Aoun: ‘A luminous chapter’ of Lebanese, French literature closes with Khoury-Ghata’s death

President Joseph Aoun paid tribute to Lebanese-French poet and writer Venus Khoury-Ghata, who died in Paris at the age of 88, describing her as a "faithful daughter of Lebanon" and declaring that "a luminous chapter of Lebanese and French literature closes."

"A luminous chapter of Lebanese and French literature closes," said the president. Khoury-Ghata "was a unique poetic voice, carrying in her words the depth of human experience, the pain of exile, and the longing for roots. She wrote in Arabic and French, enriching literature with poetry collections, novels, and prose texts translated into several languages, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary literature."

For the head of state, Khoury-Ghata, "a faithful daughter of Lebanon, carried her country in her heart wherever she went, and remained a witness to our history and collective memory."

She "conveyed her people's suffering and hopes in an elevated poetic language and received international recognition and awards." "Her passing is a great loss for Lebanese and French culture, but her rich literary legacy will live on and inspire generations to come," he said.

Aoun concluded his message by offering his condolences "to the family of the deceased, her loved ones, and all Lebanese and Arab intellectuals."

In a message on X, Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh also paid tribute to the writer. "Farewell, Venus Khoury-Ghata! Your pen will no longer bring forth words steeped in emotion. You will no longer gather poetry lovers in your ground-floor apartment overlooking the park. You will no longer worry about a homeland you never stopped loving. You will remain in your collections and our memories," he wrote.