Bassel Fleihan
Encyclopedia
Bassel Fleihan was a Lebanese
legislator
and Minister of Economy and Commerce. He died from injuries sustained when a massive bomb exploded on the Beirut
seafront as he passed by in former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri's motorcade on February 14, 2005. 20 other people, including Hariri, were killed by the blast. Despite being seated beside Hariri when the explosion occurred, Fleihan lived through the attack; however, severe burns covered over 95% of his body. Fleihan was airlifted to Percy Military Hospital in Clamart
(suburb of Paris), where he survived for 64 days before finally succumbing to his injuries.
. He received a BA
in Economics
(cum laude) from the American University of Beirut
(AUB) in 1984, an MA
in International and Development Economics from Yale University
in 1985, and a PhD
in Economics from Columbia University
in 1990.
in Washington DC. In 1993, he left his job and promising future in the United States
and returned to Lebanon, where he had been asked to assist in the post-war
rehabilitation of the Ministry of Finance. While working as an adviser to the Ministry, from 1993 to 1999, Fleihan also taught economics at his old alma mater
, AUB.
in 2000, winning the Protestant seat in Beirut's first electoral district. He ran as a member of Hariri's "Dignity of Beirut" electoral list; in October of the same year, he was appointed Minister of Economy and Trade, a position he held until the government resigned in 2003.
Fleihan played a major role in the development of Lebanon's economic reform program, which was presented by Hariri to international donors at a Paris conference in November 2002. Donors pledged $4.3 billion in soft loans; unfortunately, the plan was never fully implemented, but Lebanon did ultimately receive $2.39 billion from the donors.
Switzerland. Although his wife tried to convince him to extend his stay in Europe
, Fleihan insisted on returning to Lebanon for an extraordinary Parliamentary session scheduled for February 14.
After the session, Fleihan joined Hariri in his motorcade to head back to the latter's mansion in West Beirut. About half-way through their journey, a one-ton
truck bomb exploded as they passed through the city's upscale seafront hotel district. At least a dozen people-- including Hariri and several of his bodyguards-- were killed instantly; the final death toll rose to 21. A United Nations
investigation of the incident by Detlev Mehlis
, released in October 2005, pointed the finger at Syrian and Lebanese officials.
The bombing caused widespread outrage in Lebanon, sparking a protest movement that has now been dubbed the "Cedar Revolution
." During the 64 days Fleihan survived, "Cedar Revolutionaries" and other supporters held numerous vigils in his honor.
. Fleihan is survived by his wife, Yasma Fleihan, and their two young children, Rena and Rayan.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
legislator
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
and Minister of Economy and Commerce. He died from injuries sustained when a massive bomb exploded on the Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
seafront as he passed by in former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri's motorcade on February 14, 2005. 20 other people, including Hariri, were killed by the blast. Despite being seated beside Hariri when the explosion occurred, Fleihan lived through the attack; however, severe burns covered over 95% of his body. Fleihan was airlifted to Percy Military Hospital in Clamart
Clamart
Clamart is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.The town is divided into two parts, separated by a forest: bas Clamart, the historical centre, and petit Clamart with urbanization developed in the 1960s replacing pea fields. The canton of...
(suburb of Paris), where he survived for 64 days before finally succumbing to his injuries.
Education
Fleihan attended International CollegeInternational College, Beirut
International College, Beirut, Lebanon, is a private co-educational preparatory school to the American University of Beirut mainly, as well as American Ivy League universities. Its students come from all over Lebanon, as well as the Middle-East and around the world.The U.S...
. He received a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
(cum laude) from the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
(AUB) in 1984, an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in International and Development Economics from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1985, and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Economics from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1990.
Professional career
From 1988 to 1993, Fleihan worked at the International Monetary FundInternational Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
in Washington DC. In 1993, he left his job and promising future in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and returned to Lebanon, where he had been asked to assist in the post-war
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
rehabilitation of the Ministry of Finance. While working as an adviser to the Ministry, from 1993 to 1999, Fleihan also taught economics at his old alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, AUB.
Political career
Fleihan was first elected to the Parliament of LebanonParliament of Lebanon
The Parliament of Lebanon is the national parliament of Lebanon. There are 128 members elected to a four-year terms in multi-member constituencies, apportioned among Lebanon's diverse Christian and Muslim denominations. Lebanon has universal adult suffrage...
in 2000, winning the Protestant seat in Beirut's first electoral district. He ran as a member of Hariri's "Dignity of Beirut" electoral list; in October of the same year, he was appointed Minister of Economy and Trade, a position he held until the government resigned in 2003.
Fleihan played a major role in the development of Lebanon's economic reform program, which was presented by Hariri to international donors at a Paris conference in November 2002. Donors pledged $4.3 billion in soft loans; unfortunately, the plan was never fully implemented, but Lebanon did ultimately receive $2.39 billion from the donors.
February 14, 2005
The day before the fateful explosion, Fleihan was thousands of miles away from Beirut in GenevaGeneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
Switzerland. Although his wife tried to convince him to extend his stay in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Fleihan insisted on returning to Lebanon for an extraordinary Parliamentary session scheduled for February 14.
After the session, Fleihan joined Hariri in his motorcade to head back to the latter's mansion in West Beirut. About half-way through their journey, a one-ton
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
truck bomb exploded as they passed through the city's upscale seafront hotel district. At least a dozen people-- including Hariri and several of his bodyguards-- were killed instantly; the final death toll rose to 21. A United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
investigation of the incident by Detlev Mehlis
Detlev Mehlis
Detlev Mehlis is currently the Senior Public Prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General in Berlin. He has 30 years of prosecutorial experience and has led numerous investigations into serious, complex transnational crimes...
, released in October 2005, pointed the finger at Syrian and Lebanese officials.
The bombing caused widespread outrage in Lebanon, sparking a protest movement that has now been dubbed the "Cedar Revolution
Cedar Revolution
The Cedar Revolution or Independence Intifada was a chain of demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005.The primary goals of the original activists were the...
." During the 64 days Fleihan survived, "Cedar Revolutionaries" and other supporters held numerous vigils in his honor.
Personal life
A quiet, academic man, Fleihan was a devout Protestant and a member of the National Evangelical Church of BeirutNational Evangelical Church of Beirut
The National Evangelical Church of Beirut is the first native Arabic Protestant congregation in the Middle East.-History:Established in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in 1848 by Congregational and Presbyterian American missionaries, the NEC is the oldest and the largest of nine congregations...
. Fleihan is survived by his wife, Yasma Fleihan, and their two young children, Rena and Rayan.