National Working Group for Egypt’s UNESCO Director-General Candidacy holds its 4th meeting

CAIRO – 8 September 2024: The National Working Group, established by Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2138 of 2023 to support Egypt's candidacy for the post of UNESCO Director-General, held its fourth quarterly meeting. Dr. Khaled El-Enany, the Egyptian candidate for the position, attended alongside representatives from various ministries and entities.

The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Amr El-Gowily, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs and International Security.

Ambassador El-Gowily reported that the Working Group reviewed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' efforts since the third meeting, held at the end of April. These efforts included international outreach to UNESCO member states, participation in foreign tours, issuing decisions from international and regional organizations, and organizing international public promotional activities. Domestically, coordination with various ministries and the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture was also highlighted.

The meeting underscored the high priority assigned to this nomination by all national bodies, emphasizing that it represents an Egyptian-Arab-African candidacy.

The group discussed the significant contributions and procedural support provided by each body and identified enhanced steps needed in the coming period. Participants stressed the importance of a unified effort from all ministries and national entities to boost the Egyptian candidate’s chances of securing this key position for the Arab world, the African continent, and the global south.

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Badr Abdelatty held, on Thursday, a comprehensive meeting with the ambassadors of Arab countries accredited to Cairo, in presence to Dr. Khaled El-Enany, the Egyptian candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO, was also present.

The meeting involved an in-depth discussion on various issues of mutual interest affecting the security and stability of the Arab region, said the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid. The ambassadors reaffirmed their support for Dr. Khaled El-Enany’s candidacy for the position of Director-General of UNESCO, in line with the decision of the Arab Summit in Manama.