The Selection Committee of the World Book Capital 2009, made up of Ana Maria Cabanellas, Representative of the International Publishers Association (IPA), Françoise Dubruille, Representative of the International Booksellers Federation (IBF), Peter Lor, Representative of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutes (IFLA) and Georges Poussin as UNESCO representative, met on 3 July 2007 under the chair of Peter Lor, in order to examine the applications to the nomination of the World Book Capital 2009, in accordance with Resolution 31 C/Resolution 29, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 2 November 2001.
The Selection Committee examined the following candidatures:
Bangkok - Thailand, Beirut - Liban, Cape Town - South Africa, Kazan - Russian Federation

The city of Beirut was nominated as World Book Capital 2009 in the light of the focus on cultural diversity, dialogue and tolerance, and of its diverse and stimulating programme.
The Committee welcomed the quality and number of applications, including for the first time a candidature from a region of the world which had so far not bee represented (Sub-Saharan Africa)