WATANI International
17 October 2010
Back after 30 years
Egypt and Iran have agreed to resume direct flights between their capitals for the first time since 1979, the Ministry of Civil aviation has said. The two countries severed ties in 1980 following Iran’s Islamic revolution and Egypt’s recognition of Israel. The agreement provides for up to 28 flights between Cairo and Tehran per week, a ministry statement said, but no start date for the flights was given. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hussam Zaki said the deal strengthened existing economic ties between the two countries, but added that political ties were a different matter. “Both countries have economic interests that have not stopped regardless of the political situation”, Zaki said, “but political relations require certain conditions Egypt has voiced in the past.” The two countries are at odds on a number of issues including the Middle East peace process and ties with Israel and the United States. Egypt is upset with Iran for continuing to praise Khaled Islamboli, who assassinated President Anwar Sadat in 1981 following the peace treaty with Israel. The recent deal was struck as Iran faces pressure from international economic sanctions.
Telecom merger
Russia’s VimpelCom Ltd and Weather Investments, the investment company headed by Egyptian telecom tycoon Naguib Sawiris, are merging to form what would be the world’s fifth largest mobile telecommunication service provider in a deal valued at over USD6.5 billion. Under the agreement, VimpelCom, Russia’s second largest mobile phone service provider, would own via Weather 51.7 per cent of Egypt’s Orascom Telecom (OT) and all of Italy’s Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA, both of which are headed by Sawiris. Excluded from the transaction are OT’s Egypt and North Korea operations. OT, along with France Telecom, jointly operates Mobinil, Egypt’s largest mobile phone service provider by subscribers, and has operations in Algeria, North Korea and several African and Asian nations. The new company would have operations in 20 countries with about 174 million subscribers.
The deal marks the second attempt by Sawiris to sell some or most of OT’s non-Egyptian assets. An earlier deal with South Africa’s MTN Group fell apart largely because of a dispute between OT and Algeria over some USD600 million in back taxes owed by Djezzy, OT’s Algerian unit.
In Frankfurt Book Fair
Last week witnessed the closing of the week-long Frankfurt International Book Fair. A large Egyptian delegation attended. Present was the Egyptian General Book Organisation, participating with its Family Library series which has, since the 1990s, offered the Egyptian public a wide range of titles in all branches of the knowledge at eminently affordable prices. The Family Library is sponsored by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak.
Sunshine at Abu-Simbel
The town of Aswan is abuzz with preparations for the celebration of the phenomenon which occurs only twice a year at the rock-hewn ancient Abu-Simbel temple south of Aswan. Every year, on 22 February and 22 October, the sun rays penetrate the length of the temple, some 68 metres, to illuminate the faces of the four dieties in the innermost sanctuary. The occasion will be celebrated with folk dancing and music, and is a significant tourist attraction. The temple was built by the pharaoh Ramses II whose long rule over Egypt lasted from 1279 to 1213BC, and who is considered by far one of its most significant ancient rulers.