Whenever I visited Beirut, I felt sad twice. Firstly, when I arrived at its airport, as it was much better than Cairo's in terms of precision, order, cleanness and the way passengers were guided to their destinations. Secondly, when I went back to Egypt and, in particular, to the airport passenger hall, as I remembered what I had left in Beirut. Why Beirut? Because Lebanon has been going through what might have turned its capital's airport like the one in Mogadishu with no one objecting or blaming anyone. Yet, all those years of civil war has not had any bad repercussions at least on the airport, which is what a foreigner first sees when he or she arrives in any country. Now, though, Cairo Airport's situation may have changed, especially after the inauguration of the third passenger hall at the end of last week, when the President visited it. For the first time, if you happen to walk through its corridors these days, you will feel this airport suits this country and that the place you are leaving or you are arriving at is not inferior to the airports in European – and not only Arab – capitals. Civil Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafik did not welcome any of those who had invited to visit the airport on Friday evening and I think he did so on purpose, so that they could see by themselves that something can be done in this country, with good intentions, willingness and thirst for success. I think he did not welcome his guests because otherwise he would have affected their opinion and judgments. Instead, when the guests arrived at this third hall, they found out, since the very first moment, that they had to discover that place on their own, with no one helping, so that their opinion – good or bad – would be impartial. All visitors had to do was to look at the new building, without meeting the minister, any employee or anyone in charge of that hall. I also think – there is nothing wrong in thinking – that another minister achieving something good for this country, this time when it comes to Egypt's ports (another gateway to this country), is Mohamed Mansour. What people hope is to be able, thirty years from now, to celebrate altogether what the Chinese President celebrated last week, when he marked the thirtieth anniversary of his country's reforms and openness to the world. On that occasion, he also said that this financial crisis, which has been ravaging all over the world, would not stop his country's march on the path of reforms and openness, with the same trust and determination with which China started this process three decades ago. I just have one question: did Minister Shafik do it on purpose not to welcome anyone at the airport and let everyone have a free tour of the new building on their own? Well, I think he did.
