Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati (center), surrounded by Arab ambassadors after a tour of Tripoli in northern Lebanon on Feb. 27, 2024. (Courtesy of: Michel Hallak/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, received Arab ambassadors at his residence in Tripoli on Tuesday. The visit was part of a tour organized by the Culture Ministry to mark Tripoli's designation as the "Capital of Arab Culture" for 2024, a statement from Mikati's office said.
The delegation included ambassadors from Egypt, Palestine, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman and Jordan. The charge d'affaires of the embassies of Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Syria were also present. Kazakhstan's ambassador to Lebanon also participated in the event.
Mikati hosted the delegation for lunch, which was also attended by several Lebanese MPs and caretaker ministers, along with local officials and public figures.
Tripoli, a city that has often made headlines for violent clashes, migrant vessels sinking off its coast, high levels of poverty and neglected infrastructure, hopes that being named the "Capital of Arab Culture" will improve its image.
While Tripoli was designated the Arab world's culture capital in 2023, the city's assumption of the title was postponed for a year due to the municipality's lack of preparedness at the time. This was a consequence of the ongoing economic crisis that began in 2019, hindering the city's ability to showcase its cultural and heritage offerings to the world.
Before the Lebanese Civil War (1975-90), Tripoli had numerous theaters and cinemas, hosting performances by Arab musical icons such as the legendary Umm Kulthum.