CAIRO - "Greece has enjoyed good relations with Egypt for many years. That's why the Greeks were not surprised by the Egyptiansí revolution. We know all about their ancient civilisation and how they have fought for freedom, which is why we trust them. “I believe that modern Egypt is now on the road to democracy," Ambassador of Greece to Cairo Chris J. Lazaris told The Egyptian Gazette, during the opening of the Greek-Egyptian Cultural Month, being held in the Traditional Crafts Centre in Old Cairo. Throughout October, the Greek Embassy and the Greek Cultural Centre in Cairo, in co-operation with the Foreign Cultural Relations Sector, affiliated to the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, and the Cultural Development Fund are holding a number of events. The purpose of this cultural exchange is to enhance Egyptian-Greek ties by sharing the experiences of Egyptian and Greek artists in the fields of applied arts and cinema. "The cultural month consists of exhibitions, including exhibitions of Egyptian pottery and Greek jewellery, as well as cinema. Many people don't know that, in the fifties, sixties and early seventies, many Egyptian movies were shot in Greek studios and many Greek films were shot in Egypt," explained the Ambassador. During the event, nearly 20 Greek short movies will be screened in the Artistic Creativity Centre in the Cairo Opera House on 15 and 16 October, before being screened again in Alexandria on October 17 and 18. "Every year, we host a cultural month in Egypt and this year there are various events. I've been working here in Egypt for about five years and I have always said that Egypt is the country of my heart," said Christos G. Papadopoulos, the Director of the Greek Cultural Centre in Cairo. In addition to a jewellery workshop and exhibition, a pottery workshop is being held, with the participation of about 30 artists from the Egyptian Centre for Handmade Pottery Heritage. It starts today and runs till October 11. "This event is the biggest organised by the Greek Government outside Greece. We always spend months preparing for it. Despite the crisis in Greece, the show must go on, as itís a great opportunity for Greeks and Egyptians to enjoy each other's culture," said Marilena Griva, the Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of Greece.
