Sherif Gad and Fathi Toghan grant the association's shield to Director of the Russian Centre Aleksey Tevanyan (Photo courtesy of the Russian Cultural Centre Media Office)
The Egyptian Association of Russian and Soviet University Graduates marked the 75th anniversary of Russian-Egyptian diplomatic relations in a celebration at the Cairo Opera House on 29 October.
The celebration was attended by Russian Ambassador to Cairo Sergei Kravchenko, chairman of the board of directors of the House of Books and National Documents Hesham Azmi, secretary-general of the Egyptian-Russian Friendship Association Ehab Sorour, chairman of the Egyptian Solidarity Committee Helmy El-Hadidi, former Egyptian ambassador to Russia Ezzat Saad, vice president of the Arab Union of Russian University Graduates Fathi Toghan, and former vice president of the Supreme Constitutional Court Tahani El-Gebali.
Ambassador Kravchenko said that the current successful relations between Egypt and Russia are the natural outcome of the cooperation process that began under the leadership of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who has decided to open a new chapter in bilateral relations.
“It is important that we have the ability, given the current political will, to continue constructive cooperation in all fields.”
In a speech, president of the Egyptian Association of Russian and Soviet University Graduates Sherif Gad stressed that holding the celebration under the auspices of President El-Sisi sends a strong message to Russia about its importance to Egypt on the official and popular levels.
“After the comprehensive partnership agreement was signed between the two countries, there is no place for hesitation in implementing mega-projects,” Gad said.
Azmi, who was present as a representative of the Ministry of Culture, pointed out that “Cairo’s Academy of Arts was established in cooperation with Russia, and Soviet experts played a great role in the early days of the academy.”
Azmi affirmed that Egypt looks forward to greater cooperation with Russia, especially after the president's decision to name 2020 the Egyptian-Russian Cultural Year.
During the celebration, Azmi presented the shield of the Ministry of Culture to Russian Ambassador Kravchenko.
The Egyptian Association of Russian and Soviet University Graduates granted its shield to director of the Russian Cultural Centre in Cairo Aleksey Tevanyan.
The celebration ended with a performance by Egypt's National Troupe for Folk Arts.
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