Elias Murr

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Elias Murr

Elias Murr - 2007 photo
Born (1962-01-30)30 January 1962
Bteghrine  Lebanon
Nationality Lebanese
Religion Greek Orthodox

Elias Murr (Arabic: إلياس المرّ‎ ʾIlyās al-Murr) (born 1962) is a Lebanese politician who held different cabinet positions.

Early life and education

Elias was born on 30 January 1962 in Bteghrine. He is the son of former deputy prime minister and interior minister, Michel Murr.[1] He holds a law degree.[2]

Political career

In 2000, Murr was appointed deputy prime minister and minister of interior and municipalities, replacing his father Michel Murr.[3] He was in office until 2005 when he was succeeded by Suleiman Frangieh in the post.[3] During his ministry, Murr was appointed acting minister of foreign affairs.

Murr took part in many negotiations with the United Nations.[4] Murr thus oversaw the deployment of 25,000 soldiers for the implementation of UNSC resolution 1701, preserving the cease fire mandated by the international community

Murr oversaw the drafting and signature of the International Labor Organization at the convention to execute the Action program to protect working children and to combat and eliminate child labor. Murr Oversaw the conclusion of bilateral cooperation agreements on security,civil defense and judicial matters with partner nations including, but not limited to: Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan,Morocco, Romania, P.R.C., Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland,Ukraine, U.S.A.

A strong supporter of international police cooperation, Murr served for four consecutive years (2000-2004) as President of the Arab Interior Minister Council, the body entrusted with fostering coordination in internal security and crime fighting among Arab nations .

In 2010, Murr was a member of the Lebanese National Dialogue committee

On 22 October 2013, Mr. Murr was appointed as the first President of the Board of the recently established Interpol Foundation For a Safer world . In this capacity, he will strengthen the capabilities of Interpol to fight against terrorism and organized crime, as well the establishment of justice and security.

Business activities

In parallel with his political endeavors, Elias Murr spent the past twenty years at the helm of one of Lebanon’s most successful private enterprises. Originally founded in 1957 by his father, Group Murr was born out of the vision to create a new, innovative player in the field of construction and public works sector. By 1992, the company was implementing projects worth an estimated overall value of US$ 2 billion, which holds now more than 25 companies operating across three continents and a wide range of segments of the international market, including: Construction, real estate and resort development, Engineering, Consumer products, Aviation services, Security, Commercial services for the shipping industry. While leading Group Murr’s industrial enterprises, Elias Murr also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Al Joumhouria News Corporation , the publisher of one of Lebanon’s leading daily newspaper and of several other thematic periodicals. After stopping publications throughout the Lebanese civil war, under H.E. Murr’s leadership the Al Joumhouria newspaper saw its rebirth in 2011, and became the first Lebanese newspaper ever to embrace new media, by developing proprietary mobile applications and push notifications, and developing an award-winning website for its digital edition.

Assassination attempt

Murr was wounded in a bombing in Beirut on July 12, 2005.[5] The explosion happened in the city of Antelias 5 km north of Beirut. Al Jazeera reported two other people with injuries. Police stated one killed and a dozen injured.

Accusations of sabotage

In December 2010 it was revealed by WikiLeaks[6][7] that in 2008 Murr had offered advice on how Israel could defeat Hezbollah if a new war erupted on Israel's northern border.[8] It was also revealed that Murr "displayed clear sectarian bias in advising Israel not to attack the Christian areas of the country while apparently having no qualms about bombs falling on the heads of Shia civilians". He is quoted as having said:

“Israel would do well to avoid two things when it comes for Hizballah One, it must not touch the Blue Line or the UNSCR 1701 areas as this will keep Hizballah out of these areas. Two, Israel cannot bomb bridges and infrastructure in the Christian areas. The Christians were supporting Israel in 2006 until they started bombing their bridges. If Israel has to bomb all of these places in the Shia areas as a matter of operational concern, that is Hizballah's problem.”[7][9]

Honors and Awards

Officer of the National Cedar Legion

Personal life

Elias Murr married to Emile Lahoud's daughter Karine in 1992[1][10] and has three children, Michel, Maria and Emile.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Abdelnour, Ziad K. (June 2003). "Michel and Elias Murr". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin 5 (6). Retrieved 12 June 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Biography for Elias Murr". SILObreaker. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2009. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ferran Izquierdo Brichs (27 November 2012). Political Regimes in the Arab World: Society and the Exercise of Power. Routledge. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-136-24087-4. Retrieved 17 March 2013. 
  4. ↑ Press release UN
  5. ↑ "President Lahoud's Son-in-Law Elias Murr Survives Assassination Ambush". Naharnet. 12 July 2005. Retrieved 1 May 2009. 
  6. ↑ "Al Akhbar Newspaper publishes US cables". Ya Libnan. 3 December 2010. Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2011. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sison, Michele J. (11 March 2008). Min Def worried that Hizballah war with Israel imminent. WikiLeaks/Al Akhbar (Lebanon). WikiLeaks cable:08BEIRUT372. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011. 
  8. ↑ "Lebanon defense minister "offered invasion advice for Israel"". Ha'aretz. 3 December 2010. 
  9. ↑ Amiri, Rannie (10 December 2010). "A Damning Wikileaks Revelation - The Story of Elias Murr, Saboteur". CounterPunch. Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011. 
  10. ↑ الياس المر.. سياسي مسيحي عمل في ظل سوريا ووالد زوجته لحود Ad Doustour
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