Upon the invitation of the Center of Studies and Cultures of Latin America (CECAL) at USEK, within the framework of the official visit of the Vice-President of Brazil of Lebanese descent, Michel Temer, to Lebanon, Rev. Fr. Hady Mahfouz, President of USEK, hosted on November 23, 2011 a Brazilian parliamentary delegation presided by the Federal Deputy Ricardo Izar Junior, head of the Brazil-Lebanon Parliamentary Group, accompanied by the mayor of the city of Juquiá - São Paulo, Mohsen Hojeij and Lebanese-Brazilian businessmen Antoine Chahin, Antoine Chedid and Eduardo Macedo, as well as the Maronite bishop of Brazil, H.E. Mgr. Edgard Madi, in the presence of Mr. Roberto Khatlab, Director of CECAL and Rev. Fr. Jean Maroun Maghames, Director of the Institute of History.

Fr. Mahfouz discussed with the delegation the possibility of promoting bilateral relations, particularly on the academic level. In turn, Mr. Izar pointed out that the visit of the delegation of the Brazil-Lebanon Parliamentary Group aims to convey the support of Brazil to Lebanon, through sending 300 soldiers to join the UNIFIL peace-keeping forces in charge of monitoring Lebanese territorial waters, in addition to the promotion of bilateral relations on all levels, notably the available business opportunities for investment between the two countries. He underlined as well the efficiency of the Lebanese community in Brazil, highlighting that the Brazilian parliament includes more than 50 deputies of Lebanese descent.

After Fr. Mahfouz offered the University’s medal to his guests, the delegation toured the campus and visited the Main Library, checking the old books and manuscripts, a unique collection of photos about Lebanon and the region, in addition to the Center of Reprography and Digitization and the Written Heritage Conservation Center wherein the manuscripts are maintained in a scientific manner according to international standards adopted in the protection of cultural treasures.