About 600 participants from 22 countries attend the Forum

At the Intercontinental Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut, and before a crowd of more than 600 participants, representing 22 Arab and foreign countries, the First Lady of Lebanon , Mrs.Wafaa Sleiman, opened today the activities of the New Arab Woman Forum.

A host of Lebanese ministers participated in this second version of the Forum, including the minister of Higher Education, Mrs. Bahia Hariri; the minister of culture, Mr. Tammam Salam; the minister of Information, Dr. Tarek Mitri; the minister of Refugees , Mr. Raymond Audi; the minister of State, Mr. youssef Tekla;

Also present at the Forum was the Former Palestinian Minister Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, in addition to a number of Arab woman personalities, ambassadors in Beirut, accompanied by their wives, and former ministers and members of parliament.

The speakers at the opening ceremony were: Dr. Nadine Abou Zaki, NAWF Executive Chair in Lebanon; Mr. Mazen Hayek Group Director of Marketing, PR and Commercial, MBC Group in UAE; Mrs. Hanna Sorour, Director of the Department of Women Affairs, General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Egypt and H.E. Mr. Tammam Salam the Minister of Culture in Lebanon.

The opening ceremony was introduced by the renowned TV presenter, George Kordahi who stressed the importance of woman’s role, praising the pioneering spirit that motivated Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group and Al-Hasnaa Magazine to organize this second version of the Forum.