MPs call for uncovering Qatar’s bribes to win UNESCO post

CAIRO – 11 October 2017: Members of the House of Representatives called for uncovering Qatar’s energetic lobbying for the UNESCO post that involves financial incentives to other countries, especially African countries, to win their support in the elections.

Moshira Khattab has the right qualifications for the post, and so has a great chance to win the elections, but Qatar has been able to systematically manipulate the results of the elections.

“Qatar’s manipulation during the elections of UNESCO’s Director-General makes the elections difficult. Consequently, the diplomatic role should take an action toward it,” said MP Ali Abdul Wahid.

UNESCO’s Director-General elections witnessed some unexpected turns. The Qatari candidate managed to amass more votes than was ever expected, amid suspicions that this was a move by major member states to close the race between the Qatari candidate and one of their own.

“Egypt should not have depended on only one voting bloc as we should have looked for more alliances,” stated a member of the parliamentary Education Committee Fayez Barakat.

The first of four rounds of the UNESCO voting for a new Director-General resulted in 11 votes for Egypt's Moshira Khattab, 19 for Qatar's Hamad Abdul Aziz al-Kawari, and 13 for France's Audrey Azoulay.

The second of four rounds of the UNESCO voting resulted in 12 votes for Egypt's Moshira Khattab, 20 votes for Qatar, and 13 votes for France.

The Qatari candidate received 19 votes in the first round and 20 votes in the second round, causing suspicions that the Qatari regime bought supportive voices.

The winning candidate must obtain 30 votes, which did not occur in the first round but possible by a potential fifth round, to be held on Friday. The candidates who amassed the highest number of votes in the fourth round will compete in the fifth.