Sir David Miers to recount Lebanese career

Sir David Miers, the British Ambassador to Lebanon from 1983-1985 and Chairman of the British Lebanese Association from 1999-2011, is to give a lecture in London about his memories as a diplomat in Lebanon. The former ambassador is due to talk about his recollections, experiences and some of the lessons to be learnt from an eventful posting to Beirut which included several bouts of urban conflict, a lorry bomb attack, and the obligation to move his living and office accommodation no fewer than four times. His service in Lebanon occurred at a time of great turbulence and civil strife when various parts of Lebanon were occupied or controlled by Syrian, Israeli and UN forces; and for some of this time a multinational force composed of contingents from the USA, France, Italy and Britain was stationed in Beirut itself. In addition, non-governmental militias representing different elements of the Lebanese population exercised control in their own areas. Throughout this period the authority of the Lebanese Government, itself an uneasy coalition, was recognised only in theory if at all; and neither the police, nor the armed forces of the Lebanese state were in a position to impose the authority of central government without the agreement of the local militias or occupying foreign forces. Sir Miers will give the British Lebanese Association the lecture on Thursday evening at The Royal Thames Yacht Club in London.