entire Batroun district.

Lohoud Recalls Stages of Collaboration with Bassel: From Wine to Global Marketing of Lebanese Products

Meanwhile, General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Louis Lohoud recalled several milestones in his collaboration with Bassel in supporting the agricultural sector and Lebanese products.

He said, on behalf of the agricultural sector, he wanted to pause at certain stages with Bassel, starting from the period when he served as acting Minister of Agriculture after returning to the ministry in 2012.

He referred to the work done then to develop the wine sector, explaining that then-Minister of Agriculture Hussein al-Hajj Hassan had delegated Bassel to oversee the wine file, and that the work expanded from one Lebanese region to another until there were 63 registered wineries with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Lohoud affirmed that Bassel supported the sector across all Lebanese regions during that phase, before moving, after assuming the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to ensure Lebanese products were present in diplomatic meetings and events.

He explained that Bassel brought boxes of Lebanese products into external meetings, recalling one instance in Iraq where Lebanese tomatoes and cucumbers were brought into a meeting room.

He also mentioned stops in Bologna, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Hungary, where the Ministry of Agriculture was present with Bassel's support in efforts to market Lebanese products, along with work to promote them in Brazil and the United States.

He paused at 2019, when efforts were underway to organize "National Days" in Brazil, noting that Bassel contributed through his diplomatic pouch to exporting Lebanese products to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, enabling the organization of the Lebanese Day in Brazil.

Lohoud affirmed that these milestones formed part of a broader path supporting the marketing of Lebanese agricultural and food products and opening doors for their international presence.