Boueiz, Fares Nouhad (1955–)

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BOUEIZ, FARES NOUHAD (1955–)

Lebanese political figure. Fares Boueiz was born in 1955 in Lebanon into a Maronite family of distinction. Very early on, he became active in the ranks of the National Unity Party of Raymond Eddé. In November 1989 his father-in-law, Elias Hrawi, president of the Republic of Lebanon, appointed him special counselor to the presidency. In this capacity he traveled frequently to Damascus, where he established good relations with the Syrian leaders. In December he was named foreign minister in the government of Omar Karamé; then in June 1991, he was appointed to parliament as a replacement for a deputy from Kesrouan who had died. In October 1991 he led the Lebanese delegation to the Madrid Conference on the Middle East.

On 27 August 1992, along with other ministers, Boueiz opposed the holding of legislative elections, which were nevertheless held, although characterized by a high rate of abstention. After his reelection as deputy, he was once more named foreign minister in October 1992 in the government of Rafiq al-Hariri. The cabinet reshuffle of 25 May 1995 left him at his post. Boueiz left the government in November 1998, after the resignation of the Hariri cabinet. In June 2003, with Rafiq al-Hariri once again prime minister (since 2000), Bouiez was appointed minister of environment.

SEE ALSO Eddé, Raymond;Hariri, Rafiq Bahaʾuddin al-.

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