Renowned Egyptologist becomes new UNESCO Director-General

Mr. El-Enany graduated from Hélouan University (south of Cairo) and spent many years teaching at Paul-Valéry University Montpellier (France), where he was invited as a visiting professor from 2006 to 2023.

According to a VNA reporter in Paris, with an overwhelming victory over Congolese candidate Firmin Edouard Matoko, who received 55/58 votes, former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany was elected as Director General of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), replacing his French predecessor Audrey Azoulay after an 8-year term.

The election took place on October 6 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris and Mr. El-Enany's name will be submitted to the UNESCO General Conference, which gathers 193 member countries, scheduled to meet in Samarcande (Uzbekistan) on November 6, for official approval according to a formal procedure.

Outgoing Audrey Azoulay congratulated her successor: “I congratulate Egypt, a diplomatic power that is playing a role in mediating peace ,” referring to the Middle East talks currently taking place in the city of Sharm el-Sheikh. A renowned Egyptologist, Mr. El-Enany graduated from Hélouan University (south of Cairo) and taught for many years at Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier (France), where he was invited as a visiting professor from 2006 to 2023.

A renowned Egyptologist, Mr. El-Enany graduated from Hélouan University (south of Cairo) and spent many years teaching at Paul-Valéry University Montpellier (France), where he was invited as a visiting professor from 2006 to 2023.

During his tenure as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities (2016-2022), he modernized visitor reception at sites, initiated a “heritage card” program for Egyptians, and directed the restoration of many important museums.

Mr. El-Enany, who is fluent in French and English, sees culture as “a tool for dialogue and development.”

“I started out as a tour guide, so I understand the economic power of culture and the role of cultural diplomacy in changing people's lives,” he once shared.

He affirmed his vision as “a UNESCO for people – helping them act to defend human rights, promote education, promote scientific progress and ensure access to culture and freedom of expression.”

The new Director-General will face a daunting task: consolidating UNESCO's position in a context where the post-1945 international order is fracturing and the organization is under increasing pressure from major powers.

During his testimony before the 58-member Executive Council, he pledged to pursue an “open policy,” maintain regular dialogue, handle all cases “on an equal, non-politicized basis,” and respond promptly to all requests from countries.

Mr. El-Enany's priority focus is to address the financial difficulties caused by the US's planned withdrawal from UNESCO at the end of 2026, causing the organization to lose $75 million a year on a total budget of about $900 million.

“Without a budget, there can be no action,” he affirmed, calling fundraising and mobilizing new resources “a number one priority,” while remaining optimistic about the possibility of convincing the US to return to UNESCO in the future./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nha-ai-cap-hoc-danh-tieng-tro-thanh-tong-giam-doc-moi-cua-unesco-post1068530.vnp