Journey of Czechoslovak Cultural Delegation to Egypt in 1956: “Cultural Agreement” between Egypt and the Czechoslovak Republic

Abstract

Czechoslovak interests in Egypt were fostered since 1920s. Diplomatic relations were already established in 1922 and smoothly continued even during the World War Two. In the second half of the 1950s there was more noticeable regeneration of mutual relations when Czechoslovakia, as a result of the Soviet Union's new political trend, supplied military equipment to the Egyptian Army. Additionally to the arms supply, the economic relations revived and both countries also established cultural cooperation. In 1956, Czechoslovak Cultural Delegation arrived in Egypt within the Cultural Agreement negotiations. The delegation's assignment was to prepare the documentation for this agreement. However, one of the substantial results of these negotiations included the establishment of the Czechoslovak Institute of Egyptology, based in Prague and in Cairo.