Under the auspices of the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights and the Italian Embassy, on 13^th December the Arabic edition of the Italian book "The International Protection of Human Rights" has been presented by its author Dr. Claudio Zanghi, with the presence of the Ambassador Antonio Badini and Butrus Butrus Ghali, President of the National Council for Human Rights.

Dr. Claudio Zenghi, is professor of international law in the university "La Sapienza" in Rome and member of the Committee for Comparative Studies, created by a Memorandum of Understanding between al-Azhar University and the Ambassador Badini, representing 6 Italian universities and he is a well-known expert all over Europe, having been president of the Committee of Experts of the European Council for Human Rights.

In the last decades, since the International Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the international protection of human rights became a key issue in the Foreign Policy and in the international relations, and new procedures have been adopted for its monitoring, inside many international organizations, as the UN and the Arab League.

So far, there was a lack of exhaustive works on this topic in Arabic language, so in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the translation of Dr. Zanghi's book has been realized, integrated by two writers, prof. Bassam Baraka and prof. Rafaa Ben Achour and finally presented to the public.

The "Other Egypt"

New Tourist Routes and Sites

for the Community Development

 Follows Up of the Seminar held by the

Development Cooperation Office of the Italian Embassy in Egypt

27^th September 2005

Egypt Invest 2005

International Event Partners (IEP), fully supported by the Ministry of Investment and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) are pleased to announce Egypt Invest 2005, the 3^rd International Investment and Trade Forum in Cairo on 30^th November – 1^st December 2005. Egypt Invest 2005 will provide entrepreneurs with free business match-making services before and during the event and an onsite One Stop Shop Investment Clinic where representatives from GAFI will provide detailed consultations on tax, banking regulations, investment, securities and exchange regulations and other related topics as well as sector specific data and expert local guidance.

HIGH POTENTIAL SECTORS THAT THE FORUM WILL COVER IN SPECIALIST SESSIONS

• Gas and Petroleum

• Information Technology

• Textiles

• Tourism

• Transport and Infrastructure

For further information: www.egyptinvest.com and www.i-ep.com

The Governorate of Qena is located in Upper Egypt, not far from Luxor. It is a rural area in which a bunch of entrepreneurs decided to accept the challenge to start up some small and medium enterprises. An industrial area was created and a woman, eng. Fatma, became its President.

From the 18^th to the 21^st of September, a training denominated “Practical Solutions to Effective SME Management” took place in Qena, in order to give these small entrepreneurs effective tools to improve their production and at the same time better commercialize their products, especially in the global market.

Through the technical assistance of UNIDO, IFC (The International Finance Corporation), GAFI (General Authority for Investment And Free Zones) and the Italian Embassy in Cairo, the entrepreneurs gathered and started expressing their doubts about competitors, needs of consumers, marketing and promotion/advertisement of their products, looking for common solutions.

The Italian Cooperation in Egypt attended the opening day, together with the Governor of Qena, Gen. Adel Labib, the Head of the Investment Production Unit of UNIDO, Andrea Topo, M. Kareem Makhlouf from IFC and M. Yaken from GAFI, and presented to the public its credit lines and opportunities offered to small entrepreneurs.

I Gioielli dei Nilo

On the 12^th of June, at the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo, was opened the “ Contemporary Jewellery Art Exhibition” in the framework of the program “ I Gioielli del Nilo”.

The event was organized by the Italian NGO “ Movimento e Comunità ” together with the Italian Embassy, under the auspices of the Italian Ambassador to Egypt, H.E. Antonio Badini.

Representatives from Ministries and local administration, governmental and non- governmental agencies both local and international who are working in Egypt, was invited to attended  the event.

The program, financed by the Italian “Regione Lazio”, aims at training young graduate jewellery makers, improving their techniques and design skills as well as their entrepreneurial capabilities in order to enable them to start an autonomous activity in Cairo in this field.

Egyptian and Italian teachers together with handicraftsman have trained 24 young trainees with five main realms of knowledge which are considered to be necessary for getting a higher degree of competence and competitiveness: traditional Egyptian techniques, advanced technical knowledge abut materials and processes, designing and style, management and entrepreneurship knowledge.

This Exhibition displayed the jewels produced by the trainees with the different styles and techniques learned during the course and jewels created by trainers who are very well known artists.

The Italian Contribution to the Reform of the Egyptian  Education System

 On May 18^th- 19^th 2005, the Italian Minister of Education, University and Research, H.E Letizia Moratti, visited Cairo upon invitation of the Egyptian Minister of Higher Education, H.E. Amr Salama. The Italian Minister  also met the Egyptian Minister of Education, H.E. Gamal El Din Moussa, in order to advance the cooperative endeavors on Secondary School. This visit is considered  a clear signal of the attention given by Italy to this task. Its aim is to strengthen the basis of the already existing cooperation between Egypt and Italy.

The Italian Government greatly supports the efforts undertaken by Egypt in the sector of Education and considers the enhancement of this field as one of the principal pillars of social and economic development and a stepping stone for the creation of an Euro Mediterranean market.

On the 19^th Minister Moratti and Minister Salama signed a Memorandum of Understanding on between their respective Ministries to set up new initiatives on higher education and research. The signature was followed by a joint press conference held by Minister Moratti, Minister Salama and Minister Moussa at the Ministry of Higher Education.

The three Ministers then co-chaired  a Round Table together with experts of the two countries on the “Italian contribution to the reform of the Egyptian Education System”.

This  MoU aims at establishing common education and training paths, also through the use of new technologies and of e-learning method, based on a system of credits and grades easily readable, transferable and comparable, in order to facilitate the mobility of students, researchers and professors, exploitable by the labour market in the framework of the economic Euro Mediterranean partnership as established by the Conference of Barcellona.

One of the main purposes is also that of creating a Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education Area and a High Training and Research Centre in the Agro-alimentary sector. Moreover, the Memorandum will build the basis in order to create an Egyptian Euro Mediterranean Distance University, sited in Cairo, whose courses will grant degrees recognized both in Italy and in the Arab world.

On April 17th 2005, during a ceremony in the gardens of Sheraton Luxor, at the presence of the Governors of Luxor, Qena, and New Valley and Aswan, the Ambassador of Italy in Egypt, H.E. Antonio Badini inaugurates the new offices of  the Vice Honorary Consulate of Italy in Luxor. The ceremony will be followed by a reception offered by the Vice Honorary Consul in Luxor, Mr. Ladislav Skakal.

The opening of the Consulate, which will have jurisdiction on the Governorates of Luxor, Qena, New Valley, Aswan and Red Sea, is a concrete sign of the attention that Italy gives to the region. In addition to the task of providing assistance to the thousands of Italian tourists who visit the region every year the Consulate will also act has an additional channel of cooperation between local authorities and the Embassy of Italy.

Italy attaches a great importance to collaboration with the Governorates of Egypt in the framework of the decentralization program promoted by President Mubarak. It is a process that Italy has followed with success and which is the key to a balanced development between North and South. Through this cooperation many results have already been achieved and the opening of the Consulate in Luxor will further enhance the dialogue between Italy and the Governorates of the region.

Specific initiatives agreed upon with the Governors are a further development of Small and Medium Enterprises, tourism and related activities, twinnings between Educational Institutions, building of new schools, transfer of know-how and technology and the promotion of a higher line of joint-ventures.

On behalf of the President of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, the Ambassador of Italy in Egypt, Antonio Badini, on April 13^th 2005, bestowed upon Gen. Hassan Hemeida, Governor of Minia, the decoration of “Grande Ufficiale” of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

This high decoration has been awarded to Gen. Hemeida on the basis of an autonomous decision of the President of the Italian Republic as a sign of friendship and recognition for the long standing public activity of the Governor of Minia and for the constant and excellent partnership of the Governorate of Minia with the Embassy of Italy in the fields of commercial, cultural and social cooperation. The personal contribution of Gen. Hemeida to this partnership has been an invaluable asset in the enhancement of the excellent bilateral relations between Egypt and Italy in all sectors.

 "to sort out poverty: a chance from microcredit"

On Saturday 9^th of April 2005, under the auspices of H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, the Minister of Social Affairs H.E. Amina El Guindi  and the Italian Ambassador to Egypt, H.E. Antonio Badini, will inaugurate the international seminar on Microcredit titled  “to sort out poverty: a chance from microcredit”. The seminar will take place at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Cairo on the 9^th and 10^th of April.

The Egyptian and the Italian Governments have jointly implemented the microcredit scheme in the frame of a bilateral project called: “PAP - Poverty Alleviation and employment generation Program” to alleviate poverty in some of the most needy Districts in Giza and Minia Governorates.

The total investment granted by Italy to PAP has been of 6 million euro, 28 million L.E. of which constitutes the revolving capital for microcredit. Thanks to this capital, in the last five years, more than 37000 individuals benefited from PAP microcredits, for a total amount of 105 million L.E. The mechanism is entirely sustainable and will be able to guarantee a permanent microcredit disbursement for around 5.000 individuals per year.

The seminar aims at adding the best practices achieved through PAP to the actual debate on microfinance in Egypt, in the framework of the International Year 2005 of Microcredit declared by the Secretary General of UN, H.E. Kofy Annan.

In particular, the seminar aims at:

• Sharing PAP experience with those who are involved in the microfinance and poverty alleviation schemes.

• Giving full value, through a course of workshops, to some essential microcredit opportunities such as: community self-development, community empowerment, enhancement the role of the women in the community, decentralization, and the shift from microcredit to microfinance.

The personalities who will take part in the seminar, among the others, are the Minister for International Cooperation, H.E. Faiza Abu El Naga, the Governor of Giza, dr. Fathy Sa’adi, the Governor of Minia, Gen. Hasan Hemeida, the representative of the National Italian Committee for the International Year of Microcredit, Dr. Antonio Loche, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Dr. Antonio Vigilante.

Minister Faiza Aboul Naga signs a Memorandum on the initiative “Green Corridor”

On the 21^st of  March 2005 the Minister of International Cooperation, H.E. Faiza Aboul Naga and the Italian Ambassador to Egypt, H.E. Antonio Badini, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which established the starting up of the operative phase of the initiative called  Green Corridor, financed by the resources provided by the agreement on the Dept Swap between Italy and Egypt.

The Green Corridor aims at opening new segments of the market for the fresh fruit and vegetable Egyptian  products in Italy and in Europe. Besides the purely commercial aspect, the agreement has a wide social-economic meaning.

The increase of the exportation of fresh fruit and vegetable Egyptian products will establish a connection between the high request of fresh products in Europe, due to the changes of the climate, and the important programme started by the Egyptian government concerning the drainage of desert areas for agricultural usage.

The most important activities are those  which are aiming at facilitating exchanges of information on the most modern agricultural practices between the two countries, thanks also to the training of Egyptian farmers and their following integration in the Italian seasonal job market.

This will be a further connection between the two banks of the Mediterranean, which will be added to those already existing of gas pipelines for the transportation of liquefied gas. The Green Corridor could in this way be part of the “sea motorways” that EU wants to create.

The Ambassador visits Qena

On the 5^th of March 2005, H.E. Mr Antonio Badini, Italian Ambassador to Egypt, together with  H.E. Governor of Qena, Mr. Nino Merola, Director of the Italian Cooperation in Cairo, and Dr. Hoda Baraka, ICT Trust Fund National Project Director, visited the Modern Experimental School in Qena.

The Modern Experimental School is one of the 38 selected schools to become 'ICT equipped' under the Smart-Schools Network Initiative. The objective of this initiative is to enhance computer literacy of Egyptian students after completing preparatory school.

The delegation also took a tour in the 'Mobile Information Technology Club' (MITC) which was located at the time adjacent to the school. One of the objectives of the MITC is to raise awareness towards the benefits of ICT in education for students.  Both projects are part of a larger Programme of the ICT Trust Fund. The Programme is sponsored by the Italian-Egyptian 'Debt for Development Swap Initiative'.

The current 'Programme' started in 2002 and is financed by the Italian-Egyptian Debt for Development Swap Programme.  The Programme involves five inter-related projects developed and implemented by the ICT Trust Fund team. The main objective of these projects is ICT education and awareness. Further more the activities of the Italian Cooperation involve a project of poverty alleviation aimed at promoting and financing small economic activities and handcraft.

In the framework of  the development of technology and communication in schools, a number of “Smart Schools” in rural villages will be inaugurated. Another important project involves scientific cooperation between the Faculties of Veterinary medicine of the South Valley University in Qena and the University of Pisa in Italy in order to enhance the knowledge in the breeding of buffaloes through scientific exchanges between young researchers of the two Universities.

Raffaella Curiel presents her new collection during a charity event

On the 9^th of March, under the patronage of Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, a prestigious charity event was held in the Residence of the Italian Embassy: the presentation of the collection of Haute Couture spring-summer 2005 of the Italian designer Raffaella Curiel. The evening was entirely dedicated to Italy and was organized by the Italian Embassy together with the Ramses Hilton Hotel.

The money raised from the charity performance was entirely given to the Italian Hospital “Umberto I” of Cairo.

The Italian Hospital represents an historical institution in Egypt, and also works in a very important social field, serving the Italian community, the temporary residents, but also the Egyptian population. Instituted in 1903 by the Italian Charity Society, the Hospital Umberto I has become a prestigious medical centre thanks to the efforts of the personnel and the generous donations of the members of this Society. Since its foundation, the Hospital has always assisted the Egyptian community and the refugees of various nationalities living in Egypt. Its maintenance and its management are not easy and also the public funds the hospital employs are not always enough.

However, the Italian Embassy is committing itself in making  the administration of the hospital more efficient and modern, in improving its services and the reception of the structure.

In this occasion and in order to give to the Made in Italy such an important role, an event of haute couture and showcase was organized. Raffaella, daughter of the very well known stylist Gigliola Curiel, who used to dress the generations of the 60s and 70s, has contributed in exporting the Made in Italy in the world, thanks to her elegant style and her strong passion.

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day on 8^th of March, 2005 and the Egyptian Women’s Day on 16th of March 2005, the Gender and Development Donor’s (GAD) Sub-group of the Donors Assistance Group (DAG) in Egypt has organized a field visit hosted by the gender projects funded by the Italian Co-operation for Development and implemented in Giza Governorate (Abu el Nomros and Omraneyya districts).

The delegation of the GAD sub-group has met the women beneficiaries of four Italian projects  focusing on women empowerment, as follows:

1. the Poverty Alleviation Program (PAP), a development program aiming to improve the living conditions of the most disadvantaged families, in particular those under poverty line, through the funding of small profitable activities.

2. Two projects implemented by the Italian NGO Movimondo “Community development through the growth of Small and Micro Enterprises ”and "Development of Women Entrepreneurship and Gender Equality Promotion” – Giza Governorate, financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Italian-Egyptian Debt for Development Swap programme. Both  projects aim at  providing services in the field of vocational training, health awareness and legal services.

3.One Project implemented by the Italian NGO COSPE (Cooperation for Development of Emerging Countries) "Abu El Nomros", that aims at promoting social and cultural activities in Abu El Nomros district, focusing mainly on female beneficiaries. During the visit, awards will be presented to women beneficiaries of microcredit schemes of projects supported by the Italian Cooperation, the World Food Programme and the Population Council".

In the framework of the support to the decentralization program launched by H.E. President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Hosny Mubarak, Italy in the Governorates of Upper Egypt, is planning a number of new and innovative measures to enhance investments in the field of Small and Medium Industry and to promote partnerships in the fields of scientific research, professional formation, education and the enhancement of agriculture.

A first approach to the abovementioned projects will take place during a three day visit in the Qena Governatorate on 3-6 March 2005 by H.E. the Ambassador of Italy, Antonio Badini  as a follow-up and in-depth examination of the dialogue started during the visit in the  area organized by the Minister of International Cooperation, Faiza Abul Naga.

Italy is renewing its Debt Swap programme with Egypt which will allow the continuation of projects which have already given excellent results.

In particular the activities of the Italian Cooperation involve a project of poverty alleviation aimed at promoting and financing small economic activities and handcraft.

Furthermore, in the framework of  the development of technology and communication in schools, a number of “Smart Schools” in rural villages will be inaugurated. This project aims at the enhancement of instruction through the introduction of  computers in the schools of  a number of needy areas.

Another important project worthy of mention involves scientific cooperation between the Faculties of Veterinary medicine of the South Valley University in Qena and the University of Pisa in Italy. This cooperation is aimed the enhancement of knowledge in the breeding of buffaloes through scientific exchange between young researchers of the two Universities.

Launching of the

Directory of Services for Persons with Special Needs in Greater Cairo Area

Under the auspices of her Excellency Minister Fayza Aboul Naga, Minister of International Cooperation and his Excellency Ambassador Antonio Badini, Ambassador of Italy, SETI Center, Caritas Egypt is celebrating the launching of the Directory of Services for Persons with Special Needs in Greater Cairo Area.

The event that will take place on Thursday, March 10^th , is graciously hosted by the Italian Cultural Institute and will start by addresses from both Minister Aboul Naga and Mr. Badini.

Mr. Nino Merola, Cooperation Attaché at the Italian Embassy indicated that the project is supported by the Italian Egyptian Debt-for-Development Swap Program, supervised by the Ministry of International Cooperation and the Italian Cooperation. In fact this project comes in accordance with the Italian government guidelines on favouring social integration of persons with disability and putting forward the role of family and community in that respect.

The Directory, according to Dr. Naguib Khouzam, SETI Center General Supervisor is published in line with the recommendations of the National Strategy to Combat Handicap in Egypt, issued by the Ministerial Cabinet in 1997. The Strategy underlined the importance of preparing and making available a database of services for persons with disability. 

The Directory comprises detailed information needed by persons with special needs and their families, or other interested parties, about providers of educational, rehabilitation, health services, adapted equipment and other various services in Greater Cairo area.

Representatives form ministries, governmental and non-governmental agencies, local and international, working in the field of disability will be invited to attend this event.

The Directory will be subsequently available at SETI Center for families, researchers and service providers.

Scientific cooperation between Italian and Egyptian Universities

An Italian delegation of Tuscia University of Viterbo, the European Centre J. Monnet and the Presidency of the Italian Republic was in Cairo from the 28^th to the 30^th of January 2005. The delegation met Prof. Ali Abdel Rahman, President of Cairo University and Prof. Abdel Ghany el Gindy, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Ain Shams University, in order to present the volume which collects the acts of the Conference held on the 6^th of July 2004.

The volume, which has been translated in Arabic, gives a vast evaluation on the aspects connected to the production and the exportation of the fruit and vegetable products, especially those regarding the quality of the products, legal issues about the production and the circulation of the product in the Mediterranean area, technical aspects regarding the transformation and circulation of the product, health profiles on the production and circulation.

For this reason the Italian experts will be able to provide the necessary help assistance to the governmental Egyptian institutions and to the associations of the local productors in order to improve the quality of the product and to interpret the community law in contemplation of the opening of the area of free market in the Mediterranean basin expected for the year 2010.

 On the 16^th of January Noja Noseda, Milan University professor and very famous Islamist, meets Tantawi and gives him his new book: “The Manuscripts in higazi writing of the Nobel Koran”.

On the 24th of November 2004 the Italian Ambassador to Cairo, H.E. Antonio Badini, visited the Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Mohammed Tantawi, and signalled his desire to spread the results of a philological research on ancient Arabic texts dated back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad. The study of these texts has been pursued by an important Italian Foundation for Islamic Sciences and Arabic philology, the Noja Noseda Foundation. Noja Noseda is a very well known Italian professor of Arabic Language and Literature of the “Cattolica” University of Milan.

The Ambassador at the time had declared the total readiness of the President of the Foundation and even of many other University professors to explain the implications of the results of this research geared to a broader knowledge of Islam in Italy and also in the international field.

For this reason on the 16th of January 2005 the Imam of al- Azhar, Mohammed Tantawi, met Noja Noseda together with the Italian Ambassador. Professor Noseda gave Tantawi the second volume of “The Manuscripts in higazi writing of the Nobel Koran”, which contains the colour reproduction of the Manuscript kept in the British Library. Tantawi was very pleased about this initiative started by Italy in collaboration with Al-Azhar University.

One of the most important aims of the Foundation Noja Noseda is to state the truth about the historical contribution that Islam gave to the European culture and to highlight the common perspectives towards the consolidation of the values which unhinge completely the idea of  the so-called clash of civilization . The most important subjects of this Egyptian-Italian collaboration will  be theology, philology, philosophy and compared right. The Italian Universities involved will probably be various, such as the “Istituto Pontificio” of Rome, the “Orientale” of Naples and Torino University. The aim of the whole initiative is to give back to the Islamic culture the same propulsive role that used to have in the past.

This first Egyptian-Italian step in this field is integrated in a much more ambitious project: to actively participate to the Globalism in order to avoid the homologations passively. Noseda on the 15^th had also held a conference in front of 30 Imam and many professors of Al-Azhar University. He is carrying out the edition of these manuscripts which confirm that the structure of the Koran belongs to the I century of the Hegira, on the basis of paleology. Following this line Noseda studied the writing in Sassanid Iraq changing the Paalevik characters and examined the vertical progression of the Arabic writing in the first years of Islam

It’s hard to concentrate on algebra when all you can think of is food

Education is highly prized by Egyptians and most parents will send their children to school regardless of the sacrifices they may have to make. In the poorest governorates of Upper Egypt however, where levels of poverty, reach the highest in the country, the meager incomes of the very poor are barely enough to meet families’ basic food needs. Insufficient food consumption, compounded by poor hygiene, disease and inappropriate dietary habits and illnesses, has brought about a significant level of malnutrition among children; one in five of under-5 children is severely or moderately stunted and nearly 11% are underweight.

It is widely acknowledged that education has a crucial role in helping children to lead more fulfilled lives, which leads to the development of more productive societies. A daily meal at school nourishes healthy minds as well as healthy bodies. Children who have full stomachs are more physically and mentally alert, absorb more from their lessons and generally achieve higher academic results. Moreover, through exposure to their children’s achievements, parents gain a better appreciation of the value of education.

In an effort to extend quality education to all Egyptians, the Egyptian government has a school-feeding programme in place that provides food to over 7 million school children. The “School Feeding in Upper Egypt Initiative” project started in 2003, compliments the government’s effort in areas where the poorest families live by ensuring children attending primary school receive a school meal every school day of the year. Through funding secured under the Italian-Egyptian Debt-for-Development Swap Programme, the World Food Programme (WFP) is assisting the Government of Egypt to deliver daily nutritious food, all year round, to over 200,000 primary school boys and girls in the poorest regions of the country. WFP believes the provision of regular school meals over the entire school year is a fundamental requirement to ensure effects on attendance, nutrition and learning are maintained.

In 2003, over 30 million date/raisin pies were prepared and baked in special purpose-built government factories that are supported by the project. These snacks were delivered fresh throughout the school year in the governorates supported by WFP. The snacks are tasty and rich in essential nutrients, and are prepared under strict hygiene and safety conditions to ensure the highest standards for the children.

Additionally, job opportunities are being created for local people in the bakeries many of whom are young women. All new recruits receive training on food technology and food processing and all employees in the bakery facilities can access on-site health care and health advice.

The Italian-Egyptian Debt-for-Development Swap Initiative is an innovative and timely funding mechanism that represents an opportunity to assist Egypt to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and alleviate poverty and food insecurity. Already the “School Feeding in Upper Egypt Initiative” has received visit from neighbouring officials in Iraq to study and learn from the project, as well as featuring in a television spot for RAI. WFP looks forward to extending collaboration with the Italian- Egyptian Debt for Development Swap Initiative in the future.