Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, Head of the Evangelical Community in Egypt and Head of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, opened yesterday, Thursday, the consultative session organized by the Forum for Intercultural Dialogue at the Coptic Evangelical Organization, entitled “A Vision to Activate National Dialogue” at the initiative of His Excellency President AlSisi, in which Ambassador Moushira Khattab participated, along with the President of the National Council for Human Rights; Counselor Essam Shiha, member of the National Council for Human Rights; journalist writer Hamdi Rizk; journalist writer and senator Dr. Abdel Moneim Said, researcher Samir Morcos; Brigadier General Khaled Okasha, director of the Egyptian Center for Thought and Strategic Studies, and journalist writer Nabil Abdel Fattah; Dr. Emad Gad, former member of the House of Representatives; journalist writer, member of the Senate and editor-in-chief of Al-Shorouk newspaper, Mr. Imad El-Din Hussein, Rev. Rifaat Fathi, Secretary-General of the Nile Evangelical Synod; journalist writer, chairman and editor of the Youm7 newspaper, Mr. Akram Al-Qassas; and Dr. Talaat Abdel-Qawi, President of the General Union of Civil Societies and a member of the House of Representatives; Anba Armia, General Bishop and Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center; writer and journalist Farida Al-Shobashi; President of the Reform and Development Party Professor Muhammad Anwar Sadat; Rev. Amir Tharwat, Pastor of the Evangelical Church in El-Faggala, Rev. Mohsen Mounir, from the Synod of the Nile; Lawyer Nihad Abu Al-Qumsan, member of the National Council for Human Rights; Dr. Amr Al-Wardani, Secretary of the Egyptian Dar Al-Iftaa, and Mrs. Samira Louka, the senior head of the dialogue sector in the Evangelical Organization.

Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, head of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services and head of the Evangelical community in Egypt, praised the step of the President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi assigning the management of the national dialogue to the National Training Academy.

The head of the Evangelical Church said: “This generous initiative is a clear reflection of what the Egyptian state pursues by integrating all societal groups into community participation, which we have witnessed over the past years, in empowering women, youth and people with disabilities, and by partnering with civil society organizations in the developmental initiatives, like “Haya Karima”. This comes within the framework of the directions and vision of the new republic, and the vision of Egypt 2030.”

Zaki added: “These decisions coincide with the year 2022, being the year of civil society, and what we are witnessing of an effective partnership between civil society and the state in implementing development initiatives that changed the lives of many, and contributed – and continues to contribute – to raising the standard of living for millions of citizens.”