Lebanon–Uruguay relations
Encyclopedia
Lebanon–Uruguay relations are foreign relations between Lebanon
and Uruguay
. Uruguay recognized Lebanon's independence on November 22, 1943. Both countries established diplomatic relations on October 25, 1945. Lebanon has an embassy in Montevideo
. Uruguay has an embassy in Beirut
.
living in Uruguay. By 2009 the number had grown to about 55,000. In 1997, Uruguay's house speaker noted that its 99 seat parliament contains two members of Lebanese origin, including himself.
visited Uruguay. On May 31, 1954 he signed the first treaty between the two countries in Montevideo.
From 1946 to 1963, Lebanon was represented in Uruguay by an Honorary Consulate of Lebanon in Montevideo. From 1963, Lebanon was represented through their Embassy of Lebanon Buenos Aires
, Argentina
. In 1971, Lebanon established a diplomatic mission in Montevideo, with representation at the ambassadorial level.
In December 1999, Zafer El-Hasan, secretary general of the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, held bilateral talks with Uruguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Rodriguez Pioli about enhancing relations between the two countries in the political, economic and cultural fields. Pioli was visiting Lebanon with a delegation of businessmen of Lebanese origin. The two representatives signed an agreement on cultural cooperation.
There has been controversy in Uruguay about relations with Lebanon. Julio María Sanguinetti of the Partido Colorado
, president from 1995 to 2000, said in an interview after losing power that Uruguay was wrong to support Lebanon in disputes with Israel due to Lebanon's failure to combat terrorism.
In May 2007 the Lebanese president Emile Lahoud
decorated the outgoing Ambassador of Uruguay, Vos Alberto Rubio, with the National Order of the Cedar
, in gratitude for to his diplomatic work. The ambassador later inaugurated a bust of José Artigas, the liberator of Uruguay, commemorating almost 49 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations between the two countries. Later in 2007 Jorge Luis Jure Arnoletti became the new Uruguayan Ambassador to Lebanon.
Following the surprise election of pro a western government in Lebanon during June 2009, Uruguay congratulated the President Michel Suleiman
, the new government, and the people of Lebanon saying they hoped recent developments would unite them with very close ties.
. When the 1978 South Lebanon conflict broke out, the Uruguay parliament was the only one in South America to take a decision demanding implementation of the 1978 United Nations Security Council Resolution 425
, calling on Israel
to immediately withdraw its forces from Lebanon. During the 2006 Lebanon War, five Uruguayan families of Lebanese origin were caught up in the conflict, but managed to escape from Lebanon to Syria. Uruguay coordinated with Venezuela
to evacuate their citizens. Uruguayan Foreign Minister Reinaldo Gargano
stated that Israel should cease fire and begin talks with Lebanon under the supervision of the United Nations.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. Uruguay recognized Lebanon's independence on November 22, 1943. Both countries established diplomatic relations on October 25, 1945. Lebanon has an embassy in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
. Uruguay has an embassy in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
Lebanese in Uruguay
The first Lebanese immigrants to Uruguay arrived in the 1860s. In 1954 there were 15,000 people of Lebanese descentLebanese diaspora
Lebanese diaspora refers to Lebanese migrants and their descendants who by choice or coercion emigrated from Lebanon and now reside in other countries....
living in Uruguay. By 2009 the number had grown to about 55,000. In 1997, Uruguay's house speaker noted that its 99 seat parliament contains two members of Lebanese origin, including himself.
Diplomatic relations
In 1924 Uruguay established an Honorary Consulate in Beirut, and on November 16, 1928 made it a Consulate General for the State of Greater Lebanon and Syria. On October 25, 1945 the Government of Uruguay was one of the first countries to open diplomatic relations with the newly independent state of Lebanon, upgrading their Beirut mission to an Embassy. In 1954 the Lebanese President Camille ChamounCamille Chamoun
Camille Nimr Chamoun was President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958, and one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War ....
visited Uruguay. On May 31, 1954 he signed the first treaty between the two countries in Montevideo.
From 1946 to 1963, Lebanon was represented in Uruguay by an Honorary Consulate of Lebanon in Montevideo. From 1963, Lebanon was represented through their Embassy of Lebanon Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. In 1971, Lebanon established a diplomatic mission in Montevideo, with representation at the ambassadorial level.
In December 1999, Zafer El-Hasan, secretary general of the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, held bilateral talks with Uruguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Rodriguez Pioli about enhancing relations between the two countries in the political, economic and cultural fields. Pioli was visiting Lebanon with a delegation of businessmen of Lebanese origin. The two representatives signed an agreement on cultural cooperation.
There has been controversy in Uruguay about relations with Lebanon. Julio María Sanguinetti of the Partido Colorado
Colorado Party (Uruguay)
The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
, president from 1995 to 2000, said in an interview after losing power that Uruguay was wrong to support Lebanon in disputes with Israel due to Lebanon's failure to combat terrorism.
In May 2007 the Lebanese president Emile Lahoud
Émile Lahoud
General Émile Jamil Lahoud is a former President of Lebanon. Lahoud is a Maronite-Catholic, as is required for the Lebanese presidency. Under Lebanon's unwritten constitutional agreement, the National Pact, the presidency is earmarked for Maronite_Catholic, the parliament speaker's post for a Shia...
decorated the outgoing Ambassador of Uruguay, Vos Alberto Rubio, with the National Order of the Cedar
National Order of the Cedar
The National Order of the Cedar is a prestigious civilian and military award and Medal of the Lebanese Government. This Order is the highest decoration in Lebanon and is made up of five Grades :* Grand Cordon...
, in gratitude for to his diplomatic work. The ambassador later inaugurated a bust of José Artigas, the liberator of Uruguay, commemorating almost 49 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations between the two countries. Later in 2007 Jorge Luis Jure Arnoletti became the new Uruguayan Ambassador to Lebanon.
Following the surprise election of pro a western government in Lebanon during June 2009, Uruguay congratulated the President Michel Suleiman
Michel Suleiman
Michel Suleiman or Sleiman is the President of Lebanon. Before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. After LAF commander Émile Lahoud took office as president in November of 1998, Suleiman succeeded him, taking his place in December...
, the new government, and the people of Lebanon saying they hoped recent developments would unite them with very close ties.
Lebanon-Israel conflicts
Uruguay has consistently supported Lebanon in disputes with IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. When the 1978 South Lebanon conflict broke out, the Uruguay parliament was the only one in South America to take a decision demanding implementation of the 1978 United Nations Security Council Resolution 425
United Nations Security Council Resolution 425
United Nations Security Council Resolution 425, adopted on March 19, 1978, five days after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, called on Israel to withdraw immediately its forces from Lebanon and established the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon...
, calling on Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
to immediately withdraw its forces from Lebanon. During the 2006 Lebanon War, five Uruguayan families of Lebanese origin were caught up in the conflict, but managed to escape from Lebanon to Syria. Uruguay coordinated with Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
to evacuate their citizens. Uruguayan Foreign Minister Reinaldo Gargano
Reinaldo Gargano
Reinaldo Apolo Gargano Ostuni is a Uruguayan political figure.-Exile:Gargano went into exile in Spain in 1974 following a coup d'état.He returned to Uruguay several years later.-Socialist Party Leader; Senator:...
stated that Israel should cease fire and begin talks with Lebanon under the supervision of the United Nations.
See also
- Foreign relations of LebanonForeign relations of LebanonThe foreign policy of Lebanon reflects its geographic location, the composition of its population, and its reliance on commerce and trade. Until 2005, Lebanon's foreign policy had been heavily influenced by Syria. The framework for relations was first codified in May 1991, when Lebanon and Syria...
- Foreign relations of UruguayForeign relations of UruguayUruguay traditionally has had strong political and cultural links with its neighbours and Europe. British diplomat Alfred Mitchell-Innes was Minister to Uruguay throughout the crucial years of World War I ....
- Lebanese diasporaLebanese diasporaLebanese diaspora refers to Lebanese migrants and their descendants who by choice or coercion emigrated from Lebanon and now reside in other countries....
- Lebanese UruguayanLebanese UruguayanThere are about 53,000 to 70,000 Lebanese Uruguayans, or Uruguayans of Lebanese origin. The Lebanese are the most numerous community in Uruguay after the Spanish and Italians. Relations between Uruguay and Lebanon have always been close.-History:...
External links
- Embassy of Uruguay in Lebanon
- Interview with Uruguayan ambassador Jorge Luis Jure Arnoletti by MondayMorning magazine
- Bilateral Relations Uruguay – Lebanon, Embassy of Uruguay.