Jean Obeid

Jean Obeid (Arabic: جان عبيد; 8 May 1939 – 8 February 2021) was a Lebanese journalist and politician, who served in different cabinet posts, the last of which was foreign minister of Lebanon from 2003 to 2004.

Jean Obeid
جان عبيد
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants
In office
17 April 2003 – 26 October 2004
Prime MinisterRafik Hariri
Preceded byMahmoud Hammoud
Succeeded byMahmoud Hammoud
Personal details
Born(1939-05-08)8 May 1939
Alma, Lebanon
Died8 February 2021(2021-02-08) (aged 81)
Beirut, Lebanon

Early life

Obeid hailed from a Maronite family.[1] He was born in Alma, a village in the Zgharta district, on 8 May 1939.[2][3]

Career

Obeid was a journalist by profession.[4] He held several high-level positions in various newspapers and magazines. He was an advisor on Arab affairs to two former Lebanese Presidents, Elias Sarkis (1978-1982) and Amin Gemayel (1983-1987).[2] Gemayel also appointed him special envoy to Syria.[5][6] On 11 February 1987, Obeid met with Parliament Speaker Hussein Husseini and was kidnapped by nine gunmen in west Beirut.[7][8] Obeid was freed unhurt after four days.[9]

Obeid served as a member of the parliament, representing Chouf from 1991 to 1992 and Tripoli from 1992 to 2005.[1] He served as minister of state in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 1996.[10] Then he was named as the minister of national education, youth and sports.[11]

On 17 April 2003, he was appointed foreign minister in a reshuffle to the last cabinet of Hariri, replacing Mahmoud Hammoud in the post.[12][13] Obeid's tenure ended in 2004, and he was succeeded by Mahmoud Hammoud as foreign minister.[2][13] In 2008, Obeid ran for the presidential elections and was considered to be possible consensus candidate.[2] He was also a candidate for President of Lebanon and participated in the 2014 Lebanese presidential election.[14]

In May 2018, Obeid returned to the Lebanese parliament by winning the Maronite seat for the constituency of Tripoli.[14][15]

Personal life and death

Obeid was married to Emile Boustany's daughter, Loubna,[16] and had five children Sleiman, Hala, Amal, Jana and Badwi Obeid. He was the maternal uncle of Jihad Azour a former minister of finance and director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department in the International Monetary Fund.

On the morning of 8 February 2021, the National News Agency (NNA) announced that Obeid had died due to complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon.[15][17]

References
  1. Nassif Maraoun. "Six candidates and one satisfactory seat. All of them extra-judicial". Tayyar. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  2. "Meet Lebanon's leading presidential candidates". Ya Libnan. 24 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  3. Joseph A. Kechichian (23 September 2007). "The wait for a leader". Ya Libnan. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  4. "FPM PM: Salam plans to form a cabinet of ghosts". Ya Libnan. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  5. Eric J. Schmertz; Natalie Datlof; Alexej Ugrinsky, eds. (1997). President Reagan and the world. Westport, CT; London: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-313-30115-5.
  6. Alan Copps (6 April 1984). "Lebanese, Syrian leaders to hold summit meeting". Observer Reporter. Beirut. IP. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  7. "Gemayel adviser taken captive in west Beirut". The Pittsburgh Press. 12 February 1987. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  8. "Gemayel Adviser Reported Kidnaped in Beirut". Los Angeles Times. Beirut. 13 February 1987. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  9. Rima Salameh (16 February 1987). "Druse chief says Waite being held by Shiites". Schenectady Gazette. Beirut. AP. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  10. Dalal Saoud (7 November 1996). "Lebanon PM forms a new Cabinet". United Press International. Beirut. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  11. "Hariri forms new government in Lebanon". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 17 April 2003. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  12. "Lebanon's new Cabinet: Members list, observations". Lebanonwire. 18 April 2003. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  13. Rola el Husseini (2012). Pax Syriana: Elite Politics in Postwar Lebanon. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. p. 250. ISBN 978-0-8156-3304-4.
  14. "MP Jean Obeid Dies after Covid Diagnosis". MSN. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  15. "Jean Obeid dies, phased lockdown lifting, calls for Slim murder probe: Everything you need to know this Monday". L'Orient Today. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  16. "Relations by marriage within the political class:-Reconciliations, Alliances and Hostilities". Monthly Magazine. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  17. "Jean Obeid Just Passed Away At 82 Years Old". The NNA. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
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