Suzanne Mubarak receives Mediterranean culture award in Italy

Receiving the prize "Mediterranean of Culture" from the "Accademia Del Mediterraneo in Naples on Tuesday, Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak said the Mediterranean must become the cradle "of a global culture of peace in a world torn by war and hatred."

"The very name of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina conjures up the image of glorious past, of a shared heritage, not just between Italy, Greece and Egypt, nor even for the whole Mediterranean, but a shared heritage for all humanity," she said.

Egypt's first lady cited that at the ancient Bibliotheca Alexandrina that Aristarchus was the first person to state that the earth revolves around the sun, 1800 years before Copernicus.

Mrs. Mubarak said such scholars opened up cultures of the world, established a true dialogue of civilization, promoted rationality, tolerance and understanding and organized universal knowledge.

"For over six centuries, the ancient Bibliotheca Alexandrina epitomized the zenith of learning," Mrs. Mubarak said. But she lamented that the new Mediterranean in which we live is still a place of hard conflicts and much bloodshed.

From the Balkans to the Middle East, from Algeria to Corsica the painful images of intolerance and prejudice cannot be ignored, she added.

Mrs. Mubarak referred to the "Reading for All" campaign as another pearl in the crown of knowledge and wisdom in Egypt.

This national campaign, to which I dedicated sincere efforts and long years brings the fruits of both heritage and contemporary culture to millions of families that could have otherwise been deprived of such enriching encounters Mrs.Mubarak said. Mrs. Mubarak received the award in recognition of her role in the rebirth of Bibliotheca Alexandrina.