According to the President of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Université St.Joseph of Beirut there were two pharmacy-related conferences held in Lebanon in 1996: one was held at the Université St.Joseph on 17 March 1996 and entitled "Journée Internationale de Pharmacie" (International Pharmacy Day), the other was held on 24, 25, 26 July 1996 at the College of Pharmacy of the Beirut Arab University (26 Nov. 1998). The President of L'Ordre des pharmaciens du Liban (OPL) (Order of Lebanese Pharmacists) stated that the organization holds annual meetings and during which awards are given to members who have reached 40 years of service as pharmacists (24 Nov. 1998).

Both sources were unaware of President Hrawi's attendance at either of these conferences.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

President, Faculty of Pharmacy, Université St. Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon. 26 November 1998. Telephone interview.

President, Ordre des pharmaciens du Liban, Beirut, Lebanon. 24 November 1998. Telephone interview.

Monde Arabe Maghreb-Machrek [Paris]. 1996-1998. Chronology: Lebanon.

The Daily Star [Beirut]. 1996-1998. Internet Edition.

Shufimafi [Beirut]. 1997. Internet Edition.

The Lebanon Report [Beirut]. 1996-1998. Chronology: Lebanon.

Electronic Sources: Internet, Lexis-Nexis, Keesing's of World Events, Facts on Files.