Lebanese PM calls for intellectual and cultural renewal alongside state-building steps
Beirut, Oct 9 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam called on Friday for the launch of a comprehensive intellectual and cultural renewal movement, alongside steps to build the state and confine sovereign decisions to its official constitutional institutions. This came in a speech delivered by Salam during the opening of the 67th edition of the Beirut Arab International Book Fair, in which he reviewed the historical trajectory embodied by Beirut as a “radiant and enlightening” center in the region and a capital nurturing intellectual freedoms and creative diversity.
Salam warned that the rapid technological surge and the proliferation of artificial intelligence tools “necessitate investment in the mind and critical analysis to distinguish established facts from disinformation campaigns and misleading information.” He stated that the true value of cultural activity in Lebanon “is not measured solely by the volume of printing and publishing, but by the extent of freedom and openness available, allowing for the convergence of opinions and the cross-fertilization of diverse ideas.”
The Lebanese prime minister outlined the accumulated challenges and crises that have plagued his country in recent years and their resulting economic, social, and humanitarian repercussions, emphasizing that drawing on cultural history “should serve as a catalyst for development, not merely as a refuge for hiding behind the past.” He noted that the cultural reality “oscillates between the desire for resilience and efforts toward comprehensive revival,” pointing out that resilience ensures the protection of existing gains, while revival requires creating promising foundations that meet the aspirations of future generations.
Salam stressed that a forward-looking vision demands improving the publishing industry, activating translation exchanges, upgrading educational curricula, and establishing a societal environment that nurtures freedom of expression and accountability. He called for a review of the causes and root causes that led to the current crises, with a focus on consolidating the concept of a state of law and institutions, “and elevating the supreme national interest above factional considerations and patronage.”
Salam affirmed that the paths of economic and financial reform and reconstruction are “closely linked” to the establishment of security and stability, which can only be achieved by consolidating state authority and confining decisions on peace and war to official institutions. He emphasized that completing Lebanon’s sovereign foundations requires ending the Israeli occupation of border strips and Lebanese territories, halting repeated violations, and ensuring the safe return of displaced persons to their towns.
He pointed out the importance of safeguarding the media climate and intellectual culture to confront phenomena of closure and ignorance, considering that “the enlightenment struggle constitutes a fundamental pillar for the success of all political and administrative reform steps.” Salam explained that the path to revival represents a shared responsibility, bringing together the efforts of government bodies, academic and civil institutions, and cultural entities to ensure Beirut regains its leading, unifying role. (End) F.Z. / M.A.A.
