Diplomats speak

EGYPT IS STRIVING FOR
MAXIMUM DEVELOPMENT OF MUTUAL RELATIONS

Reda Ahmed Shekhata,
Ambassador extraordinaire
and plenipotentiary
of the Arab Republic
of Egypt in Russia

        - What are the perspectives for the development of mutual relations between Egypt and St. Petersburg?
        - They should be regarded within the context of relations between our two countries. It is worth mentioning that Egypt is striving for an intensive development of mutual relations. These relations are solidly based on the agreements signed by the Egyptian President in Moscow two years ago.
        Among the measures taken already one must bear in mind the representative congress in Cairo in October 1998, on the problems of Egyptian cooperation with the countries of the CIS. In March last year the second session of Joint Russian-Egyptian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation took place. It signed a series of bilateral agreements concerning double tax exemption, support and protection of investments, cooperation in the field of sea transportation, creation of agricultural export companies for the supply of goods from Egypt to Russia as well as the creation of industrial import companies supplying Russian industrial goods to Egypt. The Commission also decided to form a joint Egyptian-Russian Business Council and create a free economic zone. Of course, all this is directly connected with our relations with St. Petersburg.
        Speaking about relations between Egypt and St. Petersburg, I mean they must be multi-faceted and take place at various levels. Today a Business Council of St. Petersburg and Alexandria is being established. Its activities will be based on the principles adopted by the Egyptian-Russian Council created by our two countries.
        - Last summer the economic forum took place on the banks of the Neva. Was it in any way significant for the intensification of mutual relations of St. Petersburg and Egypt?
        - This forum was attended by the Egyptian representative delegation. I think that our report was of very great significance, because it determined the development of relations with Russia's regions, and with the industrial regions of St. Petersburg and the whole of Russia's Northwest in particular, as a priority task of our bilateral cooperation. I think that the report's conclusions and propositions may serve as good ground for the intensification of relations between Egypt and St. Petersburg.
        - What can be done to revive cooperation between the Egyptian and Petersburg industrial enterprises?
        - Trade and economic relations between Egypt and Russia, and also our relations with Petersburg, are long standing. Russian goods are well known in Egypt. Their quality is very good and they are not expensive. But after the disintegration of the Soviet Union followed by the privatization of Russian enterprises and abolition of barter transaction that had previously been popular in Egypt, Russian goods almost completely disappeared from the Egyptian market. We then found suppliers in the West, who are willing to give various privileges to Egypt as well as carry out investment projects in our country. Both Egypt and Russia need to apply significant efforts to revive their mutual cooperation and increase their exchange of goods. Besides, Egyptian companies may adopt Russian technology, invite Russian specialists, and create joint ventures in Egypt, for our country possesses a favourable investment climate, tax privileges as well as free transfer of capital. We must take into account that Russian technology completely corresponds to the conditions of Egypt, because it is constructively simple and competitive.
        Cooperation with Egyptian industrial enterprises is available in the field of manufacture, meaning the manufacture of machine tools, instruments, and different mechanisms on the basis of Russian knowledge and Egyptian staff. We may export these goods to Arab as well as to African countries. Egypt has already signed some agreements with them that envisage the abolition of customs dues for Egyptian goods. This situation is favourable for Russian industrial companies to make investments in the Egyptian economy. This will allow Russian goods to enter the Arab and African as well as European markets. I think this situation will give St. Petersburg real opportunities to cooperate with Arab countries.
        Petersburg may create joint ventures using Egyptian technology in those fields of industry where Egypt has made significant progress. I mean Egyptian pharmacology as well as the manufacture of ceramics, carpets, chandeliers, and other goods. Today specialists in Egypt and St. Petersburg are in search of opportunities to conclude barter deals in the export of Egyptian fruits, vegetables as well as other food products, ceramics, carpets, cotton, various textile industry's products, footwear, and fancy leather goods. As for Egypt, it is eager to import Russian paper, cardboard, timber, machine tools, and machinery.
        - The Russian-Egyptian Society of Friendship has recently begun working again. What measures does it need to take in order to contribute to the development of Russian-Egyptian cultural relations?
        - It can perform multi-faceted activities. For example, one of its first actions may be the exchange of Arabian religious manuscripts. Many of them are kept at the St. Petersburg Oriental Studies Institute. They are extremely valuable from a historical and scientific point of view. They are of great importance to the explorers of Arabian religious culture.
        Of course, we need to intensify the cultural exchange between Russia and Egypt. We may exchange teachers and students, that is, students from Egypt studying Russian language and literature, and Petersburg students studying Arabic. We are ready to receive Russian specialists in Islamic subjects at our University of al-Azhar.
        Petersburg may hold Weeks of Egyptian culture, and in Cairo or Alexandria - Weeks of Russian culture, as well as regularly opening different exhibitions. It is also a good way to widely publish the materials gathered by Russian travellers around Arab countries and Egypt in particular, and to publish books about Russia written by Arab travellers.