Middle East met West on the Plaza today, in this case Consul Heba Zaki of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Sonoma Mayor Steve Barbose.
Consul Zaki came to town to celebrate the sister city partnership between Aswan and Sonoma and the recent news of an $115,000 grant to the Sonoma-Aswan Sister City Committee. The award, from Sister Cities International, will be used to address sanitation, health, and water issues in urban areas of Africa.
“It was a great pleasure,” Barbose said. “(Zaki) is an intelligent and warm person who has a lot of enthusiasm for the colloboration between Sonoma and Aswan, and was also very interested in learning about Sonoma.”
The diplomats exchanged tokens of friendship – a key to the city for her, a medallion for him – lunched at the Swiss Hotel and took a historical walking tour of the square, led by City Historian George McKale.
“We are delighted to welcome a very distinguished member of Egypt’s diplomatic corps,” said Sherri Ferris, chair of the Sonoma-Aswan Sister City Committee. “Our collaborative projects with Egypt help to create cross-cultural understanding and to promote international diplomacy.”
As the Eygptian flag flew above City Hall, Consul Zaki was welcomed by a local contingent including city officials, Sonoma Sister City Association President Bill Boerum, Ferris, board members; and Sister City Committee Chairs Ted Chenoweth, Joyce Millet and Arlene Sukolsky; and other guests.
“All of us who participated share a lot of anticipation for the humanitarian project which the Sonoma-Aswan Committee is undertaking,” Beorum said. “It will be the largest funded project ever conducted by Sonoma Sister Cities.”
The $115,000 grant is part of a major effort to address fundamental needs of citizens of urban areas in Africa. According to Ferris, “it will improve the lives of Egyptian citizens in Aswan and further develop our alignment with the Sister Cities Islamic Partnership Initiative. This will help to create cross-cultural understanding as we engage in our important work of international diplomacy.”
The Sonoma-Aswan Sister City Committee was formed in two years ago by H.E. Abderahman Salaheldin, Egypt’s current Ambassador to Turkey, in friendship with Sonoma residents, Sherri Ferris and Carol Blackman.
The committee meets quarterly, Ferris said, focusing on educational and cultural exchange, sharing information to foster international cooperation and understanding in order to create a more peaceful world.
