Egyptian Intellectuals Discuss the Future of Sinai in a Seminar at the BA
Posted on
Alexandria—
The BA Specialized Advisory Committee for History, Geography, and Antiquities held a Seminar entitled “Sinai at the Heart of Egypt”, 24 and 25 May 2008. Speakers were Mohamed Bassiouny, Former Egyptian Ambassador to Israel; Dr. Ishaq Obeid, Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University; Dr. Hassan Nafaa, Professor and Chairman of the Political Science Department, Cairo University; Dr. Fathi Abu Ayanah, Professor of Human Geography, Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University; and Dr. Abdelhalim Nureldine, Professor of Ancient Egyptian Language, Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University.
The Seminar highlighted the value of this part of Egyptian land to young people, and its treasures and resources, and emphasized means of developing this region. The Seminar’s most important theme was the idea that the development of Egypt could begin from Sinai, with special focus on historical and political dimensions including Israeli occupation of Sinai as well as Egypt's relations with its Eastern neighbors.
The Seminar issued several recommendation, including:
• Pursuing the development strategy of the year 1994 in Sinai, according to President Mubarak’s vision to merge Sinai in the economic and social development plan of Egypt, and to give priority to Sinai in all developmental projects.
• Studying the experience of Egyptian investor Dr. Hassan Rateb in Sinai and establishing a research group to study natural phenomena in this region.
• Integrating Sinai with North, East, and Middle Delta.
• Attracting 3 million Egyptians by the year 2017, since Sinai’s population only amounts to half a million people according to 2006 statistics.
• Calling upon media and government to spread awareness among Egyptians on the importance of Sinai.
• Calling upon the BA to publish all research papers on Sinai to be submitted to People's Assembly and Shura Council, and to be available to decision makers.