Post by Salem6 on Oct 13, 2003 12:42:17 GMT
While best known for its pyramids and ancient civilizations, Egypt has played a central role in the political situation within the region in modern times.
Its three wars with Israel in 1948, 1967 and 1973, then its eventual peace with its adversary in 1979, have seen Egypt move from being a warring nation to become a key representative in the peace process.
OVERVIEW
But the historic step taken by President Anwar Sadat in the Camp David agreement with Israel saw the expulsion of Egypt from the Arab League until 1989, and in 1981 Sadat was assassinated by Islamic extremists angry at his moves to clamp down on their activities.
Since then, President Hosni Mubarak has taken a more moderate line, but Islamic groups have continued their campaigns sporadically, being responsible for several large-scale killings of tourists.
Egypt's ancient past and the fact that it was one of the first Middle Eastern countries to open up to the West following Napoleon's invasion means that it is seen by many as the intellectual and cultural leader in the region. The head of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam.
FACTS
EGYPT FACTS
Population: 71.9 million (UN, 2003)
Capital: Cairo
Major language: Arabic
Major religion: Islam
Life expectancy: 67 years (men), 71 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Egyptian Pound = 100 piastres
Main exports: Petroleum, petroleum products and cotton
Annual average income: US $1,530 (World Bank, 2001)
Internet domain: .eg
International dialling code: +20
LEADERS
President: Muhammad Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
A former commander of the air force and vice-president, Mubarak was elected president of Egypt and became supreme commander of the armed forces after the assassination of Sadat in October 1981.
He was the target of an assassination attempt in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in June 1995. He was reelected for his fourth term in office in October 1999.
Prime minister: Atif Muhammad Ubayd
Deputy prime minister: Yusuf Amin Wali
Foreign minister: Ahmad Mahir al-Sayyid
Interior minister: Habib Ibrahim Habib al-Adli
MEDIA
Egypt is a major regional media player. Its press is one of the most influential and widely-read in the region, and its TV and film industry supplies much of the Arab-speaking world with shows from its Media Production City, an enterprise launched with a view to creating the "Hollywood of the East".
Media criticism of the government is commonplace, but press laws which allow prison sentences for libel and "insults" and an ongoing state of emergency have encouraged self-censorship on sensitive issues.
Egypt has two state-run national TV channels and six regional channels. It is a key player in satellite TV; the Egyptian Space Channels are widely-watched across the Arab-speaking world. The channels enjoy the support of the country's huge programme-making industry and have access to a large library of old Egyptian films and TV programmes.
Egypt was the first Arab nation to have its own satellite, Nilesat 101. The country's first private TV stations - Dream 1, Dream 2 and Al-Mihwar TV - came on air in 2001, broadcasting via satellite. The state holds a monopoly on radio broadcasting.
Egypt aims to attract foreign media companies to its "Free Media Zone", launched in 2000, by offering the use of its media infrastructure and economic support.
The press
Al-Ahram - state-owned daily
Al-Ahali - opposition
Al-Messa - pro-government
Al-Ahram Weekly - English-language
Cairo Times - English-language weekly
Middle East Times - English-language weekly
Television
Egypt Radio Television Union (ERTU) - state-run, operates domestic and satellite networks
Nile TV International - satellite station run by ERTU, some programmes in English and Hebrew
Dream TV - privately-owned satellite network, operates Dream 1 targeting young viewers and Dream 2, an entertainment channel
Al-Haya TV - privately-owned satellite network, formerly known as Al-Mihwar
Radio
Egypt Radio Television Union (ERTU) - state-run, operates eight national networks and external services Radio Cairo and Voice of the Arabs
News agency:
Middle East News Agency (MENA) - state-run
Internet
By December 2001 Egypt had some 600,000 internet users.