For two days, the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria, playing the very role that it used to play during its long and rich history, was the venue for a Mediterranean cultural gathering. The old Mediterranean city hosted on June 18-19 a cultural festivity that brought together representatives from 27 European Union member countries as well as musicians and artists from all shores of the Mediterranean. During the festival event, entitled 'Summer Nights' which was a late celebration of Europe Street, people in the legendry coastal city had the opportunity to taste traditional food and drinks from throughout Europe and enthusiastically take part in a joint performance of hip-hop artists from France, Germany, Turkey and Egypt. "The initiative aims to allow people in Alexandria and the wider Egypt to experience the different cultures and opportunities from across Europe and the Mediterranean region," said Andreu Claret, the Executive Director of Anna Lindh Foundation, one of the organisers of the event. In his inaugural speech, EU Ambassador to Egypt Marc Franco highlighted the importance of Alexandria not only as a city with a history, but as a city that can bring Mediterranean nations together. Franco said that such activities should go outside Cairo, where they are usually held, and reach people throughout Egypt. The event, which was attended by Egypt's Minister of Higher Education Hany Helal, Alexandria's governor Adel Labib and diplomats from all European countries, witnessed a great turnout from visitors and residents of Alexandria, which has been chosen as the Capital for Arab Tourism in 2010. The event was supported by a range of partners, including the Delegation of the European Union in Egypt, the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation, the Goethe Institute, the French Cultural Centre, the Turkish Consulate as well as the member states of the European Union. Claret said that the event was only the beginning of a series of projects and cultural events to be effected by his foundation in Alexandria. "Alexandria is a vibrant city and deserves more attention than it has now," she added.
