Egypt’s National Day provides an opportunity to highlight the country’s significant contribution to regional security, international diplomacy, and the development of cooperation between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Through its strategic geographical position, millennia-old history, and balanced foreign policy, Egypt continues to serve as a pillar of stability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and as a strategic partner of the international community.

Romania and Egypt share a longstanding relationship of friendship and cooperation built over decades, founded on mutual respect, political dialogue, and collaboration in the economic, educational, cultural, and scientific fields. Egypt’s National Day offers a fitting occasion to reaffirm the shared commitment to further strengthening this partnership for the benefit of both nations.

On the occasion of the National Day of the Arab Republic of Egypt, we extend to Your Excellency, as well as to the entire Egyptian people, our warmest congratulations and best wishes for health, peace, and prosperity. May the friendship and cooperation between Romania and Egypt continue to flourish on the basis of mutual respect, dialogue, and shared interests, contributing to the stability and prosperity of the Euro-Mediterranean region and the broader MENA area

Vasile Simileanu: Your Excellency, What does this day signify for the Egyptian people, and what do you consider to be Egypt’s most significant achievements in recent years?

HE Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Moustafa Orfy: First of all, it signifies the revolution that took place on the 23^rd of July, 1952. Second of all, it signifies a historical worldwide turning point seen and felt all throughout the world, the most prominent of which was the neighbouring region, Africa and The Middle East. It inspired similar social movements and riots where people fought for their rights and to end political regimes in small and mediumsized countries. You could say that this wasn’t just the Egyptian revolution, but rather a global movement starter. It also changed the social-economic daily lives of Egyptians for decades to come, whom up to that point had lived in forced poverty, and could now become doctors, engineers, law enforcement officers et cetera. In summary, it not only brought visible benefits to Egypt, but to its neighbouring countries as well, starting a movement of revolts for the better of each country’s society.

V.S.: Mr. Ambassador, Given the current regional context marked by numerous crises and transformations, what is the place and role of the Arab Republic of Egypt? How do you assess Egypt’s role as a pillar of stability in the Middle East and North Africa? What are the main geopolitical and geostrategic challenges facing the region today? Do you believe we are witnessing the emergence of a new regional order in the Middle East?

HE Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Moustafa Orfy: The truth is: anyone can figure out that war leads to more war, bloodshed to more bloodshed, and that conflicts are a never-ending vicious circle. My country believes in international laws, peace, compromises, reconciliations, but if you ever imagine that violence solves violence, you are wrong on a fundamental level. We even have multiple examples of this: Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, just to name a few. It is, unfortunately, through our own past pain and experience we reach the aforementioned conclusion that, in the end, only time heals. But, until enough time has passed, our only aid is abiding by the laws set in place.

0. V.S.: Your Excellency, Egypt has developed strong relations with both Western countries and emerging actors in the international system. How has Egyptian diplomacy succeeded in maintaining this strategic balance? How do you assess the evolution of Egypt’s relations with the United States, the European Union, China, and Russia in an increasingly multipolar world?

HE Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Moustafa Orfy: We have always maintained good relations with different quarters of the globe: the EU, China, Russia, and the US. How? Through hardship. As was said before, our country has very experienced institutions, and we have learned that there is always room for common ground, understanding, and interest. For example: maintaining good relations with Russia doesn’t mean that our relations with the US or the EU are corroding. We manage to keep the peace with them both at the same time by seeking progress and partnerships. It is for this reason that Egypt, alongside a few other Arab countries, mediated when the Ukraine crisis began four years ago. Pinning one against another never leads to any good result, as such we maintain good, healthy relations with everyone. In the end, peace wins.

V.S.: Your Excellency, How do you assess the prospects for the Middle East peace process? What importance does Egypt attach to combating terrorism and extremism in the region? How can regional cooperation in the field of security be further strengthened?

HE Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Moustafa Orfy: Our country was the first to launch this initiative—this peace process—bringing hope for peace to the region in the late 1970s. Because of this, we are highly experienced in this matter. Our peace treaty with Israel has survived for almost 50 years now.

Allow me to ask: what is the alternative to this process? The alternative is virtually nothing; it is total destruction. The peace process is a dynamic entity. Either you pursue a peaceful path and continue pushing things forward, or you allow stagnation to drag you down into war and violence, which will never yield positive results.

Today, we face asymmetrical warfare, meaning that developing nations with rudimentary weapons can inflict massive casualties on large, powerful countries. What does this prove? It proves that military force alone cannot achieve positive outcomes for people. It is far better to remain committed to the peace process. A first round may fail, a second round may fail, but a third round might succeed. At the very least, it keeps us moving in the right direction, and one day we will reach our destination.

This will not be as difficult as our negotiations with the Israelis in the late ’70s, which were incredibly hard, challenging, and harsh. Yet, at the end of the day, we managed to achieve a great outcome. Today, that success benefits everyone—not just Egyptians and Israelis.

Several things have happened. The establishment of a Palestinian state is part of the international consensus in this regard. Everyone approves that there is an ethical and political right to Palestinian self-determination, allowing them to have their own state, living side by side with Israel in peace and harmony.

Why not? I was there, and I saw Palestinians and Israelis living with each other without animosity, without hostility. They can have a country that can prevent the emergence of terrorism. What would be the objective or incentive for hatred and extremism to emerge after the establishment of a state? It is nothing. By achieving this, we can diffuse tension and allow people to live in peace.

V.S.: Mr. Ambassador, Egypt serves as a bridge between Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. How do you see your country’s role in the development of the African continent? What importance does Egypt attach to cooperation within the African Union? What are the main economic and strategic opportunities that Africa offers to European investors?

HE Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Moustafa Orfy: It is one of the richest places on Earth. Africa has still to be fully discovered. It is full of mines, minerals, oil, gas, copper, and gold—whatever you name it.

So, what does it mean? It means it is still a vast area that needs to be explored and exploited for the benefit of Africans, and for humanity as well. We have good experience in doing business with Africa that can be traced back for decades. Our companies exist in more than 40 or 45 countries in Africa. Egyptian professionals are working in 45 African countries in development, as well as extracting minerals, oil, and gas, and so on and so forth.

We have developed our economic and trade relationships with many African nations for the sake of Africans, and also for our own sake. It is not charity; it is business. We send doctors and we send teachers to ensure a certain level of development that will, in one way or another, be reciprocated to us.

V.S.: Your Excellency, The Suez Canal is one of the world’s most important trade arteries. How are current regional tensions affecting the security of maritime routes? What measures is Egypt taking to address these challenges? How do you see the future of the Suez Canal Economic Zone as a global logistics hub?

HE Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Moustafa Orfy: The Suez Canal is an international canal that receives around 12% to 14% of the whole world trade, which means it has to be safe and secure all the time. We were deeply affected by what happened in the Red Sea during the war in Gaza. We lost like $7 billion due to what happened, and while some groups were acting as if they were supporting Gaza, they did not do it in the right way.

So, we were deeply affected. The Suez Canal must be like a vessel in your heart that must always be open, healthy, and checked. We are securing the Suez Canal, and we are securing it alongside coastal countries of the Red Sea. We believe it is good to maintain an eye on each and every activity on this route to make everyone feel safe while passing through the Suez Canal.

Its future lies ahead. We have giant economic projects in the area of the Suez Canal, and we want to make it a global logistical hub for all of humanity. We have a big Chinese economic zone and a big Russian economic zone, and we are considering an economic zone for Romania if Romania is interested. We also invite others to come and invest in the Suez Canal. It is like a vessel that feeds your heart with blood.

V.S.: Your Excellency, How do you assess the current level of the Strategic Partnership between Egypt and the European Union?
Romania and Egypt have maintained diplomatic relations for more than a century. How would you characterize the current state of bilateral cooperation? What opportunities do you see for Romanian companies in the Egyptian market? In which areas can cooperation between Egypt and the European Union be further deepened? How can Egypt contribute to Europe’s energy security? To what extent are the energy transition and the green economy priorities for Egypt?

HE Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Moustafa Orfy: Regarding the current level of the Strategic Partnership between Egypt and the European Union, it is a good one. We signed it a few years ago, and we are still trying to maximize the benefit and minimize the obstacles that negatively affect the maximization of the benefits for both parties.

Europe is very near to us. Among the core components of Egypt’s culture is its Mediterranean dimension, so we are connected with Europe throughout history. A strategic partnership means addressing challenges like immigration, terrorism, and security, as well as economic trade and the modernization of many commodities in Egypt. It is a good partnership, we are proud of it, and we are actively working on it.

Bilateral Cooperation with Romania

As far as Romania is concerned, we have achieved a good, moderate success. To be completely honest, however, this success is not enough for us. It does not meet our expectations or our ambitions. We still have a vast room to explore, exploit, and invest in.

I hope we are moving on the right path with the determination of both governments to achieve the expected momentum in our relationship and to secure much better results.

Energy Cooperation and the Green Economy

Egypt is now investing heavily in oil and gas, serving as a hub for the liquefaction of gas for several countries around us to help secure Europe’s energy needs. We possess huge facilities for this. Even in my own hometown, we have major facilities, and we are working in this direction with our European partners—specifically Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey. We hope we can achieve much more in areas of mutual interest, such as the green economy.

HE Ambassador Mr. Mohammed Moustafa Orfy: Message to the Focus Geopolitic Audience and the Romanian People

What I want to convey to the Romanian audience and the Romanian people is that Egypt is very near to Romania; it is less than a three-hour flight away. With charter flights, it costs peanuts, so I encourage you to try to visit Egypt and explore it soon.

We currently receive about a quarter of a million tourists. Our assessment is that, alongside the Romanian side, we can double or triple this number very soon. We have every reason, every facility, and every necessity to reach this number shortly. You will get the highest quality at the most affordable price.

V.S.: Your Excellency, Thank you, and we wish you success in your diplomatic mission in Romania!