By Maydaa Abo El-Nadar
CAIRO, Feb.18 (SEE) - Egypt and Peru share strong bilateral relations since 1963 when both agreed to exchange diplomatic missions. Based on the rich heritage and history both countries have, the Peruvian Ambassador to Egypt Paul Paredes Portella is paying effort to spread the Peruvian culture in Egypt. To know more about his activities in this regard, SEE talked with Portella.
What are the common characteristics that you find between Peruvians and Egyptians?
I find a lot of similar points between Egyptians and Peruvians. I would like to stress the fact that both peoples share very similar approaches regarding the mentality and the perceptions about life. Both are very open people, great, smiling, positive, kind, friendly, and belong to powerful heritage. That is the first impression I got when arrived here.
Peru's Ambassador to Egypt Paul Paredes Portella
Could you give
us a brief comparison between the ancient Peruvian civilization, the Incas, and
the ancient Egyptian one?
We can find very strong similarities between both civilizations. We could even imagine that there were strong links between both of them, as they have so many points in common.
For instance,
their vision was close about the cosmos, polytheism, sun, superior god, afterlife
beliefs, mummification procedures, architecture, trapezoidal doors, working
with rocks, pyramids’ construction (certainly not as monumental as yours), agricultural
techniques, and irrigation canals.
I would like to
state some historical dates in this regard. Peru as civilization began around
3200 B.C., while Egypt is dated back to around 3000 B.C. Only Mesopotamian
cultures are older, 3500 B.C. Other civilizations began later such as China,
3000 B.C., India, 2600 B.C., Crete 2500 B.C., and Mexico 1200 B.C.
Agriculture
including procedures and techniques began in our land around 10,000 B.C.
Speaking about
architecture, the most ancient Peruvian Pyramid is the Huaca of the Idols,
dates back to 3702 B.C., while those of Keops, Kefren and Micerino, in Giza, to
around 2,700 B.C.
Regarding cities,
it is true that Uruk, Irak, of the Epopee of Gilgamesh, dates back to 3200 B.C.,
while the city of Caral in Peru to 3000 B.C.
A photo depicting the Inca civilization
How do you evaluate the relations between Peru
and Egypt?
The political,
cultural and economic relations between both countries are at their highest
level, we share similar approaches in many different issues regarding the
international agenda.
We are close
friends and share mutual respect and impressive history and heritage that have
been benefiting mankind. Our diplomatic mission in Egypt aims to maintain, and even
increase our high-level relations with Egypt and Egyptians.
The Ambassador along with the Embassy's Stuff
What about the cultural
cooperation between both countries?
As the two countries have a rich history, we have signed so many agreements, at least 13 including the agreement between the National Library of Peru and the Library of Alexandria. Also, a MoU was signed between the Ministries of Culture of Peru and Egypt, to promote the fascinating and rich history of both countries.
On my side, I am working on spreading the Peruvian culture in this country and I have made a presentation about Peru’s culture and literature in the Cairo’s City of Culture and Science, to translate the work of our 100 most important writers, from Spanish to Arabic.
In addition, our
Embassy will organize throughout 2019’s first trimester an event to present around
20 essays about Peruvian history, gastronomy, culture, and literature. In this
regard, we are working with the Universities of Cairo and the City of Culture
and Science, to document these efforts.
Also, in this
first trimester, a one-month cultural exposition about Qappaq Ñam, the great
Inka road, including photos and videos, will be held in the Library of
Alexandria.
Peruvian Delicious Cuisine
How do you
evaluate the trade exchange and economic relations between the two countries?
At the present time, our bilateral trade is modest, we export fish, agriculture products, metals, and minerals. On the other side, we import textiles and some products derivate from petrol.
In Egypt we
have a Peruvian beverage company present in the market of sodas, juices and energetic
drinks. Its name is AJE Group Egypt that produces Big Cola. This Peruvian
company has invested USD 80 million in Egypt.
Currently we
are working to increase the trade balance between both countries. We are
planning to export to Egypt more sea products, fish, shrimps, fruits (including
avocados, grapes and bananas), coffee, cocoa, species, textiles, etc.
The Ambassador's visit to Al Azhar's Grand Imam Ahmed Al Tayeb
You are keen on promoting tourism in Peru. In this regard, could you inform our readers about touristic attractions?
Peru owns marvelous touristic sites. People identify Peru with Machu Picchu, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, same goes for the Egyptian Pyramids. On the other hand, Peru, like Egypt, possesses a huge variety of other touristic sites.
Aside from Machu Picchu the Inca cities’ of Ollantaytambo and Choquequirao are enjoyable destinations.
Machu Picchu
In the north of the country, from the city of Tumbes, there are the beaches of Colan, Punta Sal, and Mancora. Also, the pre-Inca cultures as Señor de Sipan, Chan Chan (Chimu), and Mochica are present.
The jungle, including
Loreto, Iquitos, and Madre de Dios in the Amazon, offers a wide range of fauna
and flora.
In Lima, tourists would enjoy the pre-Inca cultures and Peru’s delicious cuisine. Worth noting is that some of the most famous restaurants worldwide are located in Lima.
At the south of
Lima, Nazca, Paracas, both pre-Inca cultures, are located. In the South
Arequipa, the White City, built with a particular white stone, is encountered. Visitors would
enjoy Tacna with its special sun and temperate weather.
In the south-center Puno, there is Titicaca Lake. It is believed that the most ancient Peruvian culture, the Uros, lived there. They existed around 5,000 years B.C. ago.
Photo Credit: Adventure Lies In Front
Another Peru’s treasure is Cuzco, capital of the Inca Empire, in Quechua, with its Inca palaces, squares, temples including the Koricancha (a temple fully covered of gold plates).
What about the Egyptian
touristic places you visited?
We visited Cairo’s Center, Old Cairo, Saladin Citadel, the popular neighborhood of Shoubra, the Coptic quarter, the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, the King Cheops’ ship museum, Alexandria, the Bibliotheca Alexandria, Sharm El Sheikh, Sokhna, and Hurghada.
Saladin Citadel, Photo Credit: Famous Wonders
In October 2018, along with my family, we visited Luxor and Aswan including the Karnak Temple and the Abu Sinbel Complex.
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