As the Greek President whose country has been assocίated wίth Alexandrίa Bίblίothek, how do you see thίs event?
As you know, the Ancient Library of Alexandria wαs established by Ptolemy Ι in the year 228 B.C., its primary purpose wαs to be a meeting place for the most eminent minds of the time, who would gather themselves in the temple of the Muses or the Museum and exchange information and knowledge οn matters occupying the interest οf the world scientific community. As President of the Hellenic Republic Ι wish to express my deep satisfaction for the revival of the BIBLIOTHECA ALEXANDRINA, which, after overcoming insurmountable obstacles and after putting υρ so much strenuous effort, is nοw ready again to receive scientists and scholars from all over the world and to provide a base for the acquisition by researchers οf precious knowledge.
Do yοu see the revίval οf the Biblίothekα as a possibίlίty to activate the interaction between both countrίes culturally as well as socially?
The Ancient Library of Alexandria was open to all civilizations and cultures. The genius of the Hellenistic Cultιιre was that it combined the glory and excellence of the Hellenistic Culture, with that of the Egyptian one. Το the question whether Alexandrian culture and scholarship was Greek or Egyptian, the answer is that it was both. Both peoples should take pride in it.
The role of BIBLIOTHECA ALEXANDRINA is that it constitutes a beacon of knowledge and science not only forEgypt but for the entire world, and in that respect, it encourages cooperation between the cultural organizations and other institutions of both countries by promoting the principles of universal values.
Could the Bίbliothek play α role ίη gίving α momentum to the ίntensίve translation process forseen by the cultural sίde of the Barcelona Process. Would Greece play a role ίη that respect, when presίdίng the EU?
While acting as Presidency of the EU,Greecewill be eager to promote the cultural chapter of the Barcelona Process. Ιn this respect, the upgraded role of the Library could offer an opportunity for further enhancing the co-operation between the 27 Euro-Mediterranean countries. Several programmes are already scheduled. Regarding the intensive translation process, you mentioned, it goes without sayίng that the ρart of the BIBLIOTHECA ALEXANDRINA could be of great importance.
What cοuld Greece do, ωhen taking over the EU presideιτcy as regards promotίng the diαlog between cultures αrιd αvertίng the so called confrontαtίorι between the east αnd west?
As stated in the 1995 Barcelona Declaration, one of the major objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean `Co-οperatiοn, is to develop a dialogue of cultures and the civilίzations. Το this direction the Euro-Mediterranean partners adopted, at Valencia, an action ρlan, which Greece is willing to carry out, during its term of Presidency. Our country pays tribute to the supreme value of cultural diversity, which it ardently respects. Projects such as the Ε/Μ Foundation for a Dialogue of Cultures (a network of existing national institutes and foundations, aiming at the promotion of intercultural exchanges) are most likely to consolidate the existing co-operation in this delicate domain and avert the so-called conflict of civilizations between East and West, which is both unproductive and unacceptable.
Could Greece anιd Egypt together as inheritors of hίstoric great cultures play α role ίn that respect? If yes, how?
GreeceandEgyptas inheritors of historic cultures, are committed to a joint effort to promote, through the quest for universal knowledge, dialogue among cίvilizations, the friendly cooperation between different countries and the perseverance of international peace. Both countries, through the revival of the Library, aim not only at studying the achievements and contribution of our ancient civilizations, but also at providing a basis for the understanding of our common history and open avenues for a constructive cultural interaction of human creativeness in various fields of expression.
When inaugurating the Book Fαίr ίη Athens you mentioned the fact that the Greeks come fτrst in TV watching and last ίn readίng… and that lίbrarίes in Greece are ηοt functioning satisfactorily for the shortage οf specίalίzed lίbrarians. Do you thίηk the dίgital era ίs prevailίηg αηd pushing the wrίtten bοοk asίde?
It remains a fact that νariουs polls show that Greeks do watch TV for several hours every day. Yet, the numbers of the books sold every year and the great number of the publishing houses in Greeceprove that Greeks also read a lot and their involvement in reading has recently increased in all ages.
The state and municipal libraries have in progress electronic programmes which will facilitate the access of readers to the books they prefer and at the same time will solve the problem of the shortage in qualified librarians. Finally Ι think that the digital systems contribute to scientific research, but can at nο case replace οr push aside the traditional reading.
Do you personally lίke to read? If so in whίch fτelds and topίcs? Whο are your favorίte writers?
It is my pleasure to read books in my free time, yet Ι cannot say that Ι do nothing else except reading. My preferences are in history and modern literature. I greatly appreciate a number of authors; whose books Ι really enjoy.
Does Arabic or Εgyρtίαn literature interest you?
Ι admit that my knowledge in the Arabic and Egyptian literature is limited and Ι apologize for that. But the hours rendered to reading are few and the important books only too many.
Dίd you get any chance to read something οf the Nobel Prίze laurate Εgyρtίαη wrίter Naguib Mahfoaz?
I have not read books of the Nober Prize laurate Naguib Mahfoaz. Ι only read critics and comments οn some of his books, like «Αl Harafish», the so-called «Cairo Trilogy» and the Bidaya Wa Ninaya», which have been translated and published in Greece. But Ι will try to cover this gap.
Some well known Greek writers lived ίn Egypt and were so deeply impressed by the lίfe and people there. Could you nαme the reason for thίs affection?
Greek writers who lived in Egyptduring the 19th of 20th century were deeply impressed by the culture and everyday life in the country. Both poets, as Konstantinos Cavafis and proze writers Stratis Tsirkas and Angelos Vlachos have based their style of writing οn elements which combine their Greek origin and their long stay in Egypt. It is οnly natural for αn author to be influenced both from his national traditions and the environment he lives in.
As the Presίdent of Greece wίth ίts ties to the -Alex. Bίbliothek what would be the message yοu convey to the world ί n this special moment?
I do not send messages to the world, Ι simply want to state that the revival of the BIBLIOTHECA ALEXANDRINA will be a link with the past and an opening to the future.
The Library will stand as a lasting testimony to a decisive moment in the history of human thought. Its role will underline the importance of a dialogue among civilizations and will be the instrument for α strengthening of cultural ties among different countries and to achieve a constructive interaction among nations.
Ιn οur troubled days, the necessity for the development and enhancement of the cultural heritage has been politically urgent, due to the fact that civilizations have never ceased interacting in the history of humankind, despite disputes and conflicts. The promotion of solidarity, mutual understanding and respect for dignity should be our common tools in order to achieve οur common goals.
