Son
of late judge Dr. Salim Hamdan, he has been in the
diplomatic service since February 1978.
Diplomatic
Destinations
1.
Lebanese Embassy in Prague (former Tchecoslovaquia)
since august 1978 to April 1983.
2.
Secretary at the Lebanese Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria,
since May 1983 until December 1985.
3.
Secretary at the Lebanese Permanent Mission in the
European office of the United Nations in Geneva, between
June 1987 and September 1991. Permanent
Delegate and Chargé d'affairs since July 1989 until
July 1990.
4.
Secretary at the Lebanese Embassy in London since
September 1991 until September 1993. He took part
in activities of the International Maritime Organization
and the international Coffee Organization as Representative
of Lebanon.
5.
Between 12 December 1994 and September 1999, he was
appointed deputy permanent representative of the Permanent
Mission of Lebanon at the United Nations in New York.
6.
Simultaneously with his position at the Permanent
Mission, he was Consul general of Lebanon in New York,
from September 1998 until July 1999.
7.
He was a member of the Center of Studies and Legal
Matters at the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
during the periods 1986-87, 1989-94 and 1999-2000.
8.
In March 1999 he was promoted to Counselor.
9.
In 1989 he got a Ph.D. in International Public Law
from Charles University, in Prague.
10.
In September 2000, he was appointed Ambassador of
Lebanon to Argentina.
11.
Between 2001 and 2003, he was appointed non-residence
ambassador to Paraguay.
Studies
and researches
Research
on Tchecoslovaquia's private international law (1983).
Research
on the Basel Agreement on the Tran boundary Movement
of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal
(Publishing House, UNEP, 1989, in Nairobi).
Research
titled "Studies about the International Organizations
in Geneva (Ouaidatte, publishing house 1993).
Book
on the international Forces in South Lebanon. Race
between Peace and War, Resolution Nº 425 (Ouaidatte,
publishing house 1993).
Book
sample on "Environment Care in Lebanon” in the
year 1994 (February 1995).
Book
on the International Peace and Security system during
the Cold War. Study on the UN International Forces
( published in the year
2000).
Book
on the role of the United Nations in the 21st
Century (published in the year 2004).
Studies
and Reports
Translation
into Arabic of Tchecoslovaquia's Constitution (1979).
Study
of Family Law in Tchecoslovaquia (1980).
Study
of the International Forces in South Lebanon (in English)
(1988).
Study
titled: "The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in terms
of International Law (October 1982).
The
UN International Forces in South Lebanon: a Panorama
(Lebanese newspaper As-Safir, 1982).
An
introduction to understanding Resolution Nº 425 and
the role of the international Forces in South Lebanon
(Lebanese newspaper An Nahar, 1987).
Intellectual
Property and the technological race (Lebanese newspaper
As-Safir, 1987).
International
Forces in the Palestinian Territories (Ash-Sark Al
Awsat newspaper, London, 1988).
International
Archeological Protection (Al Fakr Al Arabi magazine,
Beirut, 1988).
Interview
on Lebanese TV to explain the Basel Agreement to control
transportation of dangerous waste across the borders
(1989).
Study
on the Truce Agreement between Lebanon and Israel
in 1949 (Ash- Shark Al.-
Awsat newspaper, London, 1992).
Study
on Environment in Lebanon (Al Anwar and Al Hayát newspapers,
Beirut, 1993).
Annual
report (in English) on Environment in Lebanon, and
other Mediterranean Sea countries. (Annual
Book of International Environment Laws, University
of Detroit, USA, 1992 and 1993).
Study
on the UN interest in the role of women (Magazine
published by the Lebanese Committee for the Rights
of Women, 1993).
Study
on the UN stand concerning the New International Order
(Lebanese newspaper Al-Hayat, 1997).
Study
on the international order and its influence on the
national policies of each country (As Safir, 1998).
Study
titled "Development in the Third World? ".
(As-Safir, 1998).
Study
titled "International Criminal Court, a historical
event” (As Safir, 1998).
Study
titled "Multilateral diplomacy and the UN's growing
role in today's world ". (Administration
and Development magazine, Beirut, 1999).
Meetings
and Congresses
Mr.
Hamdan participated in numerous international political,
economic, social and legal Conferences and Congresses.
Among the most important ones are:
Work
of the Human Rights Committee, where he presented
a draft resolution, which was adopted by the Committee
under Nº 54/1990, dated 6 March 1990. That resolution
clearly defined for the first time in a UN Congress,
that Israel was an occupying force in South Lebanon.
The
works of the Committee of Experts where a draft of
an International Agreement on the international register
of audiovisual works was prepared. He also
participated in the Diplomatic Congress where this
Agreement was signed.
The works of the Experts Committee
to standardize all legal documents concerning copyright.
The works of the Experts Committee
to write a project to settle conflicts among countries
concerning intellectual property.
The works of the Experts Committee
to review the first supplement to the Protocol of
Geneva Conventions in 1949.
The
works of the Experts Committee to suggest solutions
to the refugees issues.
At his suggestion, internally displaced persons were
included for the first time in the mandate of this
committee. He also participated in an international
congress on refugees in Indochina.
The works of the Experts Committee
on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes,
which took place in Geneva, Luxembourg and Basel.
He also took part in the Diplomatic Congress for the
signature of that Convention. After signing the Basel
agreement, his work on it was published by the UN
as the first of its kind.
He
was appointed Secretary of the Legal Team that prepared
the elements for a Protocol related to the responsibility
and indemnity for the damage caused by the Tran boundary
movement of hazardous wastes. The team met in Nairobi
(Nigeria) for that purpose.
He
also participated in the works of the Diplomatic Congress
for the creation of this Court, and was elected member
in the Drafting Committee. He was elected president
of the coordination team for the Arab groups participating
in the Congress.
He
represented Lebanon at the Preparatory Committee for
the 50º Anniversary
of the UN.
He
participated in:
The
preparatory meetings for the Earth Summit in Rio de
Janeiro (Brazil) in 1992, as well as in the Second
World Congress on Climate. He presented a plan to
establish a research center for sustainable development
in the Arab Region.
The
preliminary works about the Children's Rights Agreement
signed by the UN in 1990.
The
works concerning the UN Congress for Trade and Development.
The
meetings concerning the reform of the UN and its Security
Council. He represented Lebanon in the works of the
Arab Experts Committee on the reform of the Security
Council.
The meetings of the Security Council to discuss the
Lebanese complaint against Israel after the 1996 attacks.
The meetings of the General Assembly called for the
same issue. He participated in the negotiations on
Resolution Nº 22G, where the UN backed Lebanon's right
to indemnity for the losses caused by those attacks.
He
was a member of the Lebanese delegation during the
meetings of the Un General Assembly (1994-1999).
Participated
in the working groups on preventive diplomatic peace-building,
post conflict peace-building and penalties.
He
introduced the concept of emergency help to that of
post conflict peace-building countries. He also suggested
the idea that the UN adopt
Lebanon as a model of post conflict peace building
country.
He
represented Lebanon in the works of the Economic and
Social Council, especially when Lebanon was a member
of this important Council, between 1996 and end of
1998. He also participated in the works of the office
of this Council, when Lebanon preceded it in 1997.
He
represented Lebanon on various occasions in the works
of the First Committee of the General Assembly for
Disarmament including the Congress which reviewed
Non Proliferation Treaty of Nuclear Weapons Treaty
in 1995 of the negotiations on land mines used against
individuals.
He
represented Lebanon in the works of the 2nd
Committee of the Un General Assembly on Economic Affair.
He also participated in various international meetings,
conferences and encounters within the scope of the
Committee, especially discussions on the reform of
economic and development policies of the UN, including
the coordinating system among its regional operative
organizations.
He
participated in the preparation for the Summit of
Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, as well
as in the preparatory work for the Congress for Human
Settlements in Istanbul in 1996.
He
represented Lebanon in the special session of the
UN General Assembly in June 1997 to review and evaluate
the outcome of the Summit Meeting on Development and
Environment that took place in Brazil en 1992.
He
represented Lebanon at the Executive Council of the
UN Development Program and the UN Fund for Population
in 1998- 1999.
He
participated in several meetings on Women and Children
matters and represented Lebanon in UNICEF's Executive
Committee in 1995 and 1996. He was elected vice-president
of the said Committee in 1996. He also led a team
of Council members who paid working visits to several
African countries. He analyzed Ms. Garcia Marshell's
report on the situation of children in armed conflicts.
He
represented Lebanon in the works of the 4th committee
of the General Assembly, in particular those of the
Special Committee on International Security and PeaceKeeping
Operations.
He
represented Lebanon at the UN Information Committee
between 1995 and 1999.
He
represented Lebanon in the works of the 6th
Committee of the General Assembly on Legal Matters.
Within this frame, he participated in the meetings
of legal counselors of UN country members, as well
as in all the works of the Committee and Special Groups
for the preparation of international agreements, including
the Committee of the host country, the Committee for
the reinforcement of the UN Charter, meetings of the
country members on the Convention of the Law of the
Sea, as well as meetings of the Committee on International
Trade Law.
He
also participated in the preparation of the Framework
Agreement for the use of international water resources
other than navigation, the agreement of protection
of migrant fishing, an agreement to combat terrorism
with explosives, a draft project of the Agreement
to combat nuclear terrorism, an agreement against
financing of terrorism, as well as an Agreement on
the Basel Statute for the International Criminal Court.
He
was a member of the Consulting Committee of the UN
to study, understand, promulgate and publish international
law, between 1997 and 1999.
He
represented Lebanon in many meetings of the non aligned
countries.
He
participated in the drafting of the final conclusions
of the Non Aligned Summit in Cartagena (Colombia)
in 1995, and in Durban (South Africa) in 1996.
He
represented Lebanon in many meetings of the working
groups of the Group of 77 and participated in the
writing of the final conclusions in the meetings of
the Foreign Ministers of the said Group.
He
represented Lebanon en many meetings of the Asian
groups and participated in the discussions on the
guidelines of the Group, including its representation
within the Security Council.
He
participated in meetings of the Arab groups and in
drafting for special resolutions concerning their
interests in different areas.
International
Posts
Elected
President of the Committee on rules for the
1989 session . President of the 17th session
of the special Committee on preferences.
Vice-president
of the Committee for Trade and Development in the
sessions held in October 1989/March 1990.
He
then presided over the First Subcommittee which incorporated
the concept of sustainable development in the work
of the Council for the first time.
Elected
coordinator for the Asian group in Geneva between
April and June 1990. He led the working group in the
preparing meetings for the 8th UNCTAD on
Sustainable Development.
A
member of the Consulting Committee for the UN program
to promote study, teaching and publication of international
law.
Elected
Vice-president of the UNICEF Executive Committee and
Coordinator for the Asian Group in 1995.
He
led a team of UNICEF Executive Council which visited
work on the spot in Africa ( Uganda and Borkina Faso)
to have a closer look at the Organization's activities.
A
member of a team on the financing of the UNRWA between
1995 and 1999.
A
member of the drafting committee for the preparation
of the statute of the International Criminal
Court during the Diplomatic Congress that took place
in Rome (June, July 1998).
Seminars
and Congresses
He
participated in numerous conferences and several working
sessions organized by the World Bank, the UN division
of Social and Economic Affairs, the Division of Peace-Keeping
Operations, the UN Center of Research and Training,
the UN University, some specialized organizations
and NGO's, among them.
Three
sessions on industrial property in Damascus, Amman
and Geneva (1987 and 1989).
Two
sessions on International Economy at the UN Institute
of Research and Training.
Round
of studies on international negotiations at the Center
of Applied Studies (Institute of Higher Studies, Geneva,
1989).
Seminar
at the International Institute for Humanitarian Law
in San Remo (Italy) on the development of peoples
movements (1990).
Working
shops organized by the UN Center of Research and Training
titled: "Multilateral negotiations on the Environment
"(29-30 May 1997).
Seminar
organized by the UN University titled: "The UN
and the international environment in the 21st
Century".(14.15 November 1997).
Seminar
on the International Humanitarian Law at the international
institute of Criminal Law in Syracuse (Italy), 1998.
World
Congress to preserve the pantanal regions, which took
place in Washington DC from 26 to 28 February 1999.
During
his stay in Argentina, he participated in meetings
all along twenty-one different provinces of the country.
Lets mention some academic institutions such as CARI,
National Academic of Geography, University of Buenos
Aires, University of La Plata, Interamerican University,
University of Lujan, University of Chaco, the Military
Academia, the Organization for Ambassadors for Peace,
The Turism School “La Suisse”, The “Gallegas” Federation
Entities, the Exterior Service Institute of Argentina
(ISEN) and other social entities in Mar del Plata,
Chacacbuco, Chascomus, Salta and Esquel.
