President Mubarak Calls for Egyptian Unity
In a speech on January 21st, President Mubarak called for greater tolerance amongst Egyptians of all religions and denounced the January 6th attack against Coptic Christians in the Egyptian village of Naga Hammadi. He described the attack as “criminal,” “sinful” and “horrific,” and demanded “that all [Egyptians], Muslims and Copts, take a serious and forthright stand with ourselves.”
President Mubarak attributed this attack to an attempt to undermine the unity of the Egyptian people, and declared “I will not be lenient with those, from either side, who attempt to undermine [Egyptian unity] or show contempt for it.”
Moving forward, the President stressed that Egypt’s educational system, media and intelligentsia must promote a religious discourse that spreads tolerance. He described their role as “vital” and explained the type of discourse he hoped to foster, “One that confirms the values of citizenship, that religion belongs to God, and the nation belongs to all; One that promotes the understanding that religion is a matter between a human and his Lord, and that Muslim and Christian Egyptians are partners in one nation, and that they are faced with the same difficulties, and that they share the same aspirations for a better future for themselves, their children, and grandchildren.”
To read the speech in its entirety, please click here.
Egypt unveils renovations at oldest monastery
The Associated Press
February 4, 2010
Egypt's antiquities chief on Thursday unveiled the completion of an 8-year, $14.5 million restoration of the world's oldest Christian monastery, touting it as a sign of Christian-Muslim coexistence. The announcement at the 1,600-year-old St. Anthony's Monastery came a month after Egypt's worst incident of sectarian violence in over a decade, when a shooting on a church on Orthodox Christmas Eve killed seven people.
Egyptian resort Sharm el-Sheikh slashing carbon emissions
Reuters
February 4, 2010
The Egyptian holiday resort of Sharm el-Sheikh intends to slash its carbon emissions in the next decade to woo a growing class of eco-tourists, a senior government official who heads the $238 million project says.
Tourism is a crucial source of foreign currency and jobs in Egypt, accounting for about 11 percent of GDP.
"Tourists will pick places that are environmentally friendly and taking positive steps to reduce their carbon emissions," said Hisham Zaazou, a top official at the Tourism Ministry.
Egyptian National Team Wins Africa Cup of Nations Title
February 4, 2010
The Egyptian national soccer team recently returned from Angola, where it participated in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt was one of sixteen countries to qualify for the tournament. The team, whose nickname is “The Pharaohs,” won its first three matches in the initial group stage to advance to the knockout round.
Egyptian Minister Sees Strong Economic Rebound Extending In 2010
Wall Street Journal
January 28, 2010
Egypt's economy will continue to defy headwinds from the developed world this year, helped by a strong consumer and banking sector and by sustained inward investment, Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohamad Rachid said Wednesday.
One of Africa's largest economies, Egypt managed to grow by 4.5% in 2009, a year when Europe and most of the developed world suffered its worst recession in 60 years, and Rachid said the government expects growth to quicken to 5% this year and 7% in 2011.
First joint renewable energy field project in Egypt underway
MSN Arabia
January 26, 2010
Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Energy Hassan Yunis said Friday Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would soon hammer out a framework deal for a 200 megawatts wind farm at the Gulf of Suez region in Egypt.
Egypt's New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) and the UAE's state-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company will be involved in the project, he added.
Egypt has already allowed the private sector to launch the first private wind farm project in Egypt with a capacity of 250 megawatts under the building, operating and transferring (BOT) system, he said.
Egypt Hosts Its First Internet Forum for Women Only
Al-Ahram
January 22, 2010
Fatakat, the first and largest of Egypt’s Internet forums geared to women has become a forum where friends share conversation and discourse on topics that range from modern Egyptian home-life to politics. It has been reported to be the second most-visited site in Egypt in 2009, according to Ratteb, a statistical source for Arabic websites.
President Mubarak Orders Urgent Aid to Haitians
ISRIA
January 19, 2010
Today, President Hosni Mubarak gave orders to the Egyptian Government to send urgent medical relief to Haiti, following the devastating earthquake of January 11. Egyptian humanitarian and medical relief will be sent in coordination with the international community's efforts to provide aid for the victims in Haiti.
Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria gives Christmas Mass in Cairo
Click to watch a clip of Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria giving Christmas Mass in Cairo. Read more about Coptic Christmas in our Spotlight section.
Mubarak hosts Abbas to discuss resumption of peace talks
Reuters
January 4, 2010
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to discuss the resumption of peace talks with Israel.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Intelligence Head Omar Suleiman are due to visit Washington on Friday.