Egypt re-elected to UNESCO executive board for 2021-2025

CAIRO – 17 November 2021: Egypt got re-elected as a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after garnering 130 votes during Wednesday’s elections.

The UNESCO comprises 58 member-states with a four-year term of office for each.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the re-election of Egypt for consecutive terms in the UNESCO is considered an international recognition of Egypt’s active role and position in the UN generally and the UNESCO specifically.

The ministry’s spokesman, Ahmed Hafez, said this win crowns efforts made by the ministry and Egyptian embassies and envoys to garner votes in favor of re-electing Egypt as UNESCO executive board member.

On Friday, Egypt’s President Fattah El-Sisi said Egypt is keen on cooperating with UNESCO to protect Egyptian sites registered on the world heritage list.

In a speech at the celebration marking the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the world organization, the president said Egypt gives great attention to active participation with various apparatuses, activities and technical programs of the organization.

The president noted that the celebration coincides with the great leap in antiquities field in Egypt in the past period in which a number of archeological discoveries were revealed, development and renovation of artifacts and the opening of a number of museums including National Civilization Museum.

Sisi asserted that Egypt is proud of being among the founding states of the UNESCO.

The president hailed a cooperation project with UNESCO to save the temples of Abu Simbel and Philae from drowning, which lasted for two decades of the past century.