Watani Sunday Published by Watani Printing and Publishing Corporation 19 July 2015 27, Abdel-Khaleq Tharwat St. 12 Abib (Apip) 1731 - 3 Shawwal 1436 202-23936051 Tel Fax 202-23935946 Editor-in-chief Managing Editor Issue 753 Website: www.wataninet.com Year 15 Email: [email protected] Youssef Sidhom Samia Sidhom

Editorial Problems on hold And you call this a taxi service? Youssef Sidhom Taxis are among the basic utilities that reflect the level of advancement and discipline of capitals and towns around the world, and are used not only by locals but by visitors and tourists as well. The quality of the service is measured by the effort it takes to get a taxi, the condition of the vehicle, the efficiency of the driver, and the tariff. With this in mind, it is with many regrets that I broach the topic of taxis in Egypt— and in Cairo in specific—a topic that has long been placed on hold. The substandard taxi service in the country has for decades on end continued to project a miserable image of Egypt; it was even a main factor why Egypt lost the chance to host the 2010 Mondiale, the World Cup football games; South Africa was awarded that honour instead. Cairo’s taxis have since seen a huge overhaul. New white vehicles replaced the old, dilapidated black ones; modern metres were installed in the new taxis; and a new tariff that was more advantageous to taxi operators and fair to passengers was set. But this did not work to improve the service which remained shoddy and unreliable, still far removed from the superior level of similar services in capitals of the modern world and in many of those of our Arab neighbouring States in the Downtown Cairo Gulf. To prove my point, I cite some details. Even though the vehicles used as taxis have been upgraded by law, taxi drivers remain utterly unqualified on demeanour, behaviour, and proper driving. This brings to mind our An open museum development endeavours in the field of education; we upgrade the schools but not the teachers who then wreak Frequenters of Downtown Cairo have been more than pleasantly surprised at the havoc with the pupils’ minds. Taxi Nasser Sobhy Parking ban plethora of changes that have been taking place throughout the last few months. The With the parking ban now in effect, people who live in Downtown Cairo and those drivers behave as though they believe result has been that the district is taking on a brightness and cheerfulness no one they do passengers a favour to drive who have to commute to the area for work complain that the only places available thought were possible in a neighbourhood that had gained notoriety for drabness, grimness, them to the required destination; for parking are extremely costly. These include private parking lots and the public multi-storey overcrowdedness, and an altogether rundown air of a place that had seen better days. they appear as though they cannot parking garages operated by Cairo governorate such as the Tahrir and Attaba car parks. State grasp that they are offering a service officials insist that going into any city centre by car is a costly affair, and that whoever insists which they should strive to perform Majestic beauty on taking his car to Cairo’s Downtown must pay the hefty parking fees. efficiently in order to earn their Cairo’s Downtown, the triangular area that lies between the squares of Attaba, Ramsis, and Watani conveyed this complaint to Cairo’s governor who again said that all over the world fare. The apathy of taxi drivers is Tahrir, is known as Khedivial Cairo. It was built by Khedive Ismail who ruled Egypt from 1863 the cost of commuting to the city center using one’s private car is very expensive; this is why all-too-obvious. Many do not even to 1879 along the lines of Haussman’s architectural model of Paris. people always park their cars away from the downtown areas and continue their journey by care for their personal appearance; A few weeks ago Egypt’s Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab opened the completed first phase of the taxi or public transport. “To help citizens move around easily at low cost, Cairo governorate is they are dishevelled and wear attire Downtown Cairo development project, which included al-Alfi and Orabi streets. This was preceded expanding the public transport network and is also increasing the number of comfortable public inappropriate for any job, some even by the inauguration of the Tahrir square underground parking which allowed Cairo Governor Galal buses. We are also providing shuttle buses which operate between the public parking spaces and drive in the flowing galabiya robe and al-Saïd to ban parking in the main streets of Downtown Cairo. This, in tandem with moving out the streets of Downtown to help people reach their destination easily,” he said. slippers. They do not bother to clean the street vendors who had in the wake of the post-Arab Spring security breakdown invaded the or tidy up their vehicles, and they city centre to the point of spilling over the sidewalks and into the vehicle paths, had the almost Hefty fees have their radios set at a shockingly miraculous effect of relieving traffic congestion that had become chronic to the area. Watani surveyed individuals on the streets of Downtown Cairo to learn their opinions vis-à- high volume. Others insist on The development project works on restoring the city centre’s historical buildings and repainting vis the recent changes. smoking, oblivious to the health and their facades, renovating the roads and sidewalks, banning car parking on the main streets, and The parking ban decision was, predictably, the issue which worried them most. Interior comfort of passengers. Taxi drivers transforming a number of them into pedestrian areas. designer Karim Fawzi complained about the high parking fees in the State-owned parking in Egypt also entitle themselves to Ultimately, according to Dr Saïd, Cairo’s downtown should glow with the radiance of an lots and demanded that the governorate readjusts those prices to make them affordable for the accept or decline driving a passenger open museum of architectural art; the target is to bring back the majestic beauty of its golden average citizen. “Most employees who spend around eight hours in their offices cannot pay such to a destination that is not to their days. “In the past decades the city centre’s buildings hefty parking fees,” he said. liking or which involves navigating had become rundown, street vendors invaded and “Opening many parking spaces in this area is a areas of congested traffic. occupied the sidewalks, and traffic congestion great idea to reduce the huge traffic congestion,” The traffic administration claims became the norm. Going to the city centre for said accountant Mamdouh Awad. However, he it imposes tight measures to license work or to run any errand had become everybody’s agreed with Mr Fawzi that the parking fees in taxi vehicles so as to ensure their nightmare. I think the scene is starting to change public garages are too high. “An average EGP30 technical viability and safety on the now,” he said. for an 8-hour wait which is unsustainable on the road, as well as strict driving tests average employee’s budget,” he said. to license the drivers. The drivers Upscale shopping centre? “The sayiss (valet parking boy) is the solution,” themselves confirm and complain Khaled Mustafa, spokesman for Cairo governorate, said Ahmed Adel. “I take daily courses at a of the stringent measures. Yet the told Watani that the governorate was working hard university in the vicinity of Tahrir Square. Parking manner in which they navigate the to develop Cairo’s downtown in cooperation with my car on a daily basis in the Tahrir underground streets is nothing if not chaotic and the National Organisation for Urban Harmony using parking would definitely ruin my budget. It is much utterly removed from proper driving the expertise of several architecture professors better for me to park my car in a side street and fundamentals. Their reckless from Egyptian universities and urban development leave it under the care of the sayiss for only EGP5.” driving risks the lives of passengers, experts. “We started our work, ” Mr Mustafa said, other drivers, and pedestrians. “by giving the buildings a fresh coat of paint, They overindulge in verbal and Heading towards prosperity removing street vendors, and imposing a parking behavioural abuse. If passengers Mai Mahmoud, also a student, said that at first she ban in the major streets. We allocated alternative attempt to object or express concern, parked her car in one of the nearby parking spaces they get abused themselves or even spots for the street vendors, close to but not inside because she was afraid it would be ruined if left on kicked out of the taxi midway to the city centre. These changes were met with the streets and she wanted to avoid the harassments their destination. Gone is the time unexpected approval especially from Downtown of the street’s sayiss; however, this didn’t turn out to when, some sixty years ago, tact and shop owners and residents. We also made sure there be a good idea because the prices are so high. “The discipline governed the behaviour of was an abundance of parking spaces such as in the parking fees may be convenient for those who park Cairo taxi drivers. Attaba and Bustan parking garages, and the recently their car for an hour or two, but to park for a whole day Despite the arrogant condescension opened Tahrir underground parking. would cost me a fortune.” of the taxi drivers, their ignorance “The development plan is being implemented in But Edward Fikry, owner of a garments factory, of Cairo roads and various phases; after one phase is successfully completed, disagrees with them. He believes that the parking neighbourhoods—reason enough to we move to the next. The development project is fees are not high considering the high quality withhold or withdraw a taxi driver expected to cost around EGP500 million, a sum services which these parking spaces provide such as license in other countries in the not covered by the Cairo governorate alone but also security, CCTVs, guideposts and fire extinguishers. world—is shocking. It is common by Insurance Holding Company which owns some All these make him feel confident that he leaves his for a Cairo taxi driver to ask you for 100 buildings in the area, and several banks whose car in the garage for long hours and even for a few directions to your destination, that is headquarters lie in Downtown Cairo. We proceed days if he has to travel. if he accepts to drive you there in the with the development phases according to the Other aspects of the Downtown development first place. availability of funds,” Mr Mustafa said. project were met with great approval from most If we are to hope for any positive Some residents of Downtown Cairo, however, shop owners, especially the street vendors’ removal. change on the taxi front in Egypt, have been voicing mixed opinions about the project. Ahmed Abdel-Moneim sees the development the law must be strictly applied Some fear that converting the area into a sparkling projects as a huge accomplishment. “The crammed so that drivers never get away open museum and the subsequent expected rise in cars and the street vendors who had invaded the with any violation. The taxi driver price of real estate would effectively turn it into an sidewalks were a nightmare to us shop owners as syndicate must take it upon itself to upscale shopping centre which only the rich can they concealed our shops from view. I believe that educate drivers and upgrade their frequent. This, they claim, would rob the district the entire area is heading towards development and performance. I also believe that of its throbbing vitality and bring to an end the prosperity, which would definitely be in the best encouraging investment in private livelihoods of many who cater to the middle class. interest of the shop owners,” he said. taxi companies can work wonders towards a taxi service on par with international standards. Buildings in Downtown Cairo The underground parking in Tahrir Square 19 July 2015 Watani International 2

Omar Sharif (1932 - 2015) 60 years of brilliance

Egyptian Facebook users were stunned on the morning of Friday Mervat Ayoub the friends. Ataf Salem, who was assistant to Chahine, mentioned off- 10 June to find a post by Omar Jr, the grandson of with handedly to Sharif that Ramzy was flirting with Hamama, and this a photo of the young man in the tender embrace of his grandfather Madeleine Nader was enough to make Sharif’s blood boil with anger. and the caption: “Allah alone lives on forever”, an expression used In a scene at the port where a fight broke between the two actors, by to denote someone’s death. Sharif gave Ramzy such a brutal beating till the latter, who could not Even though Sharif was known to have suffered from Alzheimer’s, news of his fathom what was going on, slipped onto a spot of hot diesel oil that had leaked from death at 83 came as a shock. The icon of the silver screen who started as a local one of the ships. He fell and was moved to hospital where he spent weeks under widely popular star and went on to become an international figure, the gifted treatment from the burns he sustained. Sharif took his wife and left the filming actor with the dark good looks passed away in a hospital on the outskirts of Cairo. location, but this marked a 10-year rift between the friends. Egyptians were grieved; they deeply felt the loss of a man who had become a central figure on the film scene for some 60 years. For many, his death almost marked the Conquering the world end of an era. The year 1963 brought a great breakthrough for Sharif with the role of Sharif Ali opposite Peter O’toole in David Lean’s epic Lawrence of Arabia. In 1965, he played beginnings Dr Zhivago, the physician caught up in the Russian Revolution, a role for which Omar Sharif was born Michel Dimitri Chalhoub in April 1932 in Alexandria, to Joseph he won the Golden Globe best actor. He also won an Oscar nomination as best Chalhoub, a lumber merchant, and his wife, Claire Saada, a prominent Cairo socialite supporting actor for his Sharif Ali role. famous for her charm whose guests included Egypt’s King Farouk. The Chalhoubs were of Sharif co-starred in other films, including Behold a Pale Horse (1964), and played a Lebanese Syrian origin. The young Michel was raised a Greek Catholic and educated at the Yugoslav wartime patriot in The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964), the Mongolian conqueror prestigious Victoria College in Alexandria where he gained a reputation as a sportsman and in Genghis Khan (1965), a German military officer inThe Night of the Generals (1967), gifted actor on the school theatre. He earned a degree in mathematics and physics from Cairo Rudolf Crown Prince of Austria in Mayerling (1968), and Che Guevara in Che! (1969). University then joined the family lumber business before heading to London to study at the He also played Nicky Arnstein, the husband of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (1968). Fanny Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. was played by Barbra Streisand; it was her first screen role. His role opposite Streisand The cosmopolitan society he grew up in as well as his personal prowess made brought on a hostile reaction from the Egyptian government, since Streisand vocally Michel Chalhoub an excellent conversant in , English, Greek, French, Spanish supported Israel which was then at war with Egypt. and Italian. Sharif’s preoccupation with his career on the international film scene kept him away from Egypt and from his wife. In 1974, they got divorced and he stayed on in Falling in love Europe and played many diverse roles. He never remarried. Back in Cairo, Chalhoub made his screen debut in the 1954 film Siraa fil-Wadi (Struggle in the Valley). Chahine (1926 – 2008) was one of The love of his life: bridge the greatest—if not the greatest—film directors in Egypt; he gave Chalhoub the Despite starring in dozens of films, Sharif’s career never quite lived up to its early screen name Omar al-Sharif by which he went for the rest of his life. In that promise. His main interest, one in which he ranked among the world’s top players, film Sharif acted opposite the beautiful (1931 -2015) [Watani was bridge. He was a regular in casinos in France, but gambling took its toll on his International, 25 January 2015; http://en.wataninet.com/features/in-memorial/faten- career; he once claimed he was “always one film behind my debts”. He is said to hamama-193112993/2015-/] who was then and for many years later the prima donna have lost a GBP4 million villa on the Spanish island of Lanzarote in a bridge game of Egyptian cinema. They fell in love and married in 1955. Sharif had to convert to in the 1970s. Islam to marry Hamama, and they had a son Tarek, born in 1957, and two grandsons With Charles Goren, Sharif co-wrote a syndicated newspaper bridge column for Omar and Karim. the Chicago Tribune for several years, and was both author and co-author of several Between 1954 and 1960, Sharif played the leading role in 20 films. Prominent books on bridge. among them was the wild comedy Ishaet Hub (Rumour of Love) the mere name of In 2004, Sharif said he stopped making films because “for the last 25 years I’ve which brings laughter to Egyptian minds until today, al-Muwatin Masry (Citizen been making a lot of rubbish because I was in debt all the time”. Masry), Ayamna al-Hilwa (Our Good Days), and the musical that bore the name of the hilarious leading song Dhihk we Lieb we Gadd we Hubb (Laughter, Fun, Back home Earnestness, and Love). Early in the 1990s, Sharif finally returned home to Egypt to stay. Sharif and Hamama starred together in five films, the last of which was an adaptation Among the last Egyptian films he starred in with his usual brilliance was the of ’s under the name Nahr al-Hubb (River of Love) in 1960. 2000s Hassan and Morqos. In 2007, he played the leading role in his only TV drama Hanan and Haneen (Tenderness and Longing). 10-year rift In 2003, Sharif made a European comeback by playing in the French filmMonsieur After starring together in two films, a close friendship grew between Sharif and Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran a Muslim shopkeeper in Paris who adopts a Jewish the heartthrob (1930 - 2012), Egypt’s equivalent of James Dean. The boy. His performance won him the Best Actor César from the Académie des Arts et two friends spent a lot of time and did many activities together; they even pledged Techniques du Cinéma, as well as the Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival. that none of them should act in a film without the other. For his lifetime contribution to the world of film, Sharif was awarded in 2004 the Then came Youssef Chahine’s Siraa fil-Minaa (Conflict at the Port). The film Award of the Celebrities of the Arab World. was shot in Alexandria, Sharif’s hometown. Ramzy stayed with the Sharifs at their Sunday 12 July saw the last respects paid to the iconic star. His funeral was held family home. at a mosque on the eastern outskirts of Cairo. His body was interred, but his great An unfortunate incident occurred, however, that led to a 10-year separation between works will forever live, a tribute to a great actor of all times.

The photos show Sharif in various stages of his life, and with his wife and son, and Ramzy’’

Watani International editorial team: Copy editor: Jenny Jobbins Layout editor: Heba Adel The underground parking in Tahrir Square Dalia Victor, Donia Wagdy, Lydia Farid, Nivert Rizkallah, Sherine Nader

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