Gebran Bassil

Gebran Bassil
جبران باسيل
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 February 2014
Prime Minister Tammam Salam
Personal details
Born 21 June 1970
Batroun
Nationality Lebanese
Political party Free Patriotic Movement
Alma mater American University of Beirut
Religion Christian
Website Official website

Gebran Gerge Bassil (Arabic: جبران جرجي باسيل‎; born Batroun, 21 June 1970) is a Lebanese politician.

Biography

Bassil received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in civil engineering from the American University of Beirut in 1992 and 1993 respectively.[1] He is a member of a number of associations: the Lebanese Red Cross and Rotary Club of Batroun -Lebanon.[2]

Bassil was appointed Minister of Communications in the Government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora between July 2008 until November 2009. In November 2009, he took over the Minister of Energy and Water in the government, which is headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Career

Between the years of 1998 and 2005, Gebran Bassil was an activist for various positions in the Free Patriotic Movement in Lebanon. In 2005, he became a candidate in the general elections in the district of Batroun. From 2005 to 2008, Bassil became the head of the Free Patriotic Movement. He served as the minister of telecommunications in the Lebanese cabinet led by Fouad Siniora from May 2008 to June 2009, and then as the minister of energy in the cabinet headed by Saad Hariri[1] Bassil lost the general elections held in 2009.[3] He has been serving as the minister of energy and water in the cabinet headed by Najib Mikati since June 2011, and assumed the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants as of February 2014.[4] As the Minister of Energy and Water, he is committed to supplying access to basic rights of water and electricity and the competent use of natural resources for the Lebanese. He improved on both the Policy Paper for the Electricity sector and the National Water Strategy that were approved by the Lebanese government and that are being employed with short to long term outcomes.[5] Basil was one of the first to recognize the importance and the possible prospects of the oil and gas sector in Lebanon. He worked on the Offshore Petroleum Law and built a plan for the segments of importation, storage, distribution and export of petroleum as well as all its interconnected industries from the transportation of petroleum, to the refining of oil, up to the exploration and production of oil and gas onshore and offshore Lebanon. Minister Bassil worked hard to assign the Petroleum Administration Board Members and is working thoroughly with board on potential opportunities. He is dedicated to map Lebanon as an oil and gas country;at the same time, he is dedicated on providing an opportunity for investment in that sector for potential profit.[5]

Personal life

Bassil and his wife Chantale Michel Aoun have three children.[6] Her father is the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, Michel Aoun.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Speakers". Economist Conferences. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "Gebran Biography". Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Lebanon finally has a government Sulaiman's man seals the deal". Gulf News. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Cabinet". Embassy of Lebanon. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "H.E. Eng Gebran Bassil". The Lebanon International Oil & Gas Summit. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Gebran Bassil's Profile, Biography & Heritage". Katagogi. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Economic Reform Prospects In Lebanon's New Government". Wikileaks. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2013.