Ain Shams University launched the university’s cultural and artistic season for the new academic year with a symposium titled “From the Victories of the October War to the Achievements of the New Republic”, coinciding with the university’s celebrations of the fifty-first anniversary of the glorious October victories.

Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of the University, inaugurated the symposium’s activities in the presence of Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, and Prof. Heba Shaheen, Dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication.

The symposium was organized by the Community Service and Environmental Development Sector in cooperation with the Education and Students Sector and the Faculty of Mass Communication , in the presence of the students of the Faculty of Media and the Students for Egypt Central Family.

Major General Staff Officer. Dr. Samir Farag emphasized the memory of the great October victories that completed their 51st year, and highlighted the epic of the Egyptians’ participation in this great victory and how the will of the people merged with the political will and the armed forces in achieving the glorious victory of 1973.

He stressed that Egypt achieved an unprecedented accomplishment and was able to overcome the defeat of 1967, before crossing the Bar Lev Line in 1973, by believing in the homeland. The enemy did not succeed in spreading the spirit of despair even if it was able to occupy the land, as the Egyptian army rose after the defeat to rebuild its capabilities and begin the battles of attrition and prepare for victory.

His Excellency stressed that the Egyptian Armed Forces provided lessons to the global military thought through its heroism in the October 1973 War, which the world considered a miracle in modern military history.

He added that the Egyptians changed the military concepts associated with comparing forces, after the basis for calculating the military superiority of the state was based on the number of its forces, and the number and types of its weapons and equipment, from tanks, cannons and aircraft, which changed in the October War of 1973.

The symposium activities included screening a number of documentaries about the events of the 1967 defeat and the difficult day of June 9, then the Battle of Ras al-Esh, which lasted 7 hours and repelled the enemy’s attack, then the destruction and sinking of the destroyer Eilat, which became a lesson taught in war strategies and the manufacture of submarines around the world, then the strategic plan for the October War and building a missile wall to repel Israeli attacks inside Sinai during the start of the crossing and storming of the Bar Lev Line.

His Excellency also discussed the film “Golda”, which documented the days of the October War and the reactions in Israel during the war, and then discussed the American reactions to October 73.

His Excellency also explained the current tense situation around Egypt and the regional conflicts and wars that surround it from all directions, “from the western side in Libya, the southern side in Sudan and Yemen, and the eastern side in Gaza and Lebanon,” stressing that we live in an age of communicating vessels, meaning that whatever conflicts and wars occur in one country necessarily affects the internal situation of other countries.

Major General Dr. Samir Farag added that despite these and other risks, the state is building the new republic and is armed with science, thought, progress and technology, through the increasing number of Egyptian universities, in addition to the expansion of urbanization and agricultural and urban areas. He stressed that Egypt is a peace-seeking state, but at the same time it is capable of protecting its rights and land.

His Excellency stressed the necessity of preserving the gains of the glorious October victory, sensing the spirit of October, and working hard and with dedication for Egypt, developing it and leading it in various fields.

At the end of the meeting, Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen presented the university shield to Major General Staff Officer Samir Farag in appreciation of his historic career.

The symposium was followed by a concert presented by the “Oun” Choir, where the audience interacted with the patriotic songs that ignited the spirit of enthusiasm among the students.