Introduction

Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its polotical institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since 1991 and the end of the devastating 16-year civil war.  Under the TA'IF Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system,  particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government.  Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have been weakend or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces ( LAF ) have extended central government authority over most of Lebanon . Syria's troops deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the TA'IF Accord .

Independence

22nd November  1943   ( from Leaue of Nations mandate under the French administration )

People

Population:      3,627,744  July  2001 est. Age Structure: 0-14 years : 27.57% (male 507,975  - female 490,031)                        15-64 years : 65.72% (male 1,136,995 - femal 132,625)                         65 years and over :  6.71% ( male 110,964 - female                              132,625)

Geography

Location  : Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea - east .

Economy

The 1975 - 1991 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all ended Lebanon's position as a Meddle Eastern entrepot and banking hub.  Peace enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, began collecting taxes, and regained access to key port and government facilities.  Economic recovery was helped by a financially sound system and resilient small-and medium- scale manufacturers.  Family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports . Lebanon's economy has made impressive gains since the launch in 1993  of " HORIZON 2000 " the government  $ 20 billin reconstruction program. Real GDP grew 8% in 1994 , 7% in 1995, 4% 1996  and 1997 .   Annual inflation fell during the course of the 1990s from more than 100%  to  0%,  and foreign exchange reserves jumped from  $ 1.4 billion to more than $ 6 billion. Burgeoning capital infloes have generated foreign payments surpluses, and the Lebanese pound has remained very stable for the past years.  Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure.  Solidere a  $ 2  billion firm, has managed the reconstruction of Beirut's central business district ,,  the stock market reopened in  January 1996 and International banks and Insurance companies are returning. The government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic arena,  it has funded reconstruction by tapping foreign exchange reserves and by borrowing heavily .  mostly from domestic banks .