Through the announcement of the resignation of Professor Ali Souissi, Red Sea Festival's Coordinator, at a joint press conference held in the Egyptian Governorate of Suez, the day before yesterday, the crisis raised over the Red Sea Festival of Arts came to an end. The press conference was attended by Mohammed Saif al-Din Galal, Suez Governor, as well as Professor Ahmed Mujahid, Chairman of the General Authority of Cultural Palaces. Some newspapers had reported on Souissi as saying that he had rejected Farouk Hosni's, Minister of Culture, request in regard to inviting Israel to participate in the Red Sea Festival. Such a thing was entirely denied by both Hosni and al-Souissi himself. On his part, Suez Governor refused to reveal to the journalists the main reasons behind al-Souissi's resignation. However, in response of their questions, the Governor said: "Reasons of resignation belong only to al-Souissi." This has raised many questions among journalists who have not seen in the statement, written by al-Souissi and distributed to them, any reason that would give his resignation some kind of logic. Speaking to Suez Governor at the beginning of his statement, al-Souissi said: "Were it of a benefit to the public interest to stay away from the festival scene as well as its activities so that it could succeed, here in Suez, not any other place, I would happily submit to your decisions and all what you want." Again, Suez Governor emphasized that Minister of Culture "did not practice any kind of pressure on the governorate administration to maintain the participation of Israel in the Red Sea Festival of Arts. " The Governor pointed further that, he, with his known history of military braveries, was not to accept to engage in what he called "false braveries." He also said, that no one, a minister or even higher, could force him to invite Israel to participate in the festival. On the other hand, these discussions were interrupted by State Consultative Council's Member, Ahmed al-Dabae, when he said: "The press conference is moving far away from its basic aim; declaring the festival." Such an interruption annoyed many of the journalists, compelling some of them to leave the conference hall. However, the departure of the journalists was made faster after Captain Ghezali, who is known for being one of the most famous poets of popular resistance in Suez to Egypt's occupation by Israel, interfered saying: "This matter has taken more than its due worth thanks to the efforts of unreliable tabloids."
The governor confirmed that, the festival should be held as scheduled on July 18, with nine Arab countries participating in it. On his part, Professor Ahmed Mujahid said: "All that has been raised over the practice of any kind of pressure by Minister of Culture is much ado about nothing and no one can outbid the Ministry of Culture."
