Category: EGYPT

News about Egypt

  • International Conference on Chemical Sciences & Applications

    International Conference on Chemical Sciences & Applications

    ΓενικάInternational Conference on Chemical Sciences & Applications (ICCSA-2016) which will be held in 6-9 August 2016  Alexandria – Egypt.

    The ICCSA-2016 aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results about all aspects of chemical sciences. It also provides the premier interdisciplinary forum for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns, practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted in the field of chemical sciences.

    In addition the scientific sessions of our conference, there will be social activities which include city tours, cultural nights etc. We encourage you to bring your family, they also will enjoy of visiting one of the most important historical and coastal sites in Egypt and the world.

    We look forward to greeting you at the ICCSA-2016 conference in Egypt.

  • Greek Day celebrates culture, cuisine of Egypt’s Mediterranean neighbour

    Greek Day celebrates culture, cuisine of Egypt’s Mediterranean neighbour

    ΓενικάGreek culture has had a presence in Egypt for centuries, for as long as Greeks have been living in Egypt, particularly in Alexandria.

    Geographically, Egypt is close to Greece, and both Mediterranean countries have a lot in common.

    To mark Greek National Day, the Community Services Association (CSA), in cooperation with the Greek Cultural Center in Egypt, organised an event on 15 April in Maadi called Greek Day.

    Entrance to the event was free, and participants were welcome to join in celebrating Greek culture by tasting Greek food and dance performances and Greek-themed activities.

    Delicious Greek cuisine was available, including “gyros” and “souvlaki”, which was served by The Greek, a restaurant located in Maadi. Wadi Food offered samples of their home-grown products that Greece is famous for, including homemade olive oil.

    Greek music played throughout the event and the following dances were performed by the Greek Youth in Cairo: Sirtaki, Zorba, Kalamatiano, Frangosiriani, Ikariotikos and Pendozali.

    Travco Holidays was there to promote travel to Greece and presented their vacation offers. Two festival goers won trips offered by Travco, including two free tickets to the Greek island of Mykonos.

    (www.dailynewsegypt.com)

  • Egypt looks forward to holding Egyptian-Cypriot-Greek Summit in Cairo

    Egypt looks forward to holding Egyptian-Cypriot-Greek Summit in Cairo

    ΑίγυπτοςPresident Abdel Fattah El Sisi received on Tuesday 12/4/2016 visiting Cypriot Parliament Speaker Yiannakis Omirou in the presence of Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdel Aal and the Cypriot Ambassador to Egypt.

    Sisi welcomed the Cypriot legislator and highlighted the depth of relations binding the two countries, said presidential spokesman Alaa Yousef, adding that president Sisi expressed hope for holding a tripartite summit in Cairo between him and the leaders of Cyprus and Greece to continue discussions on various issues.

    The president welcomed Cyprus stances supporting Egypt and its people as well as its support for Egypt at regional and international gatherings.

    President Sisi also praised cooperation between the two countries during the hijacking of the Egyptian plane in Cyprus weeks ago, which reflected the strength of Egyptian-Cypriot relations.

    The Cypriot parliament speaker conveyed the greetings of Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades to President Sisi and also praised cooperation between the two countries in the economic domains.

    The Cyprus speaker said during a meeting earlier with prime minister Sherif Ismail that Egyptian-Cypriot ties gained momentum recently and underscored his country’s keenness on offering support for Egypt in its anti-terrorism and extremism efforts.

    (www.sis.gov.eg)

  • Egypt signs military cooperation agreement with Cyprus

    Egypt signs military cooperation agreement with Cyprus

    ΓενικάEgypt’s defence minister Sedki Sobhi and his Cypriot counterpart Christophoros Fokaides signed a joint military cooperation agreement Monday in Cairo, an Egyptian army spokesman said.

    Sobhi and Fokaides, who is the first Cypriot defence minister to visit Egypt, also discussed previously signed memoranda of understanding for cooperation in defence, military trainings, and exchange of expertise, Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said in a statement.

    Fokaides and Sobhi tackled “marine and energy security and prospects for cooperation in the energy sector,” according to a Cypriot press release, Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported.

    The press release stipulated that a Joint Rescue Coordination Center delegation will visit Egypt in the coming weeks to sign an agreement about cooperation in Search and Rescue.

    Both defence ministers also discussed regional and international matters, including security challenges, the fight against terrorism, and the immigration crisis, according to CNA.

    Sedki Sobhi expressed his appreciation for the depth of relations between Egypt and Cyprus, based on coordination and matching positions on regional matters for the security and stability of both countries, Egypt’s army spokesperson said.

    Fokaides talked about Egypt’s regional importance and called for the support in its efforts in fighting regional terrorism, the Cypriot press release stated.

    Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended a tripartite summit in Athens last December with the Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras and Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades.

    (english.ahram.org.eg)

  • Joint statements of Mr. Kotzias and Mr. Shoukry, following their meeting

    Joint statements of Mr. Kotzias and Mr. Shoukry, following their meeting

    Κοτζιάς-ΣούκριS. SHOUKRY: Today it is a great pleasure for me, as Foreign Minister of Egypt, to be receiving the Foreign Minister of Greece on his first visit to Egypt. The Minister and I maintain friendly relations, as do the two countries.

    Greece and Egypt enjoy a great and long common history and cooperation. The political ties that have been developed over time have contributed to the forging of excellent relations of historical importance.

    Over the past 18 months, there has been intensive cooperation between Greece and Egypt, with exchanges of high-level visits. There were many meetings with the Foreign Minister of Greece in international organizations, and there is an ongoing dialogue for finding solutions and promoting the two countries’ common interests.

    Of course, there is also the trilateral cooperation between Greece, Egypt and Cyprus. There is also communication on the political level for the resolution and handling of all the challenges and problems, whether in the Mediterranean region or, more generally, in the wider Middle East region.

    In our meeting today, we looked at various issues, including the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, mainly in the economic sector. We also explored issues of common interest. There is a common line and agreement with regard to the way to confront the challenges, particularly in sectors bearing on security.

    Once again, I thank the Greek Foreign Minister, and I would like to thank all of the members of the Greek government, which truly supported Egypt at a very difficult time, following the revolution of 25 January 2011.

    Greece succeeded in conveying to its European partners the real state of affairs that existed in Egypt, and not what other countries’ wanted to propagate. It was an important task that the Greek political leadership carried out in order to convey the reality of the situation prevailing in Egypt.

    Finally, Egypt managed to complete the political roadmap it set out at the beginning of President Sisi’s term in office, including the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections. It is a plan that has been completed. 

    I thank Greece for standing at Egypt’s side, and we look forward to expanding our cooperation in the near future.

    N. KOTZIAS: I thank you for the invitation, the hospitality, and for the substantial and constructive talks we had; talks we will continue during the luncheon.

    Egypt and Greece are two countries with great civilizations that met many times over the course of history. For us, Egypt is the heart of the whole Arab world. This city was the birthplace of great representatives of Arab culture, of song, of cinema. We are not linked only by geostrategic and economic interest, but also by our history and culture.

    For us, the stability and security of Egypt is the cornerstone of the stability and security of the Eastern Mediterranean. 

    We defended the rights of Egypt in all the international fora, because this is dictated by the interests of the European Union itself.

    The rise of jihadism and terrorism is a common foe. We see as positive, and recognize, Egypt’s role in the political solution of the Libyan problem. We are together in the effort to bring peace to Syria. Syria is the source of the major problem of the refugee influxes that are testing the European Union itself, and not just my country.

    Greece and Egypt, together with Cyprus, have developed a very successful trilateral cooperation. It is so successful that a number of Arab countries, like Jordan and Lebanon, have also asked to form trilateral cooperation formats.

    My friend the Egyptian Foreign Minister and I discussed the further development of cooperation within this trilateral format. Today, this evening, I am going to Cyprus, and I will convey the positive messages there.

    But we also had an excellent conversation about the proposals for developing a more general system of security and stability in the Mediterranean. Egypt and Greece, because they are good and strategic friends, will take initiatives in this direction.

    We are very pleased at the project carried out in Suez. We are also very pleased with the new cooperation between the two countries in the sectors of ports, investments and trade.

    We are continuing to discuss energy cooperation, following the wonderful discovery in Egypt, the Zohr deposit.

    We are pleased at the way the Egyptian government defended the rights of Christians; rights that were in great jeopardy a few years ago.

    We thank Egypt for its contribution to peace and stability in the region, for protecting all religious and social groups, and for this very warm welcome today.

    JOURNALIST: Talk to us about the talks on the situation in Syria, as well as about Turkey’s involvement in and stance on developments in the Arab world.

    S. SHOUKRY: As you know, the situation in Syria is truly brutal. The country is facing death on a daily basis. As we have observed from the constant efforts to resolve the situation, the military mediation of third countries is not accepted in Syria. That is why we believe that the only path to resolution of the Syrian crisis is political dialogue and the finding of solutions that are acceptable to all of the factions in the country. The International Support Group for Syria has taken many positive steps in the direction of resolving the crisis. On the other hand, the Arab world, and the Arab League in particular, refuses any military intervention in Syria by countries outside the region. Of course, we criticized the fact that Turkey is carrying out strikes in Iraq and Syria. 

    JOURNALIST: The largest influx of migrants into Greece is coming from Turkey. Is Turkey exerting pressure on Greece to accept the migrants?

    N. KOTZIAS: First of all, the refugees in Greece resulted from wars in which we did not participate. That is, we are paying for the wars of others, many of who are wagging their finger at us. Moreover, the refugee flows arose because of an absence of necessary funding for the camps in Jordan and Lebanon. Just as we insisted in the EU on revising the 2013 conclusions on Egypt, which is making an important transition, we also insisted on the need for a European political strategy for Jordan and Lebanon. The European Union started to discuss these issues after a year’s delay.

    The third cause of the refugee issue in Greece is that a number of countries are not implementing the decisions on readmission of migrants; when, that is, they return from Greece to Turkey, from the EU to Pakistan, and so on. You will have seen that for two weeks we discussed in NATO the implementation of a decision that could be implemented very easily. One of the causes of this is the difference between the military and the politicians in Turkey itself. Moreover, the clashes within Turkey have caused a new current of displaced Kurds. So we have various causes that are creating a flow, which passes through Turkey.

    Turkey, too, is suffering from these refugee flows – and it is paying the cost of these flows. However, there are those who are doing business in Turkey through the refugee crisis. There are illegal networks – including a portion of the mechanism for stopping this phenomenon – trafficking in refugees and “playing” with this issue. The European Union made an agreement with Turkey, and that agreement has to be implemented. But the non-implementation of the agreement is the fault of certain European states that tend to exercise foreign policy in our region using 19th-century methods.

    The refugee issue is a complex problem that requires complex solutions, but its current core has to do with a rational, democratic, political solution in Syria.

    JOURNALIST: Regarding cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, cooperation on delimitation of the EEZ is also foreseen. How is that process moving forward?

    S. SHOUKRY: There is certainly interest in activating the cooperation with Greece in various sectors: economic, political, cultural – as well as in the security sector. We are working to shape this relationship through achieving frameworks that will bring benefits for both countries. We are interested in the development of cooperation in the maritime sector and natural gas, as well as within the framework of the trilateral cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt. All of these are being formulated in accordance with the technical and economic factors that determine this issue.

    JOURNALIST: What is the method, and what actions will the government take in the coming days, for there to be an agreement with NATO, which is the only hope for preventing the refugee flows?

    N. KOTZIAS: With regard to NATO, first of all you know that I don’t usually comment when we are in the midst of negotiations. Turkey was initially interested in an agreement based on which NATO would shift towards Syria. We have no such interest. The second point is that NATO will help with monitoring and limiting the flows in the territorial waters between the islands of the eastern Aegean and the Turkish coast. I see that, in the negotiations on the plan for implementing this decision, there are different opinions on individual issues for which solutions can and must be found. We are making a positive contribution. What cannot happen is for any request or negotiation to move ahead outside the framework initially set. That is why today, in today’s negotiations, we made it clear to all sides. It turned out, in the end, that it is others who are worried about what was initially agreed upon.

    (www.mfa.gr)

  • Egyptian-Greek cooperation.. reinforced

    Egyptian-Greek cooperation.. reinforced

    Κοτζιάς-ΣούκριForeign Minister Sameh Shoukry convened on Wednesday with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias for talks on boosting bilateral cooperation in the economic and political domains.
    Talks will tackle tripartite cooperation involving Cairo, Athens and Nicosia in addition to other regional and international issues of mutual interest.
    The two top officials will hold a press conference after the talks.
    Foreign Minister Sameh Shourky and his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Kotzias on Wednesday asserted that bilateral relations are strong.
    At a joint press conference after their talks, the two top diplomats confirmed keenness of both countries to consolidate relations.
    Shoukry noted that over the past one year and a half several meetings were held at the summit level and at the bilateral and trilateral levels with Greece. He added that today’s talks took up means of promoting joint cooperation along with the overall regional situation.
    The two sides will maintain close contacts and efforts for establishing peace and stability in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, added Shoukry.
    The Greek minister asserted that Egypt and his country have ancient civilizations. Egypt will remain the throbbing heart of the Arab world, he asserted.
    Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry urged all parties to keep their hands off the situation in Syria in order to clear the scene for an integrated political process that would achieve the interests of the Syrian people.
    The minister’s remarks were made in response to journalists’ questions at a joint press conference held with his Greek counterpart here.
    He said the Syrian people have suffered a lot from killing and displacement over the past five years, a matter which necessitated a consolidation of the international community’s efforts to halt such bloodshed and destruction that were fueled by foreign powers and terrorist groups.
    The past period proved that the Syrian conflict cannot be militarily resolved, said the Egyptian top diplomat, adding that a political process could work out a solution to guarantee the rights of the Syrian people.
    The Syria Support Group has managed to make progress on the political track, halt all aggressive operations and resume the talks, he explained, adding that international efforts should beef up such track.
    Any military action to be taken from a state outside the regional framework of Syria is totally unacceptable, he said, adding that the Arab League has previously refused and adopted a strict stance over Turkey’s interference in the Iraqi territories.
    Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry asserted that Egypt can set up strong strategic relations after it had completed its constitutional institutions and the political road map.
    The Greek minister noted that his country has defended Egypt at all international levels, as the security and stability of Egypt is an extension of the stability and security of the European Union.
    He further noted that terrorist operations that are taking place in several parts of the world are a common threat.
    He lauded the Egyptian role in settling the Libyan crisis. He also asserted that both Egypt and Greece will continue their efforts for setting the Syrian issue, as the situation in Syria is causing a major problem represented in mass illegal migration to Europe.
    He further noted that Egypt, Greece and Cyprus are three effective countries and that cooperation among the three countries will bear fruit shortly.
    The success of the three countries’ experiment of cooperation encouraged other Arab countries such as Jordan to seek joining the Egyptian-Greek-Cypriot triangle, he pointed out.
    As for the issue of illegal migration and the Greek efforts on this score, the Greek foreign minister noted that all migrants who came to his country were motivated by wars in their countries.
    Although Greece did not take part in any of these wars, it is paying the price for them, he wondered.
    He asserted that the NATO should play a role in monitoring maritime routes through which migrants pass. The problem of migrants is very intricate and requires more cooperation for settling it. Anyway, he added, this depends on hammering out a radical solution to the Syrian crisis.
    Answering a question on cooperation between Egypt and Greece within the framework of southern Mediterranean cooperation, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that both sides are keen on promoting joint cooperation at the economic, political, security and cultural levels.

    (www.sis.gov.eg)

  • Sisi inaugurates Africa 2016 business forum

    Sisi inaugurates Africa 2016 business forum

    ΓενικάCAIRO: President Abdel Fatah al Sisi inaugurated Saturday the Africa 2016 international business and investment forum.

    Under the title, “Africa 2016: Business for Africa, Egypt and the world, the conference is an Africa to Africa investment forum aims at strengthening business ties within Africa, both at a business and presidential levels.

    The forum was inaugurated in presence of a number of African Heads of State. It was initiated by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD,) the development arm of the foreign affairs ministry.

    The two-day forum focus on boosting intra-Africa trade and investment by developing new and strategic public and private sector alliances. Over 1,000 African delegates are expected to take part in the forum.

    (thecairopost.youm7.com)

  • Egyptian oncologist lands on Forbes’ top 30 under 30 list

    Egyptian oncologist lands on Forbes’ top 30 under 30 list

    Γενικά νέαEgyptian oncologist Yehia Abugabal was recognised by Forbes among their annual 30 Under 30 list, an inspiring collection of the world’s 600 brightest minds (30 people across 20 categories); breakout talents and change-makers across different sectors, from education, to arts, to finance, who stood out in 2016.  

    The 28-year-old physician is the co-founder of the International Cancer Research Center, a Cairo-based institution devoted to fight the disease in the Middle East through dedicated teams specialised in medical oncology, radiotherapy, radiology, pathology, and surgery. The center is crucial in addressing a disease that is not only the number one cause of death worldwide, but also dramatically difficult to cure in the Middle East, one of the regions with the lowest rates of recovery for patients with breast cancer.

    (www.cairoscene.com)

  • Egypt: fossils and climate change museum inaugurated

    Egypt: fossils and climate change museum inaugurated

    ΠολιτισμόςWADI EL HITAN (EGYPT) – The “Fossils and climate change museum” was inaugurated in the Egyptian desert and presented as the only one of its kind in the Middle East and probably anywhere the world.
    Financed by Italian Cooperation, it was built in the area of Wadi El Hitan, the ”valley of whales” that extends in the governatorate of Fayoum, one of the most significant fossil sites on the planet.
    The remains of the biggest “Basilosaurus isis” ever found, a prehistoric whale which could reach up to 20 mt in lenght, are exhibited at the centre of the museum. A path of 11 ”stations” with explanation panels illustrating other whale fossils dating back to over 40 million years ago, runs all around it.
    The Egyptian site is a Unesco Heritage Site since 2005, also thanks to Italian Cooperation.
    “The museum is the first of its kind in the Middle East” said a UNDP report.
    The UN Programme for Development followed the construction of the museum financed by Italy with approximately 500 million dollars.
    On the sidelines of the inauguration sources told ANSAmed that “being in the middle of the desert” (approximately 200 km south of Cairo) and ”facing the effects of climate change”, the museum ”is the first one of its kind in the world”.
    The structure built with the circular profile of a dune with traditional materials fades away in the landscape like the dunes of the Egyptian ”western desert”, a low canyon.
    Inside, the skeletons of two Basilosaurus emerge.
    The bones form a double circle, around it panels and fossils illustrating other whales, prehistoric sharks, crabs and petrified mangroves, millions of years old corals.
    The complex is enriched by a series of structures which facilitate the reception of visitors: an information centre, a ticket office, a cafeteria, a tourist police office, a parking and toilets all built by Italian Cooperation during the course of the last few years.
    “We put the wall underground and the dome on top” architect Gabriel Mikhail, who built the construction “imitating the surroundings and ensuring a better temperature inside” told journalists. You come here to follow “a journey that begins with earth’s creation” through several eras, summarised Mikhail adding that this desert once hosted “a tropical forest” and ”before then” the area ”was beneath the sea”.
    The museum educates visitors about ”the importance of natural heritage” and its message is ”protect it: pay attention to climate change; if you don’t do so, you shall be extinguished” just like the prehistoric whales.
    You reach the site after three hours by bus bypassing two prodigious lakes opening up onto the desert and 35 km of a hypnotic dirt road.
    As a consequence of the terrorist threat, security was guaranteed by dozens of armed policemen and two armoured vehicles.

    (www.ansamed.info)

  • Minister of Endowment lauds Greek parliament’s recognition of Palestine

    Minister of Endowment lauds Greek parliament’s recognition of Palestine

    Γενικά Egyptian Minister of Religious Endowments Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa lauded Wednesday the Greek parliament’s recognition of the state of Palestine, describing it as a “positive move”.

    Gomaa called on nations to recognise Palestine and its right to establish an independent state based on the 1967 borders, according to a statement released by the ministry.

    Al-Azhar also welcomed the Greek parliament’s recognition of the state of Palestine, urging more countries to follow in suit. Praising its successful diplomacy, Al-Azhar lauded the Palestinian efforts to achieve their full rights and territories.

    The Greek parliament approved its recognition of the state of Palestine Tuesday and urged the Greek government to “take suitable measure to recognise Palestine and encourage diplomatic efforts to continue peace talks in the region”.

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attended the special session at the Greek parliament with different Greek parties and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Greek parliament speaker Nikos Voutsis said recognising Palestine will help achieve stability in the region.

    Tsipras lauded the decision, describing it as “special” because the parliament voted unanimously on it.

    Palestine’s Fatah movement welcomed the recognition and said the relations between Palestine and Greece have “developed” over years. Fatah agreed that other countries should follow Greece in this move.

    (www.dailynewsegypt.com)