President Michel Suleiman received a call via satellite telephone from Shaaya, while the latter was resting in his tent after his dangerous 55-day journey.
Suleiman told Shaaya, “You embody the spirit of challenge and adventure. Lebanon needs youth who have your spirit. We are proud of you and we know that you have faced many difficulties, strong winds and freezing temperatures, but you overcame all this.”
“Next week you arrive in Lebanon, and the Lebanese people and myself are waiting for you,” he said.
After reaching the North Pole Shayaa said". ( Picture shows Shaaya with his friends on their way to the North Pole)
Today at 9:22 AM Central Standard Time we reached the North Pole. SUCCESS!!!"
"We are very, very excited, relieved, satisfied and ready to rest. I can’t wait to sit in a chair and get dressed standing up.
"We can’t say enough about how hard we worked to achieve this goal...Our current and last position: 90N"
In June 2006 Shaaya made the Lebanese and the Arabs proud when he became the first Arab to climb Mount Everest and planted the Lebanese flag on it. Shayaa said back then that he considered that his accomplishment proves that the Lebanese youth are full of capacities and capabilities that they could use for their country.
