By Manal Abdel Fattah
On the initiative of the Center for Armenian Studies at Cairo University, Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis, under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, organized a symposium on “Boghos Nubar Pasha,” one of the founders of the Heliopolis district.
Dr. delivered. Mary Kopelian, professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Helwan University, gave a lecture in which she discussed the role of the Egyptian politician and industrialist – the Armenian Boghos Nubar Pasha – the son of Nubar Pasha, the first Prime Minister of Egypt – in establishing the Heliopolis neighborhood and the palace of Baron Empain, and his relationship and friendship with Baron Empain himself.
She also discussed Boghos Nubar Pasha’s various activities and his invention of the plow. During the lecture, Boghos Nubar Pasha’s contribution to strengthening Armenian-Egyptian relations was emphasized. She also talked about the distinctive architectural style of Heliopolis and the cultural life at that time.
At the beginning of the event, the Armenian Ambassador to Cairo, Hrachia Poladian, Dr. Kholoud Yacoub, Director of the Center for Armenian Studies, Dr. Gamal Mustafa, Head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, delivered welcoming words, in which they expressed the depth of Egyptian-Armenian relations and the readiness for cooperation in the field of antiquities in the future between the two countries.
At the end of the symposium, the Palace Director, Dr. Basma Selim gave an introductory tour of the palace and museum to the symposium participants.
Egyptian-Armenian relations are characterized by historical specificity and close and constructive cooperation relations, especially in light of the large Armenian community in Egypt.
The most important feature of the political relations between the two countries is Armenia’s appreciation for Egypt’s neutral position on the Nagornokarabakh conflict, as well as Egypt’s hosting of Armenians fleeing the massacres that were carried out against them, and their integration into Egyptian society.
Egypt was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Armenia after its independence from the Soviet Union. The agreement establishing diplomatic relations was signed in 1992, and the Egyptian embassy was opened in Yerevan in May 1993, and the Armenian embassy was opened in Cairo in March 1992.
The history of the Armenian community in Egypt is deeply rooted in history, as Egypt is one of the countries of the ancient East, which established active relations with the ancient inhabitants of Armenia, during the era of the Pharaonic state.
