The bust of the outstanding Dagestani poet Rasul Gamzatov (1923 – 2003) was opened on Sunday, March 28, in the Egyptian capital Cairo. The ceremony took place in the city center, in the El-Hurriya park near the Cairo Opera House.
Russian Ambassador Georgy Borisenko, Deputy Governor of the Egyptian capital General Mohammed Sultan, representatives of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, cultural and scientific workers, Russian diplomats and journalists took part in the celebration, TASS reports.
The monument was created by the Egyptian artist and sculptor, a member of the Association of Russian and Soviet Universities Alumni Osama al-Serui. He presented the sculpture as a gift to the city administration.
As the Russian ambassador noted in his speech, the opening of the monument will be one of the most striking events in the framework of the cross-year of humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Egypt.
“Undoubtedly, this will help to familiarize the Egyptians with the richest cultural heritage of Russia,” Borisenko said.
In turn, the head of the Russian House in Cairo Alexei Tevanyan thanked the Egyptian partners for their support in the implementation of the project and read out the address of the President of the Foundation, Rasul Gamzatov, Salikhat Gamzatova. The letter emphasizes that Gamzatov repeatedly visited Egypt and was friends with many writers and cultural figures of the country.
In November 2018, a monument to Gamzatov was unveiled in Nepal during the celebrations marking the 95th anniversary of the poet.