Not to be confused with the Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

-based 'National Dialogue Party'.

The National Dialogue Party (In Arabic

Arabic language

Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...

 حزب الحوار الوطني) is a secular

Secularism

Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...

 Lebanese

Politics of Lebanon

Lebanon is a parliamentary republic within the overall framework of confessionalism, a form of consociationalism in which the highest offices are proportionately reserved for representatives from certain religious communities. The constitution grants the people the right to change their government...

 political party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 founded by businessman, industrialist and philanthropist Engineer Fouad Makhzoumi in 2004. It has no seats in the Parliament of Lebanon

Parliament 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...

. The party publishes the Al Hiwar newspaper

Newspaper

A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...

. Its main office is in the Marj el Zouhour Building, Dona Maria Street in Ras el Nabeh.

Activities

Makhzoumi states that its central belief is that the "Lebanese people deserve a government that is free, democratic, and responsive to their needs." As such, the party envisions electoral
reforms based upon democracy

Democracy

Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...

, transparency in government, secularism

Secularism

Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...

, and proportional representation

Proportional representation

Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...

. The party believes that the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict raised the stature of Hezbollah in Lebanon while destabilizing the democratic government.

Mr. Makhzoumi also established the Lebanon-based "Makhzoumi Foundation" charity organization providing educational services and public awareness in social issues. He also established the US-based "Future Millennium Foundation".

Mr. Makhzoumi is presently the Chairman of Future Pipe Group (FPI), a multinational corporation. He also acted as the President of the International Desalination Association (IDA) between 1995 and 1997, and is currently the Controller of the Association. He acted as well as Vice Chairman of the Institute for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

, between 1995 and 1998. He is currently a member of the International Board of the “Council on Foreign Relations - US/Middle East Project”, since 1996.

External links

• Party main website
• Al Hiwar newspaper
• Fouad Makhzoumi's personal website
• Makhzoumi Foundation website
• Party Platform (In Arabic
  Arabic language
  Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
  
  )
• Fouad Makhzoumi Interview during Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer
  Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer
  Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer was a Sunday talk show hosted by Wolf Blitzer on CNN and broadcast around the world by CNN International. The show's slogan was The last word in Sunday talk and comments made on the show were often featured in the following Monday's news headlines.The show, launched...
  
  Broadcast September 21, 2003. Archived by Daniel Pipes
  Daniel Pipes
  Daniel Pipes is an American historian, writer, and political commentator. He is the founder and director of the Middle East Forum and its Campus Watch project, and editor of its Middle East Quarterly journal...
  
  .