"It is perfectly logical that Italy and Egypt should work together to preserve the environment. Our two countries cooperate in a wide range of fields - politics, economics, culture and science - and it is only natural for them to join forces to protect the environment, a resource common to all countries and all peoples.

Only recently have the scientific community and general public of our two countries become aware of the growing threats to the environment from a combination of population growth and accelerated economic development. And it is thus only recently that our countries have begun to give a certain political priority and devote part of their resources to protecting their own environments, seeing them as part of the common environment of all humankind.

We have come to understand that, even if the environment does not have a price, it has a value - and a major one - and that it would be a mistake to see environmental protection as a constraint on economic growth, instead of one of the major factors in the development of our nations.

The Wadi el Rayan project will not only serve to protect the two beautiful lakes, the desert, the springs, the geological remains and the archaeological sites of the area, but will also go a long way towards raising environmental awareness among the general population, and especially the young. I therefore want to express sincere praise and gratitude to all the experts, administrators, rangers and other workers, both Egyptian and Italian, who have implemented the first phase of the project. They can be proud of what they have achieved, and I am sure that, under the wise leadership of the Minister of State for Environmental Affairs of the Republic of Egypt, their work will provide the foundation for further achievements in environmental protection and management.

Italy stands ready to continue its cooperation with Egypt in this endeavour."

Francesco Aloisi de Larderel