By Abdel Sadek El-Shorbagi
With their diverse publications, national press institutions have been and will continue to be at the heart of Egypt’s soft power.
They are an important and rich platform for thought; creativity; enlightenment, and education.
The same institutions are important for spreading awareness and confronting falsehoods, rumours, and sedition.
Our national press has always been a strong supporter and defender of the Egyptian state and its priorities in all situations and challenges. It will remain so: an honest voice to the members of the public, one that reflects their hopes and dreams and monitors their reality and aspirations.
Today, The Egyptian Gazette begins its 145th year as the oldest English-language newspaper in the Arab Middle East.
This newspaper dates back to January 26, 1880. It is one of the publications of Al-Tahrir Printing and Publishing House.
As The Gazette celebrates the anniversary of its founding, we all celebrate with it to mark an extended history. This history proves that our national press institutions are rich with treasures of thought, culture, knowledge and work. These institutions are rich with their experienced and proficient writers and promising young cadres.
This newspaper has played an important role in conveying the facts, presenting and explaining the Egyptian point of view, the events that our country goes through, and its issues and priorities in a language that the world understands.
It has been and continues to occupy an important position as a source of information and news about our country for diplomatic missions and foreigners living in Egypt or visiting it.
This extended history makes this newspaper enjoy a unique position among similar publications. However, the same history bestows more responsibilities on this newspaper.
Today, our region and the world at large go through very intricate and difficult events, very complex economic and political crises and transformations, and unprecedented cross-border challenges.
Egypt goes through these events and handles these challenges as it has a conscious political leadership and a wise management. This leadership is aware of the magnitude of the risks and the dimensions of what is being concocted against our country: its interests, its security and stability.
Today, The Gazette and other publications printed in foreign languages bear a special responsibility, one based on their great national role.
These publications are responsible for honestly reporting the challenges facing Egypt and the region on the road to preserving the security and the stability of this country and this region. They are also responsible for reporting the extraordinary efforts made on all fronts, including on the economic front, the political front, and the militarily, security, and intelligence ones.
Egyptian publications printed in foreign languages are called upon to clarify to the world the unprecedented achievements made on the ground in Egypt.
They are called upon to throw light on Egypt’s fruitful national dialogue that has brought activity to national political waters.
They are called upon to report the huge economic activities launched to attract foreign investments, encourage local investors and maximise the partnership with the private sector in various fields and sectors.
Hopes are pinned on the same publications to talk about the giant projects being implemented throughout our country, especially in the health sector and the social protection programmes, whose financing has been doubled to counter the negative consequences of successive global crises that have hit many countries.
They are called upon to throw light on the enormous efforts Egypt makes to prevent illegal migration and its repercussions, and Egypt’s active and positive roles in the current tense regional environment so that things do not get out of control.
Under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Egypt has made unprecedented achievements and faced huge cross-border challenges.
Thanks to God and to the continuous and uninterrupted work of the Egyptian leadership, this country has successfully overcome many challenges and is able, with the help of God, to beat out its current difficulties through the vision of its leader who knows nothing but hard work as a way to solve his country’s problems.
To the editorial board of The Egyptian Gazette and its team, I say: Happy anniversary! I wish you perpetual progress and prosperity. You have competence and experience and know well how to address the world in its own language. I trust in your abilities and expect more from you.
Abdel Sadek El-Shorbagi is the Head of the
National Press Authority
