Poland in Lebanon

Historical view 

From November 1, 1933, the consular agents of the Republic of Poland with the territorial competence of Lebanon and Syria in the field of commercial and maritime matters operated in Beirut. All other matters belonged to the competence of the Polish Consulate in Marseilles. Finally, in 1939, the Vice-Consulate of the Republic of Poland was formed in Beirut, transformed on April 1, 1940 into the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland. On December 15, 1943, the Polish Consul General in Beirut was simultaneously accredited to the government of Lebanon as a diplomatic agent of the Polish government in exile in London, in the rank of ministerial plenipotentiary. On August 1, 1944, Poland and Lebanon established official diplomatic relations.

After the Second World War, cooperation between the Polish People's Republic and the Lebanese Republic was initiated by the signing of a commercial agreement on January 4, 1956. At the same time, the Polish government put forward a proposal to establish diplomatic relations between the Polish People's Republic and Lebanon. On October 20, 1956, the government of Lebanon accepted the initiative of the government of the Polish People's Republic regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations at the level of the deputies, which meant simultaneous withdrawal of the recognition of the Polish government in exile.
Poland and Lebanon established diplomatic relations on October 20, 1956. The Ambassadors of the People's Republic of Poland in Lebanon were also accredited in Jordan (in the years 1964-1976), in Kuwait (1964-1971) and in Cyprus (1971-1974).

Political cooperation after 1989

In the years 1992-2009, mutual contacts were enlivened due to Poland's participation in the UNIFIL forces. In 1999, Minister B. Geremek paid an official visit to Beirut. In 2002, President A. Kwaśniewski paid a working visit to Lebanon, and in 2001 Beirut was visited by Prime Minister L. Miller. In 2004, the President of Lebanon, E. Lahoud, paid an official visit to Poland. In the so-called Cedar Revolution (spring 2005) a letter with support for the Lebanese independence camp was issued by the president L. Wałęsa. In the autumn of 2006, Deputy Minister SZ, W. Waszczykowski held political consultations in Beirut. Visits to Lebanon by: the Head of the National Security Bureau, W. Stasiak (May 2007), minister of defense, A. Szczygło (June 2007) and minister of Defense , B. Klich (April 2009). Were connected to the Polish involvement in UNIFIL.  In the recent period, Polish-Lebanese contacts and political dialogue have undergone a certain recovery. This was influenced by Poland's commitment to solving the problems of Syrian refugees currently residing in countries neighboring Syria. In February 2016, the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda met with the then Prime Minister T. Salam. The talks were devoted to the situation surrounding the crisis of Syrian refugees. On September 20, 2016, a meeting of Polish Foreign Ministers took place during the session of the UN and Lebanon. W. Waszczykowski and G. Bassil discussed bilateral cooperation prospects and the most important global problems (war in Syria, refugee crisis). The Polish side signaled readiness to return to UNIFIL forces on the Lebanese-Israeli border. An important topic of the meeting was the promotion of Poland's candidacy to the UN Security Council (Lebanon supported the candidacy of Poland).  On 05-06 September 2017, Minister Beata Kempa paid a visit to Lebanon. During her visit to the city of Zahle and in the monastery complex in Taanayel she participated together with prof. Waldemar Cisło in a meeting with the Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenarim.  On February 12 - 13, 2018, Prime Minister M. Morawiecki stayed in Lebanon. It was the first visit of the head of the Polish government since 2003. Minister M. Morawiecki met with S. Hariri, M. Aoun and visited humanitarian and development projects implemented by PCPM in northern Lebanon. On October 25-26, 2018, Minister Gebran Bassil paid a visit to Poland. Together with Minister Jacek Czaputowicz discussed Poland's support for Lebanon in connection with the influx of refugees from Syria, the situation in the Middle East and the resolution of the Syrian conflict, as well as the issues of bilateral relations. It was the first visit of the Head of Lebanese diplomacy in Poland for 40 years. On 24-28 March 2019, the Head of the National Security Bureau, Minister Paweł Soloch, paid a visit to Lebanon. The visit was connected with the preparations for Poland's participation in the United Nations peace mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL). 

The Lebanese market is small but absorbent. According to Polish statistical data, in 2017 trade exchange with Poland amounted to USD 90.6 million (including Polish exports - USD 81.5 million, imports - USD 9.6 million, positive balance - USD 72.4 million). The export is dominated by groceries (tobacco, sugar, chocolate products, cheese, confectionery, milk), products of the chemical industry (hair, care and make-up, perfumes, dyes), mechanical and electrical equipment (telecommunications equipment, bookbinding machines, pumps washing machines). The main imports from Lebanon are products of animal origin (casings, natural intestines) and ready-made food products (unprocessed tobacco).  Effective forms of cooperation promotion are study visits to Poland (part financed from EU funds). The seasonal connection of PLL LOT Warsaw - Beirut, which resumed in 2019, favors that contact. 

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Beirut implements numerous projects: classical music concerts, lectures, readings, exhibitions, film screenings. In 2002, a permanent museum exhibition dedicated to J. Słowacki was opened in Ghazir near Beirut (he was in Lebanon in 1837). The celebration of the bicentenary of F. Chopin's birth in 2010 was celebrated with a concert of the Krakow Symphony Orchestra conducted by K. Penderecki at the Baalbeck Festival, the concert of the Krakow Chamber Orchestra during the Beiteddine festival, screenings of Chopin films, recital of the Chinese pianist Jundi Li at the al-Bustan festival. Additionally, in November 2010, a ceremonial concert closing the celebrations of the Chopin Year in Lebanon took place in the historical headquarters of the Prime Minister of Lebanon.  For ten years (2000-10) W. Czepiel was the artistic director and conductor of the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra.  Since 1996, the prestigious archaeological and conservation cooperation has been excellently developing. In the summer, work is being carried out by specialists from the Center of Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw and the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. The activity of Polish scientists in Lebanon included, among others: excavations in Jieh (ancient Porphyreon), rebuilding of mosaics and murals in medieval churches in the towns of Chhim, Jiyeh, Kaftoun, Ma'ad, Kfar Held, Amiun, the palace in Beiteddine, in St. George in Beirut, in the church of Mar Elias Btina in Beirut, in the province of Iqlim el-Kharrub, in the valley of the river Awali.  Every year, in the ruins of an ancient settlement in Chhim, an archeological picnic combined with the promotion of the work of Polish archaeologists and conservators is organized.  In 2012, a delegation from the Lebanese Ministry of Culture participated in the Congress of Ancient Archeology organized in Warsaw. In the years 2013-2014, three Lebanese scientists involved in Polish-Lebanese cooperation were honored with the Gloria Artis medal. In recent years study visits in Poland has become have become a regular practice.  The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Beirut initiates and undertakes activities regarding the protection of birds, including storks migrating over Lebanon (media campaign, educational seminar, cooperation with NGOs).

Cooperation of scientific institutions (including the architecture department of the Cracow University of Technology with the Lebanese American University, paleontology research institutes, PISM with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs AUB) is developing. During the Book Fair in Beirut in 2012, the premiere of a book “Cedar and Eagle. Poles in Lebanon” by M. Zielińska-Schemala was held. In December 2013 - novels by S. Strasburger "The dealer of memories" were published. In 2015, the publishing work of the Arabic translation of "Ferdydurke" by W. Gombrowicz was finalized.