How secure is the country for tourists these days?

To answer in a practical manner, let me invite you to visit my country and judge by yourself how secure it is. A 3 hours flight from Budapest takes you to the heart of the Middle East, and I will be happy to be your guide and show you the different mosaic of a city that encompasses Pharaonic, Coptic, Islamic as well as renaissance monuments and architecture. The city vibrates with traditional and modern cultural activities, a tribute to 5000 years of recorded civilization

Egypt, is an exemplary place for tourism. It is one of the safest places in the world, if not the safest. It is a country of 75 million inhabitants, with almost 15 millions living in the greater Cairo region and yet one can walk alone on its crowded streets at any hour of the day or night without fear. Egyptians are peace-loving people who love to welcome foreigners. However if you were referring to the few terrorist attacks of the nineties, let me assure you that we have vanquished terrorism in our towns because it is against the tolerance and hospitality of Egyptians.

How does Egypt mediate in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict?
Egypt is the mainstay force of regional equilibrium and a key partner with a pivotal role in the search for peace in the Middle East. We took the lead in making peace with Israel 30 years ago, and ever since the signature of the Peace Treaty, there haven't been any reports of a single breach in its application on both sides. This means whenever there is political will, there can be stability.
So far Egypt hosted six rounds of inter-Palestinian talks. We are hopeful that our Palestinian brothers will soon reach a consensus agreement among their different factions so that peace negotiations with Israel can resume.
For the stability of the Middle East and that of the whole world, it is essential that future negotiations aim at the "end game", which includes ending the military occupation by Israel of all Arab lands, according to the Palestinians their own State, with East Jerusalem as its capital and by accommodating Israeli security concerns. All of these elements are included in the Arab Peace initiative adopted in 2007 and supported by all 57 Islamic nations. This simply means that lessons of history should be read well and conclusions drawn from the defeat of Apartheid in South Africa by the international community. If Israel seizes this opportunity, it can live in peace enjoying normal relations with 57 Muslim countries.
Recently you had a holiday in Egypt, where did you go?

Last April, I visited the Siwa Oasis, in the Western Desert close to the Libyan border. It is Egypt's most remote place, with natural scenic beauty and majestic desert dunes. The newly built road and small airport have recently put Siwa on the tourism map. Siwa is known for the famous Cleopatra bath, and the Temple of the Oracle which is where Alexander the Great sought counsel from the god Ammun before taking over rule of Egypt. He is said to be buried somewhere in the desert near Siwa.

Siwan handmade jewellery and handicrafts are exquisite. It's a wonderful place to relax in the desert, swim in hot springs and enjoy some of the world's best dates and olives. The old town of Siwa which dates back to the 13th century has preserved its unique mud and brick architecture. It also hosts the 1st Ecolodge in Egypt.

This oasis was visited in 1932 by the famous Hungarian Count Laszlo Almasy who is probably the one who discovered, not far from there, the "Cave of Swimmers," a pre-historic cavern decorated with ancient paintings of people swimming (remember the movie the English Patient). He also "discovered" the Magyarab tribe in Upper Egypt. This Arabic speaking tribe, with European features close to Hungarians' is said to be descended from the Hungarian soldiers who were enlisted in the Turkish Army in Egypt during the 16th Century and stayed behind.







What is the most difficult part of an Ambassador’s job?

According to many people's misconception, especially those who are not very familiar with the duties of an Ambassador, he is mandated to embellish or even, occasionally, lie in the name of his government. This is not true. An Ambassador builds trust and understanding, and most of all credibility through the seriousness of his endeavors. He maintains excellent relations with as many people as possible so he can rightly hold high up his flag wherever he goes in the country of accreditation. That's why the most difficult part in an Ambassador's job is to be constantly aware of the importance of his mandate. Therefore, he must always act with zeal and enthusiasm in order to reflect a proud image of his country, never missing an opportunity to reach out and communicate the right message.

Recently you hosted a reception in Budapest where a dervish was spinning for a long time while performing a traditional dance. How does he do it that he does not get dizzy?

The event you are referring to was an occasion to promote tourism and motivate our Hungarian friends to make Egypt their next holiday destination.

Traditionally a Dervish is a member of a "Sufi" order which is a kind of a Muslim fraternity. The word Sufi is traced to "suf" (wool) referring to simple and coarse cloaks the early Muslim ascetics wore. These orders were first established in the 12th century as a reaction to orthodox Muslim tradition and the worldliness and decadence of the caliphate.

The main ritual practiced by the Dervish is the "zikr" which means the repeated citation of a devotional formula in praise of God and His Attributes, and physical exertions through whirling and dancing to reach a hypnotic state. The ritual whirling of the Dervish possesses a highly structured form within which the gentle turns become increasingly dynamic as the individual Dervish strives to achieve a state of trance. The music that accompanies the whirling is meant to be mesmerizing. According to the faithful, the mixture of poetry, rhythmic rotation and music induces a feeling of ecstasy, of mystical flight.

During the middle ages Dervishes played an important role in religious, social and political life. While a strand in Islam's orthodoxy opposed music as being detrimental to religious life, Sufis successfully integrated music into their rituals as an act of faith.

Today most of the Dervish dances in Egypt are performed by artists not necessarily of Sufi order. Though there are still some traveling Sufi Dervishes who dance in the more traditional way, most of the more colorful performers are entertainers. A well trained artist turns or whirls endlessly anti-clockwise to balance himself with the earth gravitation, while manipulating skirts in a colorful display with obvious concentration. The Dervish theatre near the famous Khan El-Khalili bazaar in Cairo is where they present their renowned TAN'NOURA performances.


July 2009