Beirut Arab University Honors its Late Secretary General Issam Houri by Launching Issam Houri Square

In honor of fifty years of dedication to Beirut Arab University and education in Lebanon, and in an attempt to keep his memorial, Beirut Municipality named the square between the main campus and Hariri Building for the Late Secretary General of Beirut Arab University Mr.Issam Houri. The ceremony that was held at Beirut Arab University and was attended by the family of the deceased, BAU staff, and the President of Beirut Municipality, Dr. Bilal Hamad who announced the Municipality Council Decree. During the unveiling of the memorial he declared, “Beirut, you are herewith honored by naming this square for Issam Houri.”
A memorial  ceremony preceded the unveiling of “Issam Houri Square”, with the participation of the Wakf El Bir Wal Ihsan Society, the Alumni, the Provost of the Home of the Elderly, and the Universities Association of Lebanon. The event was attended by Ex-Minister Khaled Kabbani, representing HE Tammam Salam; MP Mohamed Kabbani, representing HE Saad El Hariri and HE Fouad Seniora; Sheikh Dr. Mohamed Anis Arwadi, representing Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, the Grand Mufti of Lebanon; MP Dr.  Ammar Houri, MPs Dr.s Mohamed Hajjar, Jamal Jarrah and Riad Rahhal; in addition to the Egyptian Ambassador to Beirut, Mohamed Badreddine Ziad, and a crowd of ministers, current and previous members of parliament, presidents of universities and social figures.
After the Lebanese National Anthem and the BAU Anthem, the participants stood a minute of silence, followed by a documentary highlighting the main events in Mr. Issam Houri’s Life. Then, Ms. Zina Ariss, Director of the Public Relations at BAU, described Mr. Houri as a man of science ,management, openness and culture, he is also a man of development and professionalism, highlighting such attributes as his gentleness, elegance, intelligence, suaveness, perceptiveness, and benevolence, being a man of aspirations, an adventurer driven by the spirit of youth, a man of wisdom who dreams and plans, and creates goals that realize his dreams. 
The President of the University, Prof. Amr Galal El Adawi, spoke next, enumerating the merits of Mr. Houri, recalling some of the fond memories that brought them together. He made a pledge to his soul, promising to uphold the motto that the University will continue with no time limits. Prof. Adawi also expressed gratitude to the Municipality of Beirut for naming the square for Mr. Issam Houri.
Prof. Hassan Hallak spoke next, representing the Board of Trustees of the Wakf El Bir Wal Ihsan Society. He spoke of the man as having distinguished himself with wisdom, experience and administrative charisma.
The tribute of the Alumni was delivered by HE Minister Toufic Krishan from Jordan, stating that “Issam was one of those men whose experience of life has helped him handle challenges, relying upon his philanthropy, his wisdom, his patience and his courage.
This was followed by a speech delivered by Dr. Mahmoud Faour, Provost of the Islamic Home for the Elderly, who recalled various moments in the life of Mr. Houri, stating that “he was active in committees, triggering an idea and then allowing others to examine its feasibility and applicability.”
The tribute of the Universities Association of Lebanon was delivered by Dr. Souheil Matar, NDU Vice-President for Cultural Affairs and Public Relations: “To describe him in a few words, he was sophisticated, delicate, serene, grand but not arrogant, refined but no flatterer, a friend who does not betray, dedicated to education and Lebanon, an artist who excelled in creating cordiality, warmth and good company.”
MP Dr. Ammar Houri spoke in the name of the family, reminding that Mr. Issam Houri had personally brought down a prison to replace it with the buildings of Beirut Arab University. He had undertaken that when there was no horizon to demolition, and thus he created a cause, there being no more sublime cause than humans and their progress. When the University was stormed, he raised the slogan of its continuity.