Egypt’s ambassador to France: Happy to celebrate Egyptian civilization and its kings

Yasser El-Ghobeiry and Ahmed Sawan

Egyptian Ambassador to France Alaa Youssef expressed his happiness at participating in a symposium celebrating ancient Egyptian civilization and one of its great kings, adding that “it is difficult to talk after a great archaeologist like Zahi Hawass.”

“Egyptian civilization needs a lot of time to talk about, and everyone knows who Zahi Hawass is as a great archaeologist. He has a brilliant reputation and unparalleled experience, and he is the best person to talk about the exploits of Egyptian civilization. As for the Minister of Antiquities, he is a diligent man. Today I saw him talking with numerous representatives of French companies in order to obtain a large number of French visitors to Egypt, and I was impressed by his efforts and his ability to provide what is in the interest of Egypt,” he added.

Youssef emphasized his thanks to journalist Abdelrahim Ali, Chairman of Al-Bawaba News and the Center for Middle East Studies (CEMO) in Paris, for providing this opportunity to talk, as well as for organizing visits for French thinkers and politicians to visit Egypt.

The Egyptian ambassador’s remarks came during the symposium of the Center for Middle East Studies (CEMO) in Paris, which was organized on Friday, April 7, at the historic Hotel de Crillon overlooking the Pharaonic obelisk, under the title “Egypt: The Dawn of Conscience”.

Egypt’s former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Zahi Hawass, and journalist Abdelrahim Ali, director of CEMO in Paris, spoke at the symposium, which was also attended by Egyptian Ambassador to France Alaa Youssef, a group of editors-in-chief of French newspapers, a number of French parliamentarians, as well as a number of senior politicians and Egyptologists. The descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte, Prince Joachim Murat, and his wife, Princess Yasmine, were also in attendance, in addition to former ministers, senior French writers and intellectuals, led by Gilbert Sinoué.

The symposium was also attended by Pierre Lellouche, former Minister of European Affairs; the great Arab poet Adunis; Yves Thréard, deputy editor-in-chief of Le Figaro; Jean-Sébastien Ferjou, editor-in-chief of Atlantico; and French Senator Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio.

The symposium was held on the sidelines of the Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs Exhibition, which kicked off on Thursday, April 6, in Paris and will continue for five months in the French capital.