Background
He was born in Alma, a village in the Zgharta district, on 8 May 1939.
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Jean Obeid
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Career
Obeid hails from a Maronite family. Obeid is a journalist He started his career in journalism, where he held several high-level positions in various newspapars and magazines. He was an advisor on Arab affairs to two former Lebanese Presidents, Elias Sarkis and Amin Gemayel (1983-1987).
Gemayel also appointed him special envoy to Syria.
On 11 February 1987, Obeid met with Parliament Speaker Hussein Husseini and was kidnapped by nine gunmen in west Beirut. Obeid was freed unhurt after four days.
He served as minister of state in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 1993. Then he was named as the minister of national education, youth and sports.
He was in office from 1996 to 1998.
On 17 April 2003, he was appointed foreign minister in a reshuffle to the last cabinet of Hariri, replacing Mahmoud Hammoud in the post. Obeid"s tenure ended in 2004 and he was succeeded by Mahmoud Hammoud as foreign minister. In 2008, he ran for the presidential elections and was considered to be possible consensus candidate.
Jean Obeid is currently a candidate for President of Lebanon and participates in the Lebanese presidential election, 2014.
Membership
Obeid served as a member of the parliament, representing Chouf from 1991 to 1992 and Tripoli from 1992 to 2005.
