BEIRUT: Prime Minister Tammam Salam offered his condolences Thursday for the passing of two-time former Prime Minister Omar Karami, describing him as a true political leader who always sought to protect Lebanon and its coexistence.
“With the passing of Omar Karami, the son of the champion of independence Abdul-Hamid Karami and the brother of the martyr Rashid Karami, his family, Tripoli and Lebanon lost a humanitarian and national value and a wise voice that Lebanon needed the most in its troubled times,” Salam said in a statement.
“Karami recognized the meaning of Lebanon and the importance of preserving coexistence. He has always held the flag of moderation.”
Salam praised Karami for "always placing national interest above all,” supporting dialogue and deploring extremism and tensions.
Omar Karami died Thursday morning from a long illness at the age of 80. He served as prime minister, twice most notably in 2005, a turning point for Lebanon’s modern history.
Karami was prime minister when Rafik Hariri was killed in an explosion on Feb. 14, 2005. Karami resigned days later following mass demonstrations and accusations that his government was implicitly involved in the killing.
Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati also offered his condolences to the Karami family, saying despite rivalry between him and Karami, the two had always had respect for each other.
“It is hard for me to announce the death of a great man from my country, my town and a man who contributed to Lebanon's independence,” Mikati, who served as prime minister between 2011 and 2013, said in a statement.
“A man who understood well the rivalry in politics. ... He was a unique model in Lebanese politics. He was a school of thought; honest in his feelings, committed to what is right, to his city, to his country, making his political path sharp and rich.”
Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian said Lebanon lost "a notable man and a pillar of political work, who hailed from a prestigious Tripoli family."
“[Karami] had always risen above personal gains for the sake of Lebanon's unity and civil peace. He preserved the unity of Muslims and Lebanese under the umbrella of Dar a-Fatwa and worked relentlessly to serve his country,” Derian said.
"He was a statesman par excellence and a role model who used wisdom and courage to resolve Lebanese issues at the most difficult times.”
Karami is the son of Abdul-Hamid Karami, one of the most prominent figures in Lebanon's history, who played a critical role in achieving the country's independence in 1943. Abdul-Hamid Karami served as prime minister in 1945, becoming a leading figure in Lebanon’s political arena. His sons, Omar and Rashid, carried on their father's legacy and became involved in politics.
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