Under the patronage of Honorable Ghady G. et-Khoury, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Lebanon in France, and in partnership with the City Council and in collaboration with the Tourist Office of Lebanon, the World Lebanese Cultural Union of France (WLCU) organized from May 15 to 17, 2015, the Journées du Liban: Festivités Franco-Libanaises in Paris. The Lebanon Dialogue Initiative (LDI) staff interviewed Prof. Edward J. Alam upon his return from Paris and the following is what he had to say about this experience. Mr. Bahjat Rizk, Dr. Edward Alam and Mr. Antoine Menassa (Paris, France May 2015) “Over forty organizations and associations celebrated and discussed various aspects of Lebanese culture and heritage in a spirit of collegiality and respect. Music, food, dance, philosophy, politics, history, art, and religion were among the focus areas, with Lebanon as the unifying thread. Of special note were the initiatives aimed at recovering Lebanon’s historic vocation to be a land of co-existence and peace. A “Third Voice” and “Lebanon Dialogue Initiative” stand out in this regard.” Following the official opening of the festival in the presence of French and Lebanese officials, LDI’s session inaugurated the three-day conference series. The LDI session, represented and introduced by Notre Dame University-Louaize’s (NDU) Prof. Alam, LDI Vice-President, called upon those present during the LDI conference to sign the electronic petition, which shall be part of the effort to eventually request from the UN official recognition of Lebanon as a Land of Dialogue among civilizations and cultures. Speaking in eloquent French, Mr. Bahjat Rizk introduced LDI’s objectives to a large Lebanese and French audience. The presence of Prof. Alam and Mr. Rizk was facilitated and complemented by Mr. Antoine Menassa, NDU’s Lebanese Emigration Research Center (LERC) Liaison Officer in France, who made LDI’s participation possible through his generous spirit and donation. Attendees of the LDI Session (Paris, France May 2015) Prof. Alam further emphasized, “The event was punctuated by visits from high-ranking French officials, including the Mayor of Paris, who personally visited each stand to learn more about the diverse and dynamic associations represented, and publically acknowledged the vital importance of the Lebanese community in French culture and life.” Prof. Alam concluded, “An important precedent has been established for Lebanese worldwide to follow suit by working together, not apart, for the up-building of Lebanon, that ancient and ever new land, which continues to unite the Lebanese around the globe - giving hope in a world that too often collapses in despair and giving strength to that particular Lebanese characteristic acknowledged worldwide: resilience!”