If we were to make proper use of the natural resources granted to us by nature, the standing of all Arabs would be elevated

Sons of Syria and Lebanon,

I am pleased to meet with you today. I had hoped this meeting could have taken place in the morning, but I do not wish to deprive you of the opportunity to discover Egypt and its renaissance. There is no doubt that many of you are visiting Egypt for the first time, and there is no doubt that you have felt the warmth, generosity, and respect that befits you as young people representing Arab national pride.

Certainly, this hospitality and warmth cannot be compared to the emotions and deep affection that Egyptians feel for all Arabs. And I am sure that you have sensed these feelings. You are the generation that will build the Arab renaissance and the hope that inspires all Arabs.

We must feel pride and dignity—and this can only be achieved if we trust one another. Trust is the first sign of success. We must fight for this conviction. This is not a time for defeat or weakness—it is a time of strength. And that strength will only be realized through holding firmly to our mutual trust. Trust is the foremost tool with which we can resist foreign exploiters.

There is a fundamentally flawed theory that claims Egypt lacks an Arab spirit. This is a false illusion. You have no doubt seen this for yourselves during your brief visit. When I was a young man, my spirit was always drawn toward the Arab world—not toward Europe at all. This, in my opinion, is the greatest evidence of our true orientation. This is not mere propaganda or deception—we truly feel this spiritual connection, and you have experienced it yourselves on this brief journey.

There is another point I would like us to recognize clearly at this time: our strength stems from our Arab identity. Our identity is the greatest weapon we possess, and we are always fighting to preserve it.
Palestine lost its identity. We must defend ourselves against this threat that faces us all. We must feel it and believe in it—otherwise, we will be walking down the path of extinction. Our efforts must be united in pursuit of Arab strength and dignity.

The greatest responsibility now lies upon all of us, especially the countries that have achieved independence. Syria and Lebanon must work to protect their own independence and that of others. This responsibility is upon the youth—indeed, upon all of us.

Another factor we must understand and prioritize is our strategic position. In the past, this position was a cause of our weakness, colonization, and subjugation. That was in the past. Today, this position must be a source of our strength, greatness, and dignity.

There is no doubt that any negligence regarding this strategic location will harm us—and harm you, the youth of the Arab world.

The natural resources with which nature has blessed us—if we utilize them properly—can elevate the status of all Arabs. This region contains around 60% of the world’s oil reserves. If the flow of this oil to the European military were to stop, it would paralyze their armies, rendering them immobile.
If we can turn these factors into reality, we will achieve strength, pride, and dignity. This is your mission—O youth. If you become complacent, foreign powers will surely exploit this weakness and negligence.

Youth,

We have lived through similar circumstances and have always shared common feelings. We have waged a noble struggle that echoed throughout the nation. When the struggle in Syria and Lebanon succeeded and independence was achieved, Egypt followed suit and gained its independence.
Our struggle cannot be separated from yours. Any disturbance in your countries is a disturbance in ours. You—Arab youth—whose fathers and forefathers fought for your freedom, must preserve this noble struggle. You must protect the dear independence for which your fathers and forefathers shed their blood. Know that Egypt will always be at the forefront—rely on it and place your trust in it.

We hope this brief visit will be the beginning of a series of visits to enable Arab youth to share in the intellectual renaissance we all seek.
We work for one goal: the progress of the Arab world. And we hope to be the first to serve that cause.

Peace and blessings be upon you.

"Speech of President Gamal Abdel Nasser to the Syrian and Lebanese Youth Delegation
on February 26, 1955."