Monument to the second president of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser
The Russian National Library has officially unveiled the monument to the second president of Egypt, foreign hero of the Soviet Union Gamal Abdel Nasser on his 100th anniversary this year. The event was visited by the diplomatic organisations, cultural and educational institutions, and those who personally knew the political leader.
The ceremony was visited by the SPbU Vice-Rector for Methodological Support Marina Lavrikova. “For us, the Arab studies is among the priority areas. Arabic language is increasingly popular as our countries are actively engaged in collaboration, — said Marina Lavrikova. — The University also develops the Islamic studies: all the Muslim texts that are of research interest for us are written in Arabic”. SPbU is also planning to open an Arab test centre, she said.
Marina Lavrikova particularly focused on how to make Oriental and African Studies as a separate field of study (now it is part of the Political Sciences and Regional Studies: the chairperson of the federal academic and methodological committee is Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at SPbU, Director of the Hermitage and scholar in Arab studies Mikhail Piotrovky.
It is a challenge to lead the country in developing methodological support and educational programmes in Oriental studies. We are fully aware of our mission and the scholars in Oriental studies who are actively engaged in the project are inspired by the prospects.
SPbU Vice-Rector for Methodological Support Marina Lavrikova
Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918–1970) is the second president of Egypt (1956–1970) who initiated the Revolution of 1952. Nasser introduced the agricultural reform, nationalization schemes such as that of the Suez Canal, massive social reforms across the country and gained support from the USSR during the Suez Crisis. In 1964, Nasser was awarded the title of the Foreign Hero of the Soviet Union.
The monument to Gamal Abdel Nasser is a historic moment, said the Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies Professor Mikhail Piotrovsky. When he was in Egypt on his research internship, Gamal Abdel Nasser run the country. He was lucky to see the President leaving the Al-Hussein Mosque during the Ramadan, and he has been remembering this moment throughout his life.
“When I was studying in Cairo, it was a completely different country. Its symbol — Gamal Abdel Nasser — is a unique figure in the world’s history, — said Mikhail Piotrovsky. — He belonged to the-then generation of political leaders who played a role in the world’s history”. The second president, to hif mind, was incredibly charismatic and had strong will, and people trusted him. “People were right. We can see it today as the history proved it. We are well aware that Nasser was a significant figure in the world, Near East, and Egypt,” — said Mikhail Piotrovsky. The monument is our duty to preserve history and educate the future generations.
The event was also visited by the Extraodinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Egypt in Russia Ihab Nasser. “How Russia assess the role of Nasser in developing the collaboration between Russia and Egypt means the importance of such initiatives”, — said Ihab Nasser. The origin of the Oriental studies at SPbU is related to five areas, including learning the Arab language. At SPbU, the Egyptian studies, it must be said, originated in 1887, while in 1939 the Unievrsity opened the Department of the Ancient East, headed by Mikhail Piotrovsky today.
At the ceremony, Mikhail Piotrovky was awarded a medal honouring the Gamal Abdel Nasser’s 100th anniversary and a pin label of the Association of the Builders of the Aswan High Dam. The event also features a round table that discussed the role of Nasser in fostering Soviet-Egyptian relations, his influence on the current state of affairs, an increasing role of the Russian Federation in the Arab world, and potential of the diplomacy in cementing the ties between the countries.