Eman Mohamed Zaki Moharram, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Five Stars Zagreb Issue 31 — December 01, 2009.

I love Zagreb and its people for many reasons, but the most important ones are those of sentimental and personal nature. Zagreb is my first posting as an ambassador and at the same time, I am the first resident and accredited Ambassador of Egypt in the Republic of Croatia.

These two grand and historical events in my career as a diplomat are marked in my mind and memories where they will be kept forever and beyond due for once legacy.

Coming to Zagreb, I had fears and hopes - fears of not being able to communicate as much as I want and hopes that I would enrich the relations of both nations.

On the very first glance, I was delighted by the beauty of the city, accompanied by the cordiality and warmth of its people. I have never felt homesick, not for a moment, thanking to the generosity and warmness of everyone I have ever met in Zagreb, starting from the highest level of the Government, crowned by the graces acceptance of President Stjepan Mesić to attend and celebrate my first National Day of Egypt, I organized in Zagreb.

Also, on the non-official level, I must extend my gratitude to everybody who has helped me to pave my way in Croatia.

I come form a very old city – Cairo. It is over 1.000 years old. Zagreb, also is no different. It is a city with a great and old history, dating from Roman times till the present days.

I am still very much impressed by St. Marko’s Church, the same as I am still delighted by numerous museums, especially by the Archeological Museum of the City of Zagreb and by the Academy of Science and Art.

Though, my job doesn’t give me much time for leisure, I do enjoy the God-given beauty of nature at every sunrise and the scenery, even if its is just for a brief moment, that I succeed to catch from time to time, from a window of my car, on the way to my work or meeting.

Zagreb is truly my home-away-from-home and I would forever cherish the days I spend in this warm and beautiful land.

And, before I end my words, I would like to share with you a very rare and sentimental experience, but prior to that please join me to a standing ovation to Mr. Bučić Boris, a captain and the source of this very human feeling of great warmth that had left me speechless. Mr. Bučić contacted me prior to our first National Day celebration, informing me that he worked as a ship guard in Suez Canal after its nationalization had the Egyptian Government managing maritime trafficking, from September 22nd 1956 till July 11th 1966. This gentleman is over 80 years old and he decided to send me all documents he has regarding that, which as he said in his own words are “all he has left” and that he believes that by sending it to me, I would cherish it as much as he did.

Dear Mr. Bučić, on behalf of myself and my Government, thank you.