A visit to the Sunshine State

27 March 2007

One of the unique advantages of representing your country in the United States is the wealth of opportunities to visit different states that encompass different environments in the political, economic and social scene. I started off this year with a trip to Florida to speak at The Forum of Big Arts in Sanibel Island and then in an event at World Affairs/University of North Florida in Jacksonville. In both events, I found American audiences keenly interested in the Middle East region generally and Egypt in particular.

It was self evident that Americans are concerned about developments in the Middle East and that they craved for more information about the region. Many seemed to be reflecting on whether their policies in the region were correct. It was also glaringly clear that they looked towards Egypt as a friend whom they expected to resolve the problems of the region or at the very least ensure that these problems did not become American concerns or impinge on American interests. My message to them was equally clear: Americans have to understand that they are the global power in the world today. With that power come responsibility and a high threshold against which you are judged. I also emphasized that Americans cannot, and should not, see the world solely from their optics and through their unique prism, nor do they have the luxury of disengagement from world affairs.

The importance of the American Egyptian relations was of course one of the points I also highlighted. It is a relationship that Egypt will continue to nurture and throughout the years we will give America objective, honest and candid advice and stand strong in support of common goals. My trip was really a good beginning for the New Year because it confirmed the increased American interest in the Middle East and further clarified the many questions on the minds of my hosts and of course it gave me the opportunity to share Egypt’s positions on a large number of issues. Equally important and one of the highlights of the trip to Florida was a lecture my wife gave about Queen Nefertity at the Cummer Museum of Fine Arts at Jacksonville. Her audience was enchanted by the facts, fiction and mythology of the Ancient Egyptian Queen of the 18th Dynasty.

A few weeks later, we moved quickly from Queens to Kings, where I had the honor – with a high-level Egyptian delegation- to celebrate the opening of the King Tut museum at the Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia. As American dignitaries streamed into the marvelous exhibit, I took advantage of Governor Rendell’s presence to invite him to head a trade delegation to Egypt. And last but not least before heading back to Washington, I paid a personal visit to the Independence Hall in Philadelphia and saw the Liberty Bell. Later in the evening, after a short train ride, we were all back in Washington to receive Foreign Minister Abul-Gheit and Director Soliman to discuss the politics of the day with American official and to prepare for more Egyptian trade delegations bound to visit the United States in 2007.