Egypt

Egypt leads the world by example honoring victims of France, Russia and Lebanon at the Great Pyramids

Posted by

0

From Fort Russ

“Egypt stands with Russia”

 

 

November 16, 2015
TASS

Translated by Kristina Rus

The Great pyramid was painted in the colors of the flags of Russia, France and Lebanon

According to the Minister of Tourism of Egypt, Hisham Zaazou, this is an action of solidarity with all peoples of the world who suffer from terrorism
CAIRO, November 16./Corr. TASS Dina Pyanykh, Dmitry Tarasov/.

Ancient Egyptian pyramids were illuminated Sunday night in the colors of the flags of Russia, France and Lebanon in solidarity with these countries that lost their citizens under tragic circumstances.

Egyptian authorities decided to hold a memorial at the Giza plateau in Cairo at the foot of the Great pyramids in memory of the victims of the A321 crash on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt on October 31, terrorist attacks in Beirut on November 12, and Paris on November 13. Although the investigation of the crash is not yet completed and official results are not announced, one of the prevailing theories is that the plane broke up in the air to pieces from an explosion, not connected with technical condition of the plane. Some experts believe that the cause of the death of 224 people on board was a terrorist attack. Terrorist attacks claimed the lives of 129 people in Paris and 44 – the day before in Beirut.

As stated by the Minister of Tourism of Egypt, Hisham Zaazu, “this is an action of solidarity with all peoples of the world who suffer from terrorism, including France and Lebanon, as well as Russia, in memory of the victims of the tragic disaster”.

According to the Minister of Affairs of Antiquities of Egypt, Mamdouh al-Damati, with their action at the pyramids the Egyptians want to convey to the world “the message that they are against terrorism, stand with the peoples of France and Lebanon who had been subjected to inhuman attacks, as well as with Russia and families of the victims of the tragic plane incident”.

“We have repeatedly reiterated that we stand united with the entire world in the fight against terror which does not differentiate between religions and nationalities and which itself does not have a religion or homeland,” – he added in an interview with TASS.

The pyramid of Cheops – the largest at Giza, became the screen for the message of solidarity in Russian, French and Arabic on the background of flags of the three states. The crowds lighted candles and honored the memory of the untimely deceased with a minute of silence.

http://www.fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/11/egypt-leads-world-by-example-honoring.html

Russian passenger jet crashes in Sinai, killing all 224 on board; search and salvage mission underway

Posted by

0

Nothing is known yet about why the plane went down. All passengers and crew were killed. It was flying from  Egypt to Russia.

Several planeloads of Russian specialists have flown to Egypt to take part in the search and salvage. The black boxes have been recovered. Officials plan to begin flying the remains of passengers that have been found back to Russia today.

Today, Sunday, is a national day of mourning in Russia for this tragedy.

Check RT.com for updates on the situation

Vladimir Putin’s interview with Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram

Posted by

0

Posted on The Kremlin, February 9, 2015

Excerpt:
In the run-up to his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Vladimir Putin gave an interview to the Al-Ahram daily newspaper…

QUESTION: How would you assess the situation in Ukraine and around it? What do you think will be the most appropriate way out of the Ukrainian crisis?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: I would like to remind Egyptian readers that the Ukrainian crisis was not caused by the Russian Federation. It has emerged in response to the attempts of the USA and its western allies who considered themselves ‘winners’ of the cold war to impose their will everywhere. Promises of non-expansion of the NATO to the East (given yet to the Soviet authorities) have turned out to be hollow statements. We have seen how NATO’s infrastructure was moving closer and closer towards Russian borders and how Russian interests were being ignored.

Moreover, in the framework of the EU Eastern Partnership Program there have been attempts to tear states which had been parts of the former USSR off Russia and to prompt them to make an artificial choice “between Russia and Europe.” The Ukrainian crisis has become a high point of these negative trends. We repeatedly warned the USA and its western allies about harmful consequences of their interference in Ukrainian domestic affairs but they did not listen to our opinion.

Last February the USA and a number of EU member states supported the coup d’état in Kiev. The ultranationalists who seized the power using military force put the country on the edge of disruption and started the fratricidal war.

Unfortunately, today we can see how the ‘war party’ in Kiev actively supported from the outside continues its attempts to push the Ukrainian people over the edge of a catastrophe. The situation in Donbas has aggravated dramatically. Ukrainian security forces resumed the bombing of Donetsk, Lugansk and other residential areas in the region. They are building up their military presence there. The “new wave” of mass mobilization has been announced in the country; there are calls for “taking revenge” after summer “military failures” and for a forceful “Ukrainization of Donbas.”

Ukraine is militarizing rapidly. We can judge by the statistics: in 2014, the Ukrainian military budget increased by almost 41 percent. This year, according to preliminary data, it will more than triple and reach more than $3 billion – which is about 5 percent of the country’s GDP. And this is happening when its economy supported mostly with international, including Russian, funds is in rather deplorable situation.

We certainly feel worried. We hope that common sense will prevail. Russia strongly calls for a comprehensive and exclusively peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis based on the Minsk agreements which were largely achieved owing to the initiative and efforts of the Russian side.

The most important condition for the stabilization of the situation is immediate cease-fire and ending of a so called ‘anti-terrorist’, but in fact punitive, operation in the south-east of Ukraine. Kiev’s attempts to exert economic pressure on Donbas and disrupt its daily life only aggravate the situation. This is a dead-end track, fraught with a big catastrophe.

It is evident that the crisis will continue until the Ukrainians themselves agree with each other. Until the unbridled radicalism and nationalism are finished with, and the society is consolidated around positive values and genuine interests of Ukraine. To achieve this, Kiev authorities need to listen to their people, find a common language and reach an agreement with all political forces and regions of the country. They need to elaborate such constitutional state system formula that would provide for a safe and comfortable living for all citizens with human rights being fully observed.

In the meantime, it is necessary to do one’s utmost to make all the parties to the conflict gather around the negotiating table. In this context, the Russian side stands for forging sustainable and direct contacts between Kiev and Donetsk and Lugansk, for continued work within the Contact Group. On our part, we intend to actively contribute to that process.

For the full interview with questions on many topics:

http://eng.kremlin.ru/transcripts/23575