by Abdulaziz Hammad -saudigazette.com - JEDDAH — Newly appointed Consul General of Lebanon Ali Karanouh and his wife Marwa Soubra held a reception and acquaintance meeting at the celebration hall of the consulate in Jeddah on Tuesday. The reception was attended by Sami Jamil Abdullah, director of the department of ceremonies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Makkah province branch, and Director of the Royal Protocol in Makkah region Ahmad Ben Zafer, along with several government officials, dignitaries, diplomats, members of the Lebanese community and Saudi friends of Lebanon. Traditional Lebanese melodies were played and authentic Lebanese cuisines served to the guests. In a speech on the occasion, Karanouh said, “We have several priorities, first of which is to take the Saudi-Lebanese relations to further heights in economic, cultural and scientific fields. We also want to encourage our Saudi brothers and sisters to visit Lebanon for tourism. Saudis are always welcome in Lebanon, which is their second home.” The diplomat said their priorities also include organizing cultural activities to highlight the Lebanese creativity. “Lebanon has so many things to showcase; we will work to display this modern Lebanon, the Lebanon of diversity.”

Born in Beirut in 1981, Karanouh is a career diplomat with many years of experience. He completed postgraduate studies in public law and international public law. He was appointed first secretary at the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations in 2009. Then he became consul in the Lebanese Embassy in Cairo and the country’s representative to the Arab League. In 2013, he was assigned to the Lebanse Embassy in Washington DC and stayed in the post until he took over as the Consul General of Lebanon in Jeddah a few weeks ago.