22nd Issue, February 2017 Lionel Messi : “I have touched Egypt’s greatness” 1 Table Of Contents Editorial Efforts for overcoming climate change enhanced Egypt, Kenya agree to hold 7th joint committee meeting in 2017 Sisi has absolute confidence in Egyptians’ abilities Egyptian-Irish Relations Promoted Messi in Cairo to promote Tour n’ Cure program for Hepatitis C Six million visitors as Cairo International Book Fair 2017 opens To navigate the issue on the website of the State Information Service click here 2 Sisi has absolute confidence in Egyptians’ abilities In This Issue Sisi to Egyptian football team: You’ve made us happy Chairman of SIS Ambassador Salah A Elsadek Museum of Islamic Art defeats terror Editor-in-Chief Abdel Mo’ti Abu Zeid Messi in Cairo to promote Tour n’ Cure program for Hepatitis C Executive Editor Nashwa Abdel Hamid Editor Mostafa Ahmady Layout Shimaa Abd El-Sabour Rami Ahmed Contact us Letter from Cairo Cover State Information Service (SIS) A bi-monthly periodical on the Foreign Information Sector current political, economic, Rami Ahmed and cultural developments in Address: 3 Al Estad Al Bahary St. - Nasr Egypt. City, Cairo. Tel: 22617304 - 22617308 - 22617358 Issued by: Web Site :www.sis.gov.eg Foreign Information Sector E-mail :[email protected] State Information Service Arab Republic of Egypt 4 Editorial Egypt and Africa … Harmony of Goals Egyptian-African relations witnessed a remarkable breakthrough since President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi assumed office three years ago as evidenced by the President’s effective participation in the African Union summits and bilateral meetings with African heads of state as well. President Sisi spared no effort in defending the interests of African nations in international fora through Egypt’s non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council. In this line came the President’s participation in the 28th African Union Summit which took place from 22 to 31 January 2017 under the theme “Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in the youth”. The current issue of “Letter from Cairo” covers the activities the monthly Youth Conference which was held in the idyllic city of Aswan during which the President pointed out to the State’s keenness on achieving progress to meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people, especially youth. Barcelona star Lionel Messi’s visit to Cairo to participate in the country’s “Tour n’ Cure” medical campaign aiming to promote medical tourism in Egypt features high in the issue at hand. Following a tour in the Pyramids area, Messi said “I have touched Egypt’s greatness and knew how the ancients have lived, it’s a brilliant moment to watch the history closely”. The current issue of “Letter from Cairo” also includes a wide array of positive developments in Egyptian economy, culture, arts and sports. 5 Efforts for Overcoming Climate Change Enhanced President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (center) hands over leadership of AU climate change committee to Gabon’s president. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi while striking a balance between said that he was honored to chair efforts to cope with this phenomenon the Committee of African Heads of and the right of developing countries State and Government on Climate to achieve their development plans, Change over the past two years where said the President. coordination at the regional level President Sisi noted in his speech was maintained over issues related at the African Summit that Africa is to climate change. Addressing the the least party responsible for the African Summit in his capacity as escalation of climate change. Even the chairman of the committee, though it is the most harmed from the President Sisi added that several effects of this phenomenon. Africa, international meetings were held added the President, is paying the over that period atop of which was highest price due to the adverse the Paris Conference in December impact of climate change such as 2015 which resulted in outlining the spells of drought and desertification bases for international collective along with the increase of the sea handling of the challenge of climate level, let alone floods that are change in the coming phase. plaguing southern and eastern The outcome of the conference African countries. was meant to enhance efforts for The President highlighted the overcoming climate change and importance of pooling all efforts contribute to minimizing its effects together and coordinating stances 6 for achieving the African interests Chairing the meeting of the during the process of international Committee of African Heads of State negotiations, adding that he was on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), keen during his chairmanship of the Sisi said Egypt is ready also to offer committee to enhance frameworks of all needed technical support for the coordination at the various African initiative with an aim to bolster levels and guarantee massive development in Africa. participation in consultations on The President said this stance issues related to climate change. conforms with Egypt’s vision on Sisi chairs meeting of African leaders realizing sustainable development committee on climate change and promoting cooperation and President Abdel Fattah El- integration among African states. Sisi chaired the African leaders Sisi highlighted the importance of committee concerned with climate the meeting in view of the outcome change. Sisi presented Egypt’s of the Marrakech Climate Change report during its presidency of the Conference, Presidential Spokesman committee on efforts exerted on the Alaa Youssef said. He underlined regional and international arenas the importance of ongoing efforts to over the past two years. During confront climate change challenges Egypt’s presidency of the committee, in Africa, adding that Egypt as the Egypt launched an initiative to committee’s coordinator launched collect necessary funds to stand up to the Africa Renewable Energy challenges of climate change. Egypt Initiative (AREI) and the Africa also launched another initiative Adaptation Initiative (AAI). to increase the African countries’ He added that Egypt hosted allocations for the e-economy. meetings of the technical working Egypt, in its capacity as head of groups of the two initiatives over the African leaders committee, the past two years. President Sisi took part at Paris Conference and stressed that Egypt would continue Marrakesh conference as part of its supporting the committee despite efforts to garner support for climate the end of its chairmanship term. change funds. During the meeting, He wished success for the Sisi handed over the committee’s Gabonese president who will chair presidency to Gabonese President the committee. Ali Bongo. African agreement on combating Egypt ready to host AREI meetings corruption signed until 2020 President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi th President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi signed during the 28 Ordinary said Egypt is ready to host meetings Session of the African Union in of the Africa Renewable Energy Addis Ababa the African agreement Initiative (AREI) board until 2020. on combating corruption. The move reflects Egypt’s keenness on attaining 7 tangible progress in combating the African Union’s Agenda 2063, progress and abiding by regional and Sisi said. intentional criteria in this respect. Sisi also hailed a preliminary President Sisi also attended the report on the AU reform presented opening session of the summit, which by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame. saw the election of a new commission He added that Egypt attaches great chairperson to replace outgoing importance to the issue of structural leader Chad’s President Idriss and administrative reform of the Deby. The President also attended African Union, its institutions and the celebration to honor Egyptian its commission for its direct impact scientist at the National Research on the AU’s ability to achieve the Center Ali Hebeish, who received common interests of the African Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award. countries. Egypt full support for African economic Sisi, Desalegn stress utmost importance integration efforts affirmed of boosting ties between Egypt, President Abdel Fattah El- Ethiopia Sisi affirmed Egypt’s full support President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to efforts exerted to achieve and Ethiopian Prime Minister African economic integration and Hailemariam Desalegn asserted accelerate negotiations on launching the utmost importance of enhancing a continental free trade zone in bilateral relations between Egypt accordance with the decision of and Ethiopia and boosting the mutual the 2015 Johannesburg Summit. confidence. The assertion came in a Addressing a closed session of the joint statement issued following talks African Summit, Sisi said Egypt was between Sisi and Desalegn in Addis keen to host the summit of the three Ababa on the sidelines of the African economic groupings in Sharm El- Union summit. Both leaders stressed Sheikh in June 2015, which launched the importance of widening and a trilateral free trade zone to serve deepening the scope of cooperation as a fundamental pillar that can be in all fields of bilateral and regional built upon in the effort to establish relations, including the political, a continental free trade zone. security, and economic fields. They He called for maximizing the use of agreed to continue to work together outstanding economic opportunities to enhance relations and prevent available to the African continent any situation that could undermine by increasing the domestic their brotherly and strategic nature. investment and improving