Sona ZEITLIAN

Armenians are among the region's oldest nations, with a historical and cultural past that is strongly interlinked with other peoples in the region, including Egyptians. The relationship between our two ancient nations goes back to the pharaonic times. It intensified during the Byzantine rule, then Fatimid Caliphate times, and reached its apogee in the reign of Muhammad All. For centuries, Armenians have had a great input towards the development of culture, economy and science in Egypt. Our common history is full of pages of friendship and cooperation, with thousands of examples of instances of reciprocal support.
Sona Zeitlian's book Armenians in Egypt - Contribution of Armenians to Medieval and Modern Egypt is the first attempt to present in English the role and place of the Armenian community in the most interesting and vital periods of Egyptian history.
In this immensely readable book Sona Zeitlian charts the participation of Armenians in the different fields of political, social and cultural life of Egypt under the successive rule of Byzantine, Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk dynasties and the Ottoman Empire; the activities of Armenians in the political life of Egypt during the reign of Muhammad Ali, beginning with the latter's Deputy and First Interpreter Poghos Bey Yussefian and Prime-Minister Nubar Pasha; the contribution of Armenians in the development of finances, trade, industry, architecture, the press and arts in Egypt.
It is due to the unique qualities of the Egyptian people, their hospitality and tolerance towards other nations and religions, that Armenians have been able to attain the highest administrative ranks and have at times exercised a decisive influence on the conduct of public affairs in Egypt.
At the beginning of the last century, Armenians, victims of Genocide in and by the Ottoman Empire, lived the most tragic pages of their history. There is a popular saying, in Armenian as well as Arabic, that essentially means: 'a friend in need is a friend indeed.' During those dreadful days, when Armenians were either killed or forcefully deported from their ancestral homes, the Egyptian people rendered assistance to the Armenian refugees and provided them the urgent assistance they needed. Armenians not only survived in Egypt but they were given the opportunity to rise and become full citizens in their new homes, while preserving their national identity and establishing schools, culture groups and sport clubs.
Grateful for such a humane approach, in their turn Armenians put all their knowledge and professional skills at the service of Egypt for the benefit of the progress and prosperity of their second motherland.
I wholeheartedly welcome the publication of this book, which I consider very timely especially today, when unfortunately the divisions among national, religious, sectarian, and tribal lines are still existing in the Middle East and the heated debate over the 'clash of civilizations' is still dangerously used by many sides for some political purposes and strategic considerations.
This is a remarkable contribution to the growing scholarly appreciation and documentation of the long, but little studied, rich history of relations between Egyptians and Armenians.
It is my strong belief that this important book will become a valuable addition on the subject and will contribute to the further deepening of friendship between our two great nations.

ROUBEN KARAPETIAN
AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA TO EGYPT
ETHIOPIA, LIBYA, SUDAN, SOUTH AFRICA, AND MOROCCO