BEIRUT -- A pamphlet titled "Khatami's Message to the Lebanese: Here is the Land of Freedom and Holding Dialogues" was published by Lebanon's An-Nahar Publications and hit the book shops' shelves here on Saturday.

The pamphlet includes the text of President Seyed Mohammad Khatami's message to the Lebanese nation on May 13, 2003, when he addressed some 60,000 Lebanese enthusiasts at Beirut Stadium, IRNA reported.

In the prelude to the pamphlet by one of the renowned Lebanese authors, George Khidhr, President Khatami's ideas on the Lebanese pluralist society are elaborated and praised. Khidhr writes, "Above being a politician, Khatami is a man of exalted thoughts, and that makes a clear distinction between him and most other contemporary politicians." He adds, "Khatami's address at Beirut, which was mainly focused on the historic and cultural status of the Lebanese, deserves to be deeply pondered by the Muslim and Christian intellectuals, and by all the men and women of letter in the Arab and Islamic world alike." Elsewhere in his prelude, Khidhr says, "In Khatami's mind, Lebanon is a land where the followers of all religions around the globe, as well as the members of almost every tribe in the Middle East, and political parties with various political and ideological tendencies have been displaying an exemplary demonstration of unity and peaceful coexistence."

George Khidhr believes that Khatami is indebted to the rich Islamic and Iranian cultures and civilizations and to the Western philosophy and mentality as well.

According to this Christian Lebanese intellectual, Khatami's emphasis on the point that Lebanon is where the love promoted by Jesus Christ (PBUH), the wisdom promoted by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and the justice promoted by Imam Ali (PBUH), all merge successfully, is a sign of his deep insight into the real nature of the unique solidarity of the Lebanese society. At the end of the prelude the Lebanese intellectual writes, "Khatami's words in Lebanon, in fact made clear that the high ranking political authorities of the world need to be equipped with an exalted culture, and moral virtues."

"And how precious truly are those presidents in the eyes of the mankind, who issue warnings against the negative effects of resorting to blind power," concludes Khidhr.