As part of the Cultural Season of Beirut Arab University, the Historian Prof. Hassan Hallak gave a lecture on the Egyptian-Lebanese social, economic, political, educational and demographic relations. The event took place at Jamal Abdul Naser Hall on the 12th of January 2012 in the presence of Deputy Dr. Ammar Houri representing the former Prime Ministers Fouad Senyora and Saad Al Hariri; the first secretary at the Egyptian embassy, Mr. Baher Al Shouwaikhi; the counselor of the Egyptian embassy, Mr. Kassem Mohammad Kassem, the president of BAU, Professor Amr Galal El-Adawi; Deans of Faculties; BAU Secretary General, Mr. Issam Houri; faculty members, administrators and a crowd of interested people.
Prof. Hallak expressed the belief that the economic integration between Egypt and Lebanon began many centuries ago through the ports of Alexandria, Damietta, and Rashid on one hand, and Tripoli, Tyr, Sidon, and Beirut on the other. He also talked about the mutual educational impact of the Egyptians and the Lebanese on each of Lebanon and Egypt, be it by scientists, intellectuals, and Lebanese Journalists in Egypt (Al Ahram, Al Muqtataf, Al Hilal, and Al Manar as models) or by Lebanese scientists who received their education at Al Azhar Al Sharif or at Egyptian universities, and thus had their direct impact on the Lebanese life (Al Mufti Al Shaikh Ahmad Al Barbir, Al Mufti Al Shaikh Ahmad Al Agharr, Al Shaikh Ahmad Abbas Al Azhari, Rashid Karami, Amin Al Hafez, Omar Misqawi, Zahia Kaddoura, Subhi Al Saleh, etc.)
Prof. Hallak pointed out that population blending between the Egyptian and Lebanese families is obvious through mixed marriages or the reciprocal immigration between the two countries. He also talked about Egypt’s supportive position to the independence of Lebanon ever since 1943 to this day as well as the support of Lebanon in the Egyptian national and nationalistic struggles in 1952, the tripartite aggression against Egypt in 1956, the war in 1967, and the October War in 1973.
Prof. Hallak added that the peak of special relations between Egypt and Lebanon was when the late President, Jamal Abdul Naser, announced his agreement with Al Bir wal Ihsan Association to establish Beirut Arab University in 1960 and thus broke the monopoly of higher education in Lebanon and the Arab world. Since then, Beirut Arab University has managed to graduate 100.000 students of the finest graduates. He concluded that the DNA examination in some Egyptians and Lebanese regions and cities has confirmed the fact that the Egyptian-Lebanese family roots are identical and the family descent is one.
