Cry of despair for investments: Habtoor blames Lebanon

I came to Lebanon as an investor believing in the law,constitution and state of this country and I believedstrongly enough to invest hundreds of millions of dollars,”said Khalaf Habtoor, founding father and chairman of theEmirati Habtoor Group. “However, despite the existence of apolitical and legal framework, law and order is not beingimplemented. Investments in Lebanon have been significantlydamaged by political, economic and social instability,created by the Lebanese system.” Habtoor Group is one of the main foreign investors inLebanon, with such assets as the Metropolitan Hotel, theHabtoor Grand Hotel and Habtoorland. Due to the summer warand ongoing political crisis, the hotels have laid off mostof their staff, while the amusement park has closed downcompletely. No wonder, Habtoor on March 20 asked someunsettling questions, as he delivered a message of anger,despair and bitter disappointment. “Protests, affirmative action and terrorist activities takeplace in many countries. Lebanon is not alone in this,” hesaid. “The