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Tuesday, May 30, 2000
Your Excellency Mr. Alvarez del Manzano, The Mayor of Madrid, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is my great pleasure to be here today at the mayorship of the time-honoured city of Madrid, the capital of the friendly Kingdom of Spain. I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the Mayor of Madrid for inviting me to visit the mayorship and receive the golden key of the city. This is a gesture I really appreciate as it reflects the deep-rooted relations bounding between our time-honoured nations and countries. Over long centuries, Egypt and Spain have been bound by relations of friendship and cordiality. These items from the unique geographical location and the respective historical role played by both countries as a linkage and a bridge of interaction between the Arab and Islamic culture on one hand and the European civilization on the other. This human and cultural convergence still maintain distinct prints on our contemporary realities. We would like also to refer, with our gratitude and appreciation, to your country's contribution to salvage the monuments of Abu Simbel at southern Egypt and your full care to the pharaonic temple that stands in the heart of the city of Madrid as a clear evidence of our recognition of such contribution. We also appreciate your hosting of the Egyptian Institute of Islamic Studies established fifty years ago with visible support and warm welcome on the part of the Spanish government and the city of Madrid. Hence, it has attracted remarkable interest by scientific institutions and cultural circles in Spain, being in mind the important role played by your country as one of the most significant European gateways for interaction with the civilizations of friendly countries all over the world. It is a source of added pleasure for me upon receiving the golden key of the city today to see such wonderful enhancements so far made to the city of Madrid. This is a city where ancient heritage and time-honoured past blend with aspects of progress and advancement at the outset of the new Millenniun, striving to remain a centre of cultural and scientific radiation. Undoubtedly, the credit for such enhancements goes to the sincere efforts by the Municipality of Madrid and the promising policies pursued by the Mayor del Manzano who really deserves our full appreciation and admiration. In view of the distinct similarity between both cities of Madrid and Cairo that combine feature of both ancient and modern civilizations and the need to bring closer our peoples and all other nations through tourist, cultural and economic activities, it must be appropriate to create a durable mechanism of coordination and cooperation between both cities.This should allow for exchanging acquired expertise in the fields of modernization, organization and boosting cultural, social, tourist and commercial relations between both capitals. In conclusion, I would like to thank you all for your warm welcome, wishing the Municipality of Madrid continuing success and the best of luck for the Mayor in the service of this fascinating city. Entry by President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak into the Golden log at Madrid Mayorship May 30, 2000 It has been my great pleasure to see during this visit signs of tremendous progress made in the time-honoured city of Madrid that blends together the ancient Spanish civilization with its originality with the modern Spanish civilization with its advancements and elevation. It gives me more pleasure to receive the golden key of the city from Mayor Mr. del Manzano whom we consider a good example of those in charge of running a city of a significant record and role. Greetings to officials responsible for Madrid Municipility for their sincere efforts. My best wishes of continuous success for the Mayor of Madrid in maintaining achievements already made and adding new ones so as to promote this great city and boost its abilities to undertake an outstanding role among the significant capitals of the world. Muhammad Hosni Mubarak President of the Arab Republic of Egypt |
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