letter fromCairo 18th Issue, November 2016 Challenge of the Will 10th Anniversary of Mahfouz’s Death Arrival of ENS Nasser Museum Anwar Opened El-Sadat 18th Issue, November 2016 Editorial Table of contents P. 4 Active Foreign Policy, Long Letter from Cairo A bi-monthly periodical on the p.4 current political, economic, and President Sisi in New Domestic Strides cultural developments in Egypt York for UN General The Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh hosted on October 9 a two- Assembly meetings day celebration aimed to mark the 150 anniversary of parliamentary Issued by Foreign Information Sector life in Egypt. The ceremony embodies the country’s pro-democracy State Information Service march and effective parliamentary action. Egypt’s long parliamentary Arab Republic of Egypt march also symbolizes the people’s aspirations to stabilize democracy. Nineteen heads of parliaments and international parliamentary bodies P. 23 attended the ceremony along with 15 parliamentary delegations from different countries. Between 11 and 21 October the African and Arab Chairman of SIS Parliamentary Unions held their annual rounds of meetings. The Pan- Ambassador African Parliament convened in Sharm el-Sheikh with the participation of more than 50 African countries. The Arab Parliament held its first Salah A Elsadek session of 2016-2017 first convention for the second legislative term. p.10 The Pan-African Parliament and Arab Parliament held a joint session under the rubric of “Popular Afro-Arab Solidarity and the Role of Parliaments”. The history of Egypt’s Western-style parliament, the first Egypt’s participation in G20: International appreciation for Editor-in-Chief in the Arab world and Africa, dates back to 22 October 1866 when the Egypt’s status 75 member Maglis Shura Al-Nuwab (Council of Consultative Deputies) Abdel Mo'ti Abu Zeid was formed by the Khedive Ismail (1863-1879). The council held its first meeting on 25 November 1866. P. 30 On the international level, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi made a Executive Editor five-day visit in September to the United Nations during which he Nashwa Abdel Hamid Iconic Nasser Museum took part in the 71st United Nations General Assembly session. He presided over a meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council and opens held several meetings with a number of world leaders. The President also gave separate interviews to PBS and CNN channels, in addition to Editor The Washington Post, took part in a high-level meeting on refugees Mostafa Ahmady and migrants and gave a key speech at the United Nations General Assembly meeting. The President also participated in the UN Security P. 34 Council summit on Syria. The current issue of “Letter from Cairo” also features a number of key Layout economic, tourist and cultural events including: Egypt’s participation Nisreen Ahmed in G20, the establishment of “Fatwa” secretariat general in Egypt, the opening of the museum of Egypt’s legendary leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, activities of Alexandria Mediterranean Film Festival and achievements of Paralympics and Olympics teams in Rio 2016. Paralympics, Olympics athletes given Order of Sports SIS Website: http://sis.gov.eg Email: [email protected] 2 3 Sisi: Major responsibility of world leaders to achieve better living conditions for developing peoples It is the major responsibility of global economic system that launched to expand the road world leaders to meet aspirations secures equal opportunities of network, establish more power of the developing peoples for a development and helps narrow plants, develop infrastructure and President Sisi better life, President Abdel Fattah the gap between developed and increase the agricultural land. El Sisi said in his speech at the developing countries, Sisi further President Abdel Fattah El- Sisi UN General Assembly, adding told UNGA. in his speech at UNGA in New that Egypt has a comprehensive The President touched upon York added that the Middle in New York development strategy for 2030 an agreement reached last year East region is still plagued with and called for social protection and was based on the principles bloody conflicts. Even though, and a just global economic system. of the UN Framework Convention Egypt managed to maintain its Sisi said that challenges facing on Climate Change (UNFCCC), stability amid a very volatile for UN developing countries and their stressing that Africa is committed regional context thanks to its limited potentials stand in the to fighting climate change using solid institutions and awareness way of achieving the ambitious its own potentials. Sisi reiterated of its people, he pointed out. The General development agenda. Those calls to support Africa, stressing international community, added countries lack the opportunity to the need to maintain the right the President, should realize the achieve sustainable development, to development and guarantee depth of the Egyptian culture and Sisi told the 71st UNGA session. the participation of the different civilization and support Egypt; Assembly world countries in projects in line serving this way the whole region This session is held after a new with rules regulating international and the world at large, so that phase to achieve sustainable funding institutions, atop of which Egypt would maintain its role as development has been launched the World Bank. a basic pillar of stability in the meetings and it goes without saying that the President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi Middle East. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi addresses the general debate of peoples, particularly in developing urged the international community the General Assembly’s 71st session countries, are eyeing decent living to provide every possible support Egypt is exerting all efforts conditions, which is, according for poor countries to help them for working with regional and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was in New York for a five-day visit, during which he took to Sisi, the primary responsibility meet the needs of their peoples. international parties concerned to of all world leaders. Developing «The Egyptian people managed restore stability and security in the part in the 71st UN General Assembly meetings, along with chairing a meeting of the countries are seeking a bigger to restore stability, protect the Middle East, said the President, AU Peace and Security Council and a meeting of the Committee of the African Heads of share of the world trade, as well as state institutions and prevent adding that atop of bloody conflicts State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC). Sisi made several media inter- mechanisms to fund and transfer the society from descending into in the region comes the Syrian views, including a TV interview with PBS channel and an interview with The Washing- technology, Sisi noted. anarchy,» he added. conflict that left hundreds of ton Post, to highlight Egypt’s efforts to support regional States along with encouraging thousands dead and millions foreign investments in Egypt. He called for action to increase the The President pointed out that displaced and refugees. Egypt flow of investments to developing Egypt›s new constitution has is hosting about half a million President Sisi also delivered a speech at a high-level meeting on refugees and mi- countries, settle their debts and maintained rights and freedoms of Syrian refugees, noted the grants, a speech before the UNGA where he addressed key domestic, regional and in- create favorable conditions for of people, and ensured more President, adding that they are ternational issues which concern Egypt and the region. The President took part in the national development. He also parliamentarian seats for women receiving the same services like UNSC summit on the developments in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Libya. called for supporting governments and youth. Speaking about the any Egyptian citizen. in their efforts to strike a balance economic situation in Egypt, Sisi On the fringe of the UNGA meetings, Sisi held important meetings with French Presi- between the different aspects said Egypt takes steady steps The continuation of bloodshed dent Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Jordanian King Abdullah of sustainable development, towards implementing an ambitious in Syria and failure to hammer II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as well as members of the US Senate and particularly where maintaining plan for economic reforms that out a political solution to the House. social protection and promoting have taken into consideration crisis is no longer acceptable, said national ownership of development the social dimensions and needs the President, adding that what President Sisi also met with key members in the US Democratic and Republican parties are concerned. of the Egyptian people to enjoy is required is an immediate and as well as heads of major US companies. He convened with the Egyptian-US Business- Egypt is underlining the honorable life. He noted that complete cessation of hostilities men Council and the American Chamber of Commerce to review means of boosting US importance of having a just several mega projects have been in all parts of Syria paving the 4 5 way for a political solution that and ending the Israeli occupation down a luminous chapter in the the Yemeni stability and territorial security. The President said that at the UN, Youssef said. In this maintains the Syrian territorial through negotiations and reviving history of the region through integrity. He voiced support for terrorism is a real of a threat to regard, the President took part integrity and keeps up its State the peace process in an effort to moving towards peace. The efforts exerted by UN envoy to international peace and security in a high-level meeting on Africa institutions while meeting the establish just and durable peace Egyptian experiment on this Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh for ending as it constitutes an aggression Renewable Energy Initiative (AERI), aspirations of the Syrian people.