Cairo, 8 December 2021 (TDI): On 7 December, the Ambassador of Russia to Egypt, Borisenko, participated in a panel discussion. The conference was on the subject of sustainable development and was held at the Russian-Egyptian Nuclear Energy Forum. In his speech, the Russian Ambassador directly addressed Egypt’s Prime Minister—Mostafa Madbouly.
Remarks of the Speech
Borisenko began his formal address by expressing his gratitude to the organizers of the event, remarking particularly on the importance of such initiatives. He also stated that this was not the first time a seminar of this sort had been hosted in Cairo. The strong involvement of Egypt in continuing the dialogue on sustainable development highlights the high importance of the subject. It also reflects the positive dynamics of the Russian-Egyptian friendship and their growing bilateral ties.
The Russian Ambassador noted that the forum was focused particularly on the topic of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He pointed out that one of the major contributors to their success was the close cooperation of multiple nations in implementing them. Russia and Egypt happen to be one such example.
Diplomatic History between Russia and Egypt
The Ambassador then dove into the history of Russia’s diplomatic relationship with Egypt. He stated that cooperation between both nations was initiated over 60 years ago. In 1956, USSR’s decisive support assisted Egypt in coming out victorious in the Suetsk Crisis. As a consequence of this, the Egyptian people reclaimed access to the Swiss Channel, which is their most significant economic asset.
Furthermore, in the 1960s, with the help of Soviet specialists, 97 large infrastructural facilities were constructed in Egypt. The Aswan High Dam is a popular example and is highly regarded as an impressive case of engineering. The dam singlehandedly put an end to the detrimental Nile spills.
One of the agendas of the UN’s current target list is the “creation of strong infrastructure, promoting comprehensive and sustainable industrialization and the implementation of innovations.” Ambassador Borisenko emphasized that Russia’s strong cooperation with Egypt has enabled the latter country to become one of the most developed nations in the Middle East and throughout Africa. Egypt’s transition to industrial railways through Russia’s assistance is an exemplification of this.
Current Collaborative Projects
The Ambassador also discussed collaborative projects between Russia and Egypt and offered his own suggestions. He commented on the “El-Dabaa” nuclear power plant (NPP) in Egypt being built by the Russian nuclear power company Rosatom. The establishment of this NPP will make Egypt more secure, and also contribute to the decarbonization of the world economy. It may also help in the fight against climate change. This is according to many experts’ claims that an increase in nuclear energy percentage could stabilize the planet’s temperature increase.
Moreover, Borisenko talked about Russia’s experience with nuclear power and reiterated that the country was happy to share its advanced nuclear technologies with Egypt.
Lastly, the Ambassador concluded by saying that Russia was ready to offer assistance to Egypt and work in close cooperation to improve bilateral relations. He expressed that this cooperation would help both nations’ sustainable development.
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