The country’s 60^th anniversary was celebrated in Yaounde on Saturday July 28.

The Egyptian government has announced plans to set up a ward for the treatment of liver diseases at the Yaounde Central Hospital. Speaking in Yaounde on Saturday July 28 on the 60^th anniversary of the 1952 Revolution, Ambassador Ibrahim Hafez said material for the project will soon be made available.

He recalled that his country offers 50 scholarships and industrial attachment opportunities each year to Cameroonians in the areas of health, police training, higher education, diplomacy, communication and defence. Cooperation, the Ambassador added, was growing with the presence in the country of Egyptian health, education and Arab language experts as well as the donation of meningitis and cholera drugs. In the area of education, Ibrahim Hafez said the Al Azhar mission has been playing an important role in teaching moderate Islam in the country by sending close to 40 teachers.

The Egyptian diplomat said the July 23, 1952 and January 25, 2011 revolutions were linked by the people’s desire for democracy, fight against corruption, equitable distribution of wealth and justice. Commenting on challenges facing President Mursi, Hafez said the way forward was to respond to the aspirations of the people by resolving their problems of employment, development, high prices, health, infrastructure, etc. He announced that a new government of national unity will be formed this week and will be made up of technocrats.

Africa, Ambassador Ibrahim Hafez pointed out, remains the pillar of his country’s foreign policy; reason why President Mursi attended the 19^th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this month – the first time for an Egyptian leader in 17 years. Cooperation between Egypt and the rest of Africa has been growing over the years through the Egyptian Technical Cooperation Fund that has sent over 400 experts to the continent and offered 2,500 scholarships.

The event was attended by the Minister Delegate in the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Relations with Islamic World, Adoum Gargoum, the Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Amadou Ali and several other cabinet ministers.