In pics: Egypt’s Parliament Speaker inaugurates documentary exhibition in Belgrade

CAIRO – 21 July 2018: As part of the Serbian- Egyptian celebrations marking 110 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Egypt’s Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal inaugurated a documentary exhibition in the Egyptian embassy headquarters in Belgrade.

According to the official statement issued by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, the inauguration was presented by high-level Egyptian delegation along with several Serbian officials. The two governments of Egypt and Serbia organized the exhibition as part of the ongoing events which are anticipated to take place throughout the current month.

Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal departed to the Serbian capital, Belgrade, on Wednesday July 18, upon an invitation from his Serbian counterpart Maja Gojković.

The invitation marked the 110th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to the official statement issued by the Parliament. Abdel-Aal was accompanied by a high-level parliamentary delegation, including Tareq Radwan and Karim Darwish.

In April, Egypt’s ambassador in Belgrade, along with several Arab ambassadors, contributed to launching the first Serbian-Arab Friendship Day during a cultural ceremony in the National Library of Serbia.

It was stated that two opening speeches were delivered in the cultural ceremony; the first was by the Palestinian ambassador on behalf of the secretary general of the Arab League, and the second was delivered by the assistant minister for bilateral affairs on behalf of the Serbian foreign minister.


Egypt’s Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal during the inauguration of a documentary exhibition in the Egyptian embassy headquarters in Belgrade – Press Photo

Ambassador of Egypt in Serbia Amr al-Jowaily said that the Arab ambassadors were keen on organizing a celebration which included poetry, music and food, in a pioneer collective activity that reflects the demeanors of the Arab culture.


Egypt’s Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal during the inauguration of a documentary exhibition in the Egyptian embassy headquarters in Belgrade – Press Photo


Egypt’s Parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Aal during the inauguration of a documentary exhibition in the Egyptian embassy headquarters in Belgrade – Press Photo

Jowaily noted that the high participation of diplomats and politicians, especially the Serbian national figures in the cultural ceremony, reflects the international interest in Arab culture.

The ambassador of Egypt in Belgrade praised the speech of the secretary general of the Arab League, which highlighted that the first celebration of the Arab Friendship Day in 2018 coincides with the 110th anniversary of the start of relations between an Arab country and Belgrade, when the Kingdom of Serbia established a diplomatic mission in Egypt In January 1908.

The speech also highlighted the Arab countries' appreciation of Serbia's supportive stances toward the Arab issues, most importantly the Palestinian cause.

Jowaily revealed that the Council of Arab Ambassadors agreed to donate 1,000 books to create an Arab pavilion in the Serbian National Library. “We plan to publish a joint book entitled: 'Serbia by Arab Eyes', in a wider series of activities aimed at strengthening relations between Serbia and the Arab world in the coming years."