3rd upcoming Egyptian UN statement in August: Foreign Min

CAIRO - 19 July 2017: Egypt affirms its plan to confront terrorism internationally by August 2017, when it heads UN Security Council again for the third time, stated Ambassador Hesham Badr Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral Relations and International Security on Tuesday.

“In August sessions we intend to issue a new statement regarding armament of terrorist groups, and weapons they acquire through different means,” Badr added during a Tuesday roundtable discussion held by the diplomatic Egyptian club with the association of the UN in Egypt and the UN Egyptian association.

This new third upcoming statement is preceded by “two statements (released) earlier in May 2016 and in March 2017 in the Security Council,” he added “So we hope to continue the circle of the 3 elements of countering terrorism,” Badr said.


Hesham Badr - Aya Samir

In May 2016 a presidential statement was issued to UN Security Council detailing the strategy of countering terrorism ideologies. Later in March 2017 another guideline memo was issued on ways and means of fighting terrorism, according to Badr.

Egypt won a membership of the Security Council for the non-permanent seat for the years 2016-2017 with 179 votes In May 2015, “which was a strong message regarding the Egyptian role in the region,” according to Badr.

He added that “We were not only representing the Egyptian governmental bodies, but also we had a great responsibility discussing the Arabian and African cases in the Council, especially with the little representation of Arabs and African countries.”

“During our non-permanent membership period in the security council we are keen on making the best we can, especially when it comes to countering terrorism,” Badr said in his speech.

Model UN, Arab League roundtable to change what others could not?

The roundtable discussion, which was originally held to discuss the importance of the UN and the Model Arab League students in colleges and schools, was presented by Ambassador Hesham Badr Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral Relations and International Security.

Also, Ambassador Amr El Gewaily Head of the Cultural Committee of the Diplomatic Club, Ambassador Ezzat el-Behairy head of the Egyptian UN Association, the Arab League Spokesman Mahmoud Afifi, United Nations Resident Coordinator Richard Dictus, Egypt Nominated Candidate for UNESCO Secretary General Moushira Khatab and huge number of the Egyptian students who participated in the United Nations and The Model Arab League.

“I hope the coming generations get the chance to do and change what the current generation failed to do especially with their governments,” Dictus said during his speech referring to the Model UN students.

He added that through these models students learn the UN ethics and adopt the cases of peace, prosperity and justice and get the chance of working on it. “We need the youth ideas and innovations to come out finally and make people able to live with each other peacefully,” Dictus said adding that he believes in the United Nations ability of change and that all of the students who participated in similar models need to believe that it will add value to their country.

Other ambassador’s speeches were mostly about the importance of the student models and how most of them were part of it one day even before joining the diplomatic career.

“As part of the Arab league, I can say that we benefit from these models in enhancing and deepening the relation between us and the people, they need to know about our work, and the united nation’s work. It is not only for the favor of the students,” Arab League’s Spokesman Mahmoud Afifi said.

UNESCO Secretary General candidate Moushira Khatab said that the participation of the youth in these models represent a huge chance not only for them, but for the “peace building” processes in the world as a whole. “It takes allot to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and defend it,” she added.