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First Lady praises work of Egyptian NGOs

Mrs. Laura Bush, The First Lady of the USA, has praised the work of HEPCA and other Egyptian NGOs on her official visit to Sharm El Sheikh this week. Amr Ali, Managing Director of HEPCA, was honoured to be invited to present the work of HEPCA personally to Mrs. Bush and leading members of the US Congress. On the morning of 17th May 2008, Amr gave a powerpoint presentation to a Congressional Delegation which included Congressman Brian Bird (who turned out to be a diver) and Congressman Christopher Shays. In the afternoon, the First Lady and other VIPs visited Ras Cathy dive site in Sharm El Sheikh aboard a glass bottom boat in order that they could experience first hand the underwater life of the Red Sea. Dr. Mohamed Salem, Head of the South Sinai Protectorates, briefed the First Lady on the South Sinai Protectorates and interpreted the plentiful marine life. Amr Ali and Seifalla Hassanein, Environment Team Leader and Antiquities Grant Officer for USAID, briefed the First Lady on the LIFE Red Sea project and USAID – HEPCA cooperation. The First Lady was very happy with the tour and very impressed with the reef. At the end of the tour she gave the following statement: MRS. BUSH: “This has been a very interesting and really beautiful tour of this Ras Mohammed National Park. This is a national protected marine area in Egypt because of the fabulous coral reefs that are below. I was with people who are scientists here - NGOs that are working to - with the government, to make sure all of this stays protected; members of USAID who also are partnering in this effort to let people be able to see these fabulous coral reefs, but at the same time protect the coral reefs forever. And one of the things they're working on is ecotourism, bringing people here who come specifically to look at the coral reefs and look at the fish that we got to see when we were below, but also are very involved in the environment themselves have come with the idea of being able to protect what they're looking at. So it was terrific. I hope you all got to see when you were down there a little bit with me how - what fabulous sights we got and how unbelievable the fish were and what a beautiful world we have. Thank you all.” Photos of the visit can be seen at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080517-4.html