Beirut, September 6th 2006. Famous Lebanese singer Julia Boutros announced today the launching of a new single entitled “Ahibaii” (My Loved Ones), in collaboration with her brother composer Ziad Boutros, music arranger Michel Fadel and renowned poet Ghassan Matar. The single aims at helping the families of all Lebanese martyrs who perished during the latest Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

The announcement of the fundraising project came during a media conference held today at the Syndicate of Lebanese Journalists, in the presence of President Mohammad Baalbaki and the media, during which Julia Boutros saluted the Lebanese people and the martyrs’ families.
She said: “We have faith in your sacrifices, your endurance, and the victory of our Resistance in the face of the Israeli enemy, and specifically in the heroes who gave their blood and soul for us to remain head held high and proud, unified for our cherished Lebanon, which will remain a symbol of resistance against injustice and conspiracies against the Arab people. It is with this faith and for the sake of the sacrifices embodied by our Resistance heroes and all those who did not relinquish throughout the country and with all loyalty that we, all Arabs, must greatly support the families of all those martyrs and heroes, to our utmost capabilities”.

Boutros is no new comer to noble causes for her beloved country; as such, she decided to use what she does best: create an artistic fundraising project. She comments: “The idea behind the project was inspired by the words of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, which I listened to as he replied to a letter he had received from the resistance fighters, words which touched us all. Consequently, I asked the great poet Ghassan Matar, to rewrite the letter in a poem I could sing. In just a few days, the song was ready thanks to the efforts of composer Ziad Boutros, music arranger Michel Fadel and my team”.

After the poem was read by Ghassan Matar, Boutros explained that the entire proceeds from the single will go to the families of all Lebanese martyrs.
She also announced that a bank account entitled “Julia Boutros - Lebanese Martyrs of July War 06” is now open for donations at Bank Audi SAL - Audi Saradar Group, for all those who wished to contribute, even symbolically, and stand by the martyrs’ families. The donation period will extend over 3 months starting today, after which a clear statement will be published in collaboration with Bank Audi with the details of the allotments.

Thus, the proceeds of the single along with the direct donations will go to the support of the families of the martyrs who perished during the Israeli attacks on Lebanon from July 12th to August 14th.

In closing, Boutros called on “all those who feel a duty towards their country and people, to contribute through either buying the CD or direct donations, with the objective of reaching a decent and generous amount of money reflective of our martyrs’ sacrifices”. “We have faith that together with the support of our Arab friends in the world, we will reach more than US$1million in donations”, concludes Boutros.


Bank Audi SAL - Audi Saradar Group, main branch, Sofil Center, Charles Malek Av., Achrafieh Beirut
Beneficiary: Julia Boutros (Lebanese Martyrs of July War 06)
Account #: 325943-461-002-009-02 (USD)
325943-461-001-009-01 (LBP)

Swift Code: AUDBLBBX

Correspondents
JP Morgan Chase, NY;
INTERAUDI BANK, NY

For further information: Reina S. Dib; Asda’a Public Relations / 05-45 54 54, ext 404; R.Dib@asdaa.com