STOCKHOLM - For centuries Sweden has had many and varied contacts with the Middle East and North African region. Its relations with the region have recently taken on new dimensions, especially with the new situation in the Middle East and the launching of the Arab Spring. The Swedish Institute in Alexandria, which is an autonomous part of Sweden's Foreign Service, with a Board and an Advisory Committee appointed by the Swedish Government, is a major institute offering good opportunities for both Egyptians and Swedes to communicate with each other and gain more experience. "The Egyptian revolution is very important for us, not just because it was something great, but also because our institute is in Egypt," said Ambassador Birgitta Holst Alani, the director of the Swedish Institute in Alexandria, which is housed in a building on the Corniche in the eastern Port district. "I will never forget listening to Mubarak's resignation speech at 6pm on February 11. The sound of people demonstrating on the Corniche in Alexandria was really amazing. “I called my husband in Sweden and held the phone outside the window, so he could hear the people celebrating. It was a wonderful experience," she recalled. "Actually being there made it all the more moving for me.” The Swedish Institute in Alexandria has always been a platform for dialogue between people. It organises many events and discussions between Egyptians and foreigners in order to propagate knowledge. "The first thing we did after the revolution was to organise a roundtable for a number of Egyptian thinkers and activists from Turkey and the Czech Republic, so they could discuss what had happened," Birgitta added. "During the discussion, we tried to sound out the Egyptian people and the way they think. We realised that we should focus on young people, because they have really done something unique.” After that, 'SwedAlex' launched a new programme, that focuses on young people in democracy building. The first phase of the programme was held on 7 and 8 April in Alexandria, offering young Egyptians and Swedes representing political parties a platform to discuss the role of youth in politics and determine how to promote political awareness and participation among them. The second phase was held from 13 to 15 June in Stockholm, Sweden. "Giving birth is always hard, but, when the baby emerges from his mother's womb, we should teach, dress and feed him well. That's what the Egyptians should do with their revolution. They should deal with it step by step," said the Ambassador, who was attending the workshop in Stockholm. Birgitta, as a European diplomat, said she wouldn't be afraid if the Islamists came to power. "Democracy means no-one should be excluded. I believe that Egyptians know what is good for them and what isn't. The Muslim Brotherhood have proved on many occasions that they don't have political principles, but they must compete for parliamentary seats, as this is democracy. In my opinion, each party should listen to the others. They must. ”In these unstable times, Egypt is facing many obstacles on the way to democracy and real freedom. The biggest obstacles are illiteracy and unemployment. "Education and new jobs are fundamentals for a successful revolution, while the economic problems must be dealt with in parallel," the Ambassador told The Egyptian Gazette. "The Government should also communicate with the people from day to day. Each minister should tell the people what he's done in the past week. A minister should always communicate with his people.”mother's womb, we should teach, dress and feed him well. That's what the Egyptians should do with their revolution. They should deal with it step by step," said the Ambassador, who was attending the workshop in Stockholm. Birgitta, as a European diplomat, said she wouldn't be afraid if the Islamists came to power. "Democracy means no-one should be excluded. I believe that Egyptians know what is good for them and what isn't. The Muslim Brotherhood have proved on many occasions that they don't have political principles, but they must compete for parliamentary seats, as this is democracy. In my opinion, each party should listen to the others. They must. ”In these unstable times, Egypt is facing many obstacles on the way to democracy and real freedom. The biggest obstacles are illiteracy and unemployment. "Education and new jobs are fundamentals for a successful revolution, while the economic problems must be dealt with in parallel," the Ambassador told The Egyptian Gazette. "The Government should also communicate with the people from day to day. Each minister should tell the people what he's done in the past week. A minister should always communicate with his people.”
