As the holy month of Ramadan progresses, the concept of national unity takes shape in tangible forms of fraternity and solidarity. Pope Shenoda III, patriarch of the Christian Orthodox Church, for example, held the annual "patriotic union" Iftar banquet in Abbasiya Cathedral, last week. The banquet was attended by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, Al-Azhar Grand Imam Mohamed Sayed Tantawi and head of Shura Council Safwat El-Sherif. A number of other dignitaries were also present including Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafiq, Presidential Adviser Osama El-Baz, and Health Minister Mohamed Awad Tageddin, and secretary of the Policies Committee at the National Democratic Party (NDP) Gamal Mubarak. Congratulations! The Russian government granted, my diligent friend, the first under-secretary for Foreign Cultural Relations at the Culture Ministry and head of the Cairo International Film Festival Sherif El-Choubashi its honorary Order of Merit for his relentless efforts in supporting the Egyptian-Russian cultural relations. He was handed over the award by Russian Ambassador to Cairo Mikhail Bogdanov in the presence of director of the Russian Cultural Centre Oleg Fomin. Well done. Last Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi invited a number of ambassadors from Islamic nations to attend an Iftar at his office in Tokyo. Diplomats accredited to Japan from 44 Muslim countries were invited to Koizumi 's Iftar. The Japanese premier's Iftar was staged in order to deepen understanding of Islamic culture and with a view to strengthening constructive dialogue between Japan and the Islamic world. Even in Japan, my dear friends, the spirit of Ramadan prevails. The Egyptian-Lebanese Friendship Association Chairman Fathallah Fawzi held a Sohour banquet at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel, last week. A bevy of luminaries attended. Amongst them were firebrand media host Hamdi Qandil and his gorgeous wife actress Naglaa Fathi ; veteran composers Mohamed Sultan ; and Gamal Salama ; actresses Nabila Ebeid ; and the charming comedienne Lebleba as well as the first undersecretary for Foreign Cultural Relations at the Culture Ministry Sherif El-Choubashi. At the banquet a farewell tribute was paid to the Lebanese Consul in Egypt Maher Al-Kheir. He is getting ready to depart for his new post as the Lebanese Consul in Australia. There were also a group of dignitaries among them were Lebanese Ambassador to Cairo Abdul-Latif El-Mamlouk, Lebanese tourism counsellor Faisel Fetfet along with Vice- President of the Egyptian Lebanese Friendship Association Ghazi Nasr. Overlooking the spectacular view of the Nile as backdrop, the Al-Saraya boat was the scene of a memorable Ramadan evening held by the Director of the Tunisian Agency for External Communication Alfi Salami. The event was enlivened by the presence of Al-Ahram Chairman of the Board Salah El-Ghamri, Tunisian Ambassador to Cairo Al-Shazli Al-Naqati and his wife, along with Arab League secretary-general's office supervisor Hisham Youssef. Among many prominent media figures were TV announcer Safaa Hegazi and Editor-in-Chief of Al-Ahram Al-Arabi magazine Abdel-Aati Mohamed. I enjoyed, along with my colleague Ghada Abd El-Kader a spiritual performance given by the Nour band for religious incantations at El-Sawy Culture Centre. It featured the leader of the band Ihab Younes, who enchanted the audience with his melodious voice. We also attended another party for Swar Al-Yasmine (Bracelet of Jasmine) for spiritual chanting troupe. It consists of three lovely sisters Safenaze, Shahenaze and Reham El-Mahdi. They performed 21 songs including invocations to Allah, national and religious songs. This is their first time to sing before the public. They took my breath away. Indeed, the entire audience were mesmerised by their angelic voices. Last week, head of Nile Entertainment Channel Salma El-Shamaa organised several Iftar parties. These Iftar parties were held outside the Television Headquarters including a coterie of luminous leaders in the fields of media, religion and art. Among the dignitaries were Pope Shenoda III ; superstar Laila Elwi ; writer and journalist Adel Hammouda ; as well as aspiring singer Hamada Helal. Last week, popular Lebanese singer Assi Al-Hellani, sang for almost three hours at the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House. His enchanting musical performance featured a charity party organised by the Arab Association for Relief headed by Magda El-Aqqad and the Association of Al-Amal Village for the homeless presided over by Sami Gabr and Abla El-Badri. The revenue of the party, where El-Hellani sang for free, was dedicated to establishing a centre to rehabilitate, train and educate the homeless young mothers and their children, the so- called "mothers of the streets". A Choir from the homeless children of Al-Amal Association presented two singing shows. The shows were followed by a speech given by the exquisite actress Laila Elwi, who spoke about the importance of volunteer work and the positive role art should play in the society.
