KUWAIT CITY, April 27: “Raise your head, you are Egyptian” is the chant that greeted Egyptian Prime Minister, Dr. Essam Sharaf, as he entered Abdullah Al-Jaber Hall at Kuwait University on Wednesday.
A large number of the audience further chanted “the people want the fall of the ambassador” and complained about the Egyptian Embassy and Consulate in Kuwait, saying that it is “useless” and provides a “negative role” for expatriates.

Hundreds of Egyptian expatriates and Kuwaiti supporters attended an open forum organized by the Association of Faculty Members at KU where the Egyptian PM praised Kuwaiti-Egyptian ties and took questions from the audience on the future of Egypt after its January 25 Revolution and Mubarak’s fall. Sharaf is in Kuwait as part of a Gulf tour that includes Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr Moudhi Al-Humoud, also paid an unexpected visit and praised the Egyptian people and their efforts for democracy. The forum counts as an unprecedented event in the history of Egyptians in Kuwait.

“I arrived from my country to my country,” said Sharaf, “Egypt’s relationship with Kuwait stems from the eternal brotherly ties between the two peoples. We feel we are with our brothers who care about Egypt and its future.”

Sharaf reiterated that the security of the Gulf region is essential to the North African country’s security; “Gulf countries have always stood by Egypt and whoever interferes in their affairs is against Egypt,” he added.
Sharaf especially praised the academic environment of the forum and said that “education is a valuable tool as it aims to search for the truth.” The post-revolution PM further commended Egyptians living abroad and informed them that they were instrumental in the sweeping movement for democracy that resulted in the fall of former president, Hosni Mubarak, and his government.

Security
Sharaf reassured the audience that security in Egypt has greatly improved after the return of security officers, adding that there is no reason not to invest in the country as Egypt will provide businesses and investors with all the means to succeed.

“What happened in Egypt is a massive and real revolution; however (Democracy) is a hard process. All that is needed is for you to keep us in your prayers and be proactive in Egypt’s development... Please visit Egypt and see it for yourselves,” he said.

Amidst cheers and statements of praise directed at the PM by Egyptians and Kuwaitis alike, the organizers collected the questions from the attendees and Sharaf listened to Egyptian expatriates’ concerns and questions on the economic and political future of their country.

A large number of people complained about the Embassy of Egypt in Kuwait and the Egyptian Consulate, requesting a new ambassador other than current Ambassador Taher Farahat. One Kuwaiti student called for the right of Egyptians living abroad to evaluate their embassies.

Egypt’s first post-revolution Prime Minister, Dr Essam Sharaf, was former minister of transport who was appointed in 2004 but resigned in 2006 due to high levels of corruption. Among his credentials, Sharaf earned a degree in engineering from Cairo University in 1975 and worked briefly as an assistant lecturer. He then headed to the State of Indiana in the US and studied at Purdue University and earned a Masters degree in engineering in 1980 and a PhD in transport engineering in 1984.

Sharaf was active in the Egypt’s 2011 Revolution and present in Tahrir Square during protests, which earned him the trust of the people.

 On March 4 he was inaugurated in the square as the new Egyptian PM. He addressed the Egyptian people saying “I draw my legitimacy from you” and promised a democratic transition for Egypt.