Lahoud elected as Lebanese president
Lebanon, Politics, 10/15/1998

The Lebanese parliament today elected a new president, army commander Emile Lahoud, to succeed President Elias Hrawi, whose term of office ends as of November 23.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri invited 19 speakers of parliaments, UNIFIL's commander, the head of Arab and foreign diplomatic missions and representatives of UN agencies to attend the parliament session.

The Lebanese National News Agency quoted President-elect Lahoud as saying in his opening address to the nation, " The aspirations of all the Lebanese would be highlighted by their desire for change, for the attainment of the better, politically, administratively, economically and socially. All Lebanese look forward to a modern nation, a viable and potent state, a just and conscious nation governed by institutions based on the rule of law and safeguarded by liberty."

Addressing the regional peace process, Lahoud said, "Our main preoccupation was and is still to attain a just and lasting peace, coincident with Syria's demands for a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal and the rejection of partial or unilateral solutions."

"I shall be striving with all my power to set an ideal and an example as to how lawful duty might be and I shall call upon anyone assuming a public or official post to act likewise or accordingly," he said.

Gen. Emile Lahoud was born in Baabdat on January 10, 1936. He earned his high school degree from Broummana High School, where he learned to speak and write English fluently.

Lahoud joined the military college in 1956 as a student officer, studying military science and weaponry for one year. He then attended Dartmouth Naval College in the UK, which has graduated members of the British royal family.

After graduating from the Academy in 1959, Lahoud, then a lieutenant, served at the naval base near the port of Beirut, as a navy engineer and commander for the landing ship Tyre. The ship had been left behind as a gift to Lebanon when it disembarked on July 16, 1958 at al-Ouzai following the political disturbances of that year.

President Elias Hrawi named Lahoud army commander in 1989. Lahoud married Andree Amadounian in 1967 and the couple have two sons and a daughter. He is an accomplished athlete and swimming, diving and fishing are but among his many hobbies.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese parliament amends constitution   (10/14/1998)
  Lebanese Cabinet propose amending constitution for presidential election   (10/9/1998)
  Jumblatt refuses to back Lahoud's election as Lebanese president   (10/8/1998)

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