Direct from the Entertainment Capital of World, America’s Top Middle Eastern magazine ALO Hayati, brings the red carpet ambiance to Beirut to celebrate the agreement of uniting Los Angeles and Beirut have agreed to unite both cities in a historic sister-city relationship.
ALO has asked the top dignitaries, celebrities and delegates from the region to raise their glasses and prepare at the glorious night under the stars poolside at the luxurious Intercontinental Phoenician on July 1st, 2006.
The VIP dinner party, hosted by the magazine at 8:00p celebrates the inauguration of this organization and to present its M.E. Award its cause. Wafa Kanan, publisher of ALO, is presenting the award to world-renowned musician, composer and producer, Elias Rahbani for his Excellence in Connecting Cultures.
“It is with great pride to present Mr. Elias Rahbani with ALO’s M.E. Award,” says Kanan. “From the start, it was obvious that Mr. Rahbani should be our choice for his efforts to fused cultures together through his musical inspiration.”
She added, “It has been a personal dream of mine to see an organization like this bring together the two cultures that I am a part of. Coming from a Lebanese background, I have so much pride and respect for my culture. As an American, I am able to see the beauty that all Middle Eastern communities bring to the United States. America has learned to embrace the Lebanese culture and foster its purity and generosity.”
Years in the making, this relationship - the very first between Los Angeles and any city in Lebanon – promises to blossom, provide many opportunities, bolster cultural pride for both Angelinos and the Lebanese.
As the agreement was signed into effect by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on June 20th in Los Angeles’ City Hall, now Beirut takes center stage as Los Angeles delegation of over 20 dignitaries and businesspeople are arriving with official signing ceremony of the Sister City Agreement between the City of Los Angeles and the City of Beirut at the Nicholas Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh with the Lebanese municipality.
Beirut, being a coastal city with similarities to Los Angeles in its language, cultural, arts, economical drives and democratic form of government were al is mutually agreed that the
enormous social, cultural, educational, trade, commerce and investment benefits to gain by formalizing this sister-city relationship will greatly enrich the status and outreach of both entities.
"I am honored to be part of joining together these two great coastal cities, each a global center of culture and commerce,” Says Hon. Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Councilmember, District 13. “Los Angeles is already an important Lebanese city, and a sister city agreement will allow our two metropolises to learn much from one another and promote the well-being of our residents."
"As the first Lebanese-American member of the Los Angeles City Council, I am proud to join with my colleagues an ocean away to make history as Beirut's Sister City in America,” says Dennis Zine, Los Angeles Councilmember, District 3. “Lebanese-Americans living in Los Angeles are a vital part of our city, and I look forward to strengthening the friendship between our cities."
The purpose of the project is to enhance the relationship between the people of Los Angeles and the people of Beirut. This project will foster friendship, knowledge, commerce, and understanding between these two people through exchange of culture, education, public works, health services, arts, science, sports and industry.
The Los Angeles-Beirut Sister City organization will aid both cities and countries to establish a foundation which will bring forth positive media, appreciation, and humanity to both societies. With the official launch of this project, there will be greater knowledge and power to Los Angeles and Beirut.
