The objective of André Azoulay’s visit to Egypt
On the eve of launching the Anna Lindh Foundation’s new three year programme, Mr. André Azoulay, President of the Foundation and Counsellor of His Majesty King Mohamed VI of Morocco, visited Egypt from 13 to 15 December 2008. Taking into consideration the prominent role played by Egypt in forging the future of the Arab World, the visit of Mr. Azoulay represents a great opportunity in the way of building on the new momentum of “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean”.
Seen as one of the major leaders in the region, Egypt was the initiator of Middle East peace process, a process in line with the Barcelona Process’s long-term objective to build a region of cooperation, exchange, peace and stability. Furthermore, Egypt is leading an important process, co-chaired with France, on the “Union for the Mediterranean”, a process which will involve and has considerable implications for people living and working across Egypt, the Mediterranean region and Europe.
In this context the visit of President Azoulay is two-folded. From one side it aims to coordinate with Egyptian officials on the role Egypt has to play in this Union. And from the other side to mobilize Egyptian Media and civil society to actively participate in shaping this “Union for the Mediterranean”. Accordingly, the Anna Lindh Foundation is co-organizing together with the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs a conference on “the role of Egypt in the Union for the Mediterranean”, as well as the central role played by the Anna Lindh Foundation in this Union. Members of the panel are Mr. Boutros Boutros Ghaly, Ambassador Ahmed Maher, Dr. Farouk Hosny, and Dr. Ismail Serrag El-Din The conference is taking place on 15 December, and will gather more than 200 participants, including Euromed ambassadors in Egypt, local and foreign journalists, representatives of civil society organizations, Egyptian artists, researchers, intellectuals and businessmen. André Azoulay will also meet with Mr. Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, to discuss the current political and cultural situation in the region.
For more information on André Azoulay and his role as an advocate of intercultural dialogue, go to: http://www.euromedalex.org/News/EN/NewsDetails.aspx
