On the first day of the Cairo International Book Fair, the Greek Community of Alexandria supported the important actions that highlight the contribution of Egyptian Hellenism, the event dedicated to the work of Alexander Kitroev for the contribution of Greeks to the creation of modern , as its title is titled, about which the author spoke in a moving way.
In the presence of the President of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation Nikos Koukis who coordinated the discussion, the Greek (and Egyptian from Port Said) Ambassador Nikos Garilidis and the NA Vice President of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Andreas Vafegidos but mainly his university knowledge about the miraculous work performed by his ancestors and highlighted the contribution of the Greeks of the Nile Country to the whole world.
He himself, now a professor at the University of the United States of America, and now a professor of History at Haverford College, revealed that through his deep inner love for Egyptian Hellenism, he overlooked other publishing obligations to deal with this important publication.
“This is an extremely instructive book,” said EKA vice-president Andreas Vafiadis, who referred to the work of the Greek community, which will turn 180 next year, adding that the publication was very informative. and valuable knowledge about the enormous contribution of their Egyptian ancestors to the whole world.
Mr. Vafiadis stressed, among other things, that the ambassadorial Greek Community is the oldest in Egypt, the Middle East and all of Africa. He pointed out the need to give breath and purpose to the future of Greek Alexandria, typically saying that it is not only the history of Greece but also part of Egyptian history, all this contribution of Greek Egyptians to the creation of modern Egypt, as are all references to Mr. Kitroev’s book.
It is worth noting, however, that – as the author mentioned – the history of his family in Egypt began in 1890 when his great-grandfather, Theodoros Kitroev, came from Greece to Alexandria and worked in the cotton companies. Later, his grandfather, who is said to have been the first to build a concrete apartment building in Alexandria, was also a Member of the Community Committee of the Greek Community of Alexandria, at the beginning of the 20th century.
During the discussion, Mr. Kitroev made an excellent historical review of the work of the Egyptians in the Nile Country, noting that they sided with the Egyptians in the conflicts they had with the British – as – the Greeks had revolted against the Ottomans – highlighting another important common element of the psychosynthesis of the two peoples.
At the same time, he spoke about the beginning of the “Egyptianization” of the country’s economy from 1920, citing important examples, such as the settlement of the Zerbin brothers from Mytilene who built in Kafr El Zayat a cotton seed factory, the big companies of Chanaklis and so on others, which were increasing year by year, despite the abolition of the confessions – that is, the privileges that the Egyptian Greeks had in the Egyptian state – a fact that clearly proves their deep and sincere inner love that they nurtured for Egypt.
A great example of the above was Kotsikas’s decision to create the amazing and state-of-the-art Hellenic Hospital of Alexandria for his time, not thinking utilitarianly, but only for the good of both peoples, who lived side by side, supporting each other. the other one.
An exceptional political dimension of the fact of the arrival of the Greeks in Egypt was given by the Greek Ambassador Mr. Nikos Garilidis, emphasizing in his turn that the Greeks were not sent to Egypt by a large country, for the purpose of any kind of expansion, but came as workers. , to work and contribute to the land of the Nile.
The Greeks were not only the very rich, they were in all strata of society, having finally become one with the Egyptians, Mr. Kitroev stressed, emphasizing how close the two peoples coexisted.
To arrive at the Greek Ambassador’s finding that history is circling, as some decades ago, tens of thousands of Greeks lived in Egypt, while now there are tens of thousands of Egyptians living in Greece.
Finally, the Vice President of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr. Andreas Vafiadis thanked for his cooperation with EKA, the Foundation of the Hellenic Foundation of Culture and the President Mr. Nikos Koukis, who revealed that the procedures for conducting a European program for the digitization of the wonderful historical archives of EKA, with the support of the EIP.
The whole event was attended by several Egyptians and journalists with the help of the Attorney of the Greek Embassy Mr. Ioannis Melachronoudis, who undertook the important work of interpretation between the two languages.
The Hellenic Community of Cairo was represented at the event by the Office Supervisor of EKK, Mrs. Willy Politou – Zoue, while, among others, the Adviser General of Public Diplomacy in charge of Press Affairs, Mr. Elias Galanis, was represented by the Director of EIP, Mr. Director of the Hellenic Cultural Center Cairo Mr. Christos Papadopoulos and the former Director of the EIP Alexandria Mr. Vassilios Filippatos.
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