Ghazi Aridi, Beirut MP, Former Minister of Culture

Place and Date of Birth: Born in Baisour, Lebanon, on October 17, 1954.
Sect: Druze.
Marital status: Married to Yousra Salman with 2 children, Lama and Omar.
Education: Studied physics at the Lebanese University. Secondary at Notre-Dame de Lourdes, Furn el-Chebback
Political background: Member of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) since 1972, Assistant Secretary General in 1983. Member of PSP's Command Council and Central Information Officer since 1987. Political Adviser to PSP President Walid Jumblatt since 1991. In 1981, he founded radio "Voice of the Mountain" and was the director and political commentator until its closure in 1994. Member of the Arab Nationalist Conference.
Political Career: Elected deputy for the first time in 2000 for the Druze seat in Beirut's third electoral district (Ras Beirut, Ain el Mreissé, Mina el Hosn, Zkak el Blat, Port, Medawar) on Rafic Hariri's "Beirut Decision List". Reelected in 2005 on Saad Hariri's "Martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri's Beirut Decision List". Member of Druze Leader Walid Jumblat's "Democratic Gathering Bloc". Minister of Information in Rafic Hariri's fourth cabinet (October 26, 2000-April 15, 2003). Minister of Culture in Rafic Hariri's fifth cabinet (April 17, 2003 - October 26, 2004)
Publications: "Words in Difficult Times", a four-volume book published in 1992, gathering speeches and political comments of Mr. Aridi given to radio Voice of the Mountain; "Lebanon: A Big Price for a Small Role" (1999), a political analysis of the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East and Lebanon's next role.
Contact Information: Tel: Residence: 01-868471/2. Mobile: 03-305300. Office: 01-819552. 01-863099/66, Lebanon.