The Egyptian people are proud of the historic and friendly ties that go back as far as the 19th Century, when in 1805, Mohamed Ali Pasha, the Albanian ruler under the Ottoman Empire, became the founder of modern Egypt, has said the Ambassador of Egypt to Tirana, Mohamed Mostafa Heider.

“It’s worth mentioning that the first Albanian society was founded in Egypt in 1875 and had a positive role towards the Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912,” said Ambassador Heider in an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News.

Cairo’s top diplomat announced the possibility of launching direct flights between the two capitals to boost businesses, trade and tourism. It has been also agreed to convene an economic committee to establish the necessary frameworks for promoting trade, industries, financing and others, according to him.    

Besides the importance of the diversification of the economic links, the Ambassador thought that culture has a special place in the bilateral relations to bring the two people closer. He recalled that three agreements were signed during the visit of Prime Minister Edi Rama to Cairo in October 2021, and in his view the agreements will be implemented very soon, while there will be an Egyptian cultural week in Tirana from 19th -25th of September 2022, where different aspects of the rich Egyptian culture will be presented.

In a comment on the foreign policy aspect, he stressed that Egypt and Albania share the same views towards most of the international issues and noted that it’s important to highlight the fact that both countries are cornerstones of security, stability and regional integration.  The Ambassador was certain that Egyptians and Albanians have a great potential for projects in both countries, and highlighted that Egypt is the gateway to Africa, where Albania has in Cairo its sole resident diplomatic representation in Africa.

Mr. Heider pointed out that the Middle East faces great challenges that endanger peace, stability and security, not only in the Region but could be also extended to Europe. “Egypt being a major player, maintaining excellent relations with all parties concerned, and through its strong relations with the European Union, the United States and major international powers, exerts all possible and constructive efforts to reduce tensions and contain escalating problems all over the Region.” 

According to the Ambassador, within the solid relations between Egypt and Albania, acknowledging and increasing responsibilities of Tirana as a non permanent member of the Security Council, he saw more room for consolidating cooperation and coordination between Cairo and Tirana to reduce tensions and contain escalating problems all over the Region.

The Ambassador declared that Egypt has always been, and will continue to be, a major supporter of the Palestinian people to achieve their independent state in accordance with relevant international resolutions. “This conflict, which is more than 70 years old, is getting more complicated with the negative developments on the ground. It’s therefore indispensable and necessary to have the political will and create the appropriate atmosphere to reach a permanent solution through negotiations,” said the Egyptian Ambassador to Albania, Mohamed Mostafa Heider in the following interview:   

Albanian Daily News: In the first place, let me thank you, Your Excellency, for this opportunity to share your opinions, and on top of all the readers of Albanian Daily News are interested to know about the bilateral relations between Albania and Egypt, and particularly on some of the achievements during your ambassadorial mandate. If there are any people that Albanians appreciate and have much knowledge about, are Egyptians. Official Tirana speaks of ‘old, traditional, historical and cultural ties’ between the two countries. Which is the attitude regarding this in Egypt and how can these feelings be materialized?

Ambassador of Egypt to Tirana Mohamed Mostafa Heider: Allow me first to express my gratitude and appreciation for giving me this opportunity to address and present to the esteemed readers of the Albanian Daily News the highlights of our historic, friendly relations and ties with Albania. We are proud of these ties that go back as far as the 19th Century, when in 1805, Mohamed Ali Pasha, the Albanian ruler under the Ottoman Empire, became the founder of modern Egypt.

Mohamed Ali Pasha managed to build during his rule a strong and influential country, that became one of the most important pillars in the Middle East and the Region, and therefore Egyptians on all levels have a very special place in the heart for Albania and the Albanians.  

I believe that what is mentioned by official Tirana as “traditional, historical and cultural ties” is a reality binding the two countries and peoples. During this period, Egypt hosted an Albanian community for more than 100 years that became active and was fully engaged in the society in various sectors and also through mixed marriages. It’s worth mentioning that the first Albanian society was founded in Egypt in 1875 and had a positive role towards the Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912. 

-The visits of Albanian highest authorities to Cairo and especially the visit of Prime Minister Edi Rama in October 2021 have shown that there are many untapped potentials for cooperation between the two countries. A public balance sheet of the cooperation reveals that culture has a special place, and three agreements were signed during Rama’s visit. Mr. Ambassador, are these agreements being implemented and it might be an intriguing interest in the reason why the things do not pursue such an effective course in other fields: economy, trade, tourism, agriculture, finances?

-The visit of Prime Minister Edi Rama in Cairo in October 2021 was indeed a great step towards fostering cooperation between the two countries. Such high level visits are always an excellent opportunity to address untapped potentials where means of promoting the relations in all aspects have been discussed specially in economic and trade fields. As a result of the visit both sides are studying the possibility of launching direct flights between the two capitals to boost businesses, trade and tourism. It has been also agreed to convene an economic committee to establish the necessary frameworks for promoting trade, industries, financing and others. 

 Agreements of maritime transport, coastal environment, chambers of commerce and others are being finalized and will be signed proximately.

I do agree that culture, had a special place during the visit, first because of the strong cultural aspect in both societies and the importance  of culture in bringing the peoples of both countries together but it was just a mere coincidence that only cultural agreements were signed during the visit namely; the “Executive Program on Cultural Cooperation”, also the “Agreement of cooperation  in the Field of Museums between the Supreme Council of Antiquities of the Government of Arab Republic of Egypt and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Albania” as well as a “Protocol for Cooperation between the general Egyptian Book Organization and the Tirana Book Fair”.

These agreements will be implemented very soon, as there will be an Egyptian cultural week in Tirana from 19th-25th of September 2022, where different aspects of the rich Egyptian culture will be presented. This will include different activities that present exhibitions, music, cinema etc. Some of the events will take place in the National Historic Museum, which represents the implementation of the agreement of cooperation between the National Historic Museum and the Supreme Council of Antiquities of the Government of Arab Republic of Egypt. I would like to invite all the interested Albanians to attend and enjoy a small aspect of the Egyptian beautiful culture.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t miss to mention with great satisfaction that tourism is growing very well between both countries and the last summer season was an unprecedented success in this regard. We strongly believe that our relations with Albania are optimistic about its future developments in all the fields.

-As a follow up, Sir, it has drawn my attention a statement made by PM Rama who declared in Cairo: “There will be a joint path towards the future between Albanians and Egyptians.” How is this pledge viewed by you as a seasoned diplomat, and how much substance does it carry?

-This statement by Prime-Minister Rama is a conviction that we do believe in strongly. To understand this, I need to tell you that Egypt and Albania share many similarities. Both adopt through their leaderships, wise and mature policies that create an environment for excellent cooperation and coordination in regional and international forums. They share the same views towards most of the international issues. It’s important to highlight the fact that both countries are cornerstones of security, stability and regional integration, and it’s remarkable what both have achieved in the last years through deep and successful economic transformation programs.

Having said that, and with the long experience of Egypt, as a regional and international player and recalling the dynamic engagement of Albania regionally and internationally through positive contribution in different organizations as OSCE, NATO, and being ready to join the EU, and now a member of the UN Security Council, it is substantial to believe that both countries have enough  common ground to go on together defending the same principles as the peace, stability, rule of law and the welfare of their people.

-The pandemic, now in its second year, has hit hard in all directions. Your Excellency how has Egypt, home of more than 100 million people, managed to cope with this deadly plague, which has been its impact on the country and measures to overcome it for returning to normalcy?

-The pandemic was a huge challenge for the whole world and had drastic negative effects on the economy due to the measures adopted by some countries for applying long and continuous lockdowns, which resulted in very negative, social and economic consequences.

Egypt with a big population of more than 100 million had from the very beginning a very clear vision about the policy it should adopt and trying to balance between introducing very strict health measures and avoiding resorting to a complete lockdown, which might be unuseful for such a big population. Through a strong grip and sound management, this policy has proven successful and Egypt maintained one of the highest growth rates in the world during this period.

On the other hand, Egypt found it is necessary to ensure the protection needed in the  future and reached an agreement with China to produce the Chinese “Sinopharm” vaccine locally, with a capacity of production of 1 million doses a day, to be consumed in the local market, directed to African countries in need, and other friendly countries.

- Data unveil that about 5 million Egyptians of Albanian origin live in Egypt. How much can they be a linking bridge between the two countries and be promoters of developing projects in different fields?

-As far as I know, and according to the credible data, I cannot relate to the data that 5 million Egyptians of Albanian origin live in Egypt. But I am certain that Egyptians and Albanians have a great potential for projects in both countries. Egypt is the gateway to Africa, where Albania has in Cairo its sole resident diplomatic representation in Africa. As Albania shares with Egypt being a Mediterranean country, is also a hub to the Western Balkans, which allows the people of both sides to cooperate and create projects not only in the respective countries, but beyond.     

- Egypt is a key country linking the Middle East and the Balkans. Given this Mr. Ambassador, how do you see the situation in the region and which is the constructive and peaceful role that Cairo could play to contribute to peace and stability in this vital region for your country and Europe?

-As we all know, the Middle East faces great challenges that endanger peace, stability and security, not only in the Region but could be also extended to Europe. Egypt being a major player, maintaining excellent relations with all parties concerned, and through its strong relations with the European Union, the United States and major international powers, exerts all possible and constructive efforts to reduce tensions and contain escalating problems all over the Region.  

In this context, and within the solid relations between Egypt and Albania, acknowledging and increasing responsibilities of Tirana as a non permanent member of the Security Council, I see more room for consolidating cooperation and coordination between Cairo and Tirana in this regard.

- Egypt has been among the major supporters of the Palestinian people to achieve the legitimate rights and establish an independent Palestinian state in accordance with all internationally legitimate resolutions. In addition to that official Cairo stresses the need to create the appropriate atmosphere to revive the negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. Please, Mr. Ambassador, what can you say on the perspective for a permanent resolution to that conflict?

-Egypt has always been, and will continue to be, a major supporter of the Palestinian people to achieve their independent state in accordance with relevant international resolutions.

Egypt believes that the Palestinian Cause will always be the main challenge in the Middle East and the key to peace, and stability in the region.

This conflict, which is more than 70 years old, is getting more complicated with the negative developments on the ground. It’s therefore indispensable and necessary to have the political will, and create the appropriate atmosphere, to reach a permanent solution through negotiations.