The vacations are coming and along with them next Polish archeological and conservatory missions that cover excavations in Chhim and Jiye and renovation of wall paintings in Maad and Kaftun churches. In the framework of preparations for the season 2009, two Polish representatives of academic institutions, dr Tomasz Waliszewski from Archeology Department of the Warsaw University (UW) and dr Krzysztof Chmielewski form Department of Art Conservation and Restoration of the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts (WAFA), paid a visit to Lebanon on 21-25 April. During stay the Polish representatives submitted to authorities of Saint Joseph University (USJ) in Beirut a collaboration agreement between USJ and UW, signed by Prof. Chałuścińska- Macukow. The document was signed by the USJ Rector and will become effective after ratification by both universities. Polish visitors established new contracts with other Lebanese academic institutions, among them the Lebanese University, the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA). Within the confine of stay Polish scientists held many meetings with Lebanese partners, for example with representatives of Directorate General of Antiquities in Beirut and Prof. Leila Badre Director of Archeological Museum of American University with whom they discussed a new restoration project in Mar Elias Church in 2010 in Beirut.

Presence of Polish archeologists in Lebanon became a yearly tradition. Since 1996 in Chhim there has been operating Polish Mission of the UW Center for Mediterranean Archeology lead by dr Waliszewski which is one of only a few foreign expeditions that have permission for archeological research in Lebanon. Meaningful is the fact that Polish researchers in considerable way contribute to expansion of the knowledge about Lebanese history, especially information on late- ancient Fenician period. In Chhim they reveal remains of a village from Roman and Bizantic times or even from Fenician times. In Jiye the excavations concentrate in ruins of seaside city known in ancient era probably as Porphyreion. In Maad and Kaftun the works have archeological and conservatory character.

It is worth to underline that archeological and conservatory co- operation with the participation of the Warsaw University and the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts is currently the most important sphere of scientific and academic contacts between Poland and Lebanon.

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