All along 2005, Egypt had attracted the glances of the whole world to follow a number of successive tangible events and remarkable achievements that rendered 2005 a year of historic turning-points in the history of Egypt.

 

In February of 2006, President Mubarak declared his unprecedented initiative to amend Article 76 of the constitution as a take off towards the age of the elected President.

 

In July, Egypt accomplished the third phase of economic reform represented in tax, customs and banking reform to enable the Egyptian economy to keep abreast of the latest international economic developments, to increase rates of investment and to maximize revenues of exportation.

 

In September,  the Egyptian people voiced their free will in choosing their president out of ten candidates through direct free election for the first time in the Egyptian history.

 

In September, each and every Egyptian felt a glow of pride when the Egyptian Scientist Dr. Muhammad el-Baradei won the Nobel Prize for Peace to be the fourth winner of this prize over 27 years after the late President Muhammad Anwar as-Sadat, the great writer Naguib Mahfouz and the genius scientist Dr Ahmad Zewail.

 

In November, the legislative elections were held on new competitive bases and under the complete supervision of the unbiased fair Egyptian judicature.

 

On the other hand, Egypt uphoisted the banner of artistic distinction during 2005; in December, Cairo 39th International Cinema Festival, the oldest of its kind in the whole region, was held in the atmosphere of grandeur and fascination, worthy to be classified among first-class festivals.

 

In a bid to quash all rumors that sometimes circulate, attempting in vain, to shatter the unity of Egypt that remained safe and sound over ages, this issue comprises a file entitled Egypt and the culture of religious tolerance.

 

 This file, with all its articles, mainly aims at asserting that Egypt will be always the nation of one texture and the vivid embodiment of religious tolerance, remarkable cordiality and endless giving. In addition, this file is an attempt to challenge, with complete objectivity and on scientific bases,  all the claims of those who dare to mar  the bright image of Egypt.

 

On the other hand, this issue includes numerous articles that tackle the western world's Egyptomania through presenting studies of astronomy during the Pharaonic era, the sun boats (Pharaohs' spaceship), Tut Ankh Amun's exhibition in the United States, a literary study of the literature of the eloquent peasant as regarded by the great historian Bresteed, in addition to a journey of al-Harraneya village, the cradle of the spontaneous art of Pharaohs' sons and grandsons.

 

Egypt and her lovers constitute a major part of this issue that narrates the love story of Christian Loblan whose 32 years of residence in Egypt nurture his endless love of Egyptian monuments.

 

Finally comes an interview, exclusively in “Egypt” with the Italian ambassador in Egypt who unveiled the secrets of the eternal love story between the Egyptian and Roman cultures to be the crowning touch of this comprehensive issue of “Egypt” magazine.