Ambassador Mona El Tannir and her husband Muhieddine El Tannir welcomed a large number of guests to celebrate Lebanon’s Independence Day on November 25.

It was the 71st anniversary of Lebanon’s independence from France. Britain ‘kept an eye on’ Lebanon and Syria during World War II, fearing that the Nazis might take control over the lands, and the last French troupes left in 1946.

Lebanon’s post-independence history is a mixture of turmoil and stability.

The capital Beirut was sometimes referred to as the ‘Paris of the Middle-East’ and a hub for trade and tourism until the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War 1975-90 when over 100,000 people were killed and over 20 per cent of the population was displaced, many of whom never to return.

In spite of Syria’s occupation and presence in the country until 2005, peace and prosperity began to grow roots, yet also with political conflicts and assassinations.

Lebanon has a history as a host country for refugees. Following the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli Wars, Lebanon became host to large numbers of Palestinian refugees.

Today, Lebanon hosts significant numbers of Iraqi and other refugees, and over one million Syrian refugees.

Lebanon tries to restrict the influx of Syrian refugees into its small land with a total population of just about five million people. Lebanon is a middle-income country with a GDP per capita of about $10,000. Large numbers of refugees creates strains on the Lebanese economy and politics.

And then, all this being the backdrop for some of the discussion topics at the reception, the guests also enjoyed lighter conversation - and indeed delicious Lebanese food dishes, which the country is so famous for - along with indigenous Pakistani dishes.

Published in Dawn, November 30th , 2014