UNESCO has a new Egyptian Director-General

Former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany has been elected as Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Mr. Khaled El-Enany

With an overwhelming victory over Congolese candidate Firmin Edouard Matoko, who won 55/58 votes, former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany was elected to hold the position of 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 presented to the UNESCO General Conference of 193 member states, scheduled to meet in Samarcande, Uzbekistan, on November 6 for formal approval. Outgoing Audrey Azoulay congratulated her successor: “I would like to 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 Montpellier (France), where he was invited as a visiting professor from 2006 to 2023. During his time 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.” He once said: “I started my career as a tour guide, so I understand the economic power of culture and the role of cultural diplomacy in changing people’s lives.” He affirmed his vision as “a UNESCO for people – helping them take action to protect 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. In his confirmation hearing before the 58-member Executive Board, he pledged to pursue a “policy of openness,” maintain regular dialogue, handle all files “on an equal and non-politicized basis,” and respond promptly to requests from countries.

Mr. El-Enany’s priority is to address the financial difficulties caused by the US’s planned withdrawal from UNESCO at the end of 2026, which will cost the organization $75 million a year on a total budget of about $900 million. “Without a budget, there can be no action,” he asserted, calling fundraising and mobilizing new resources “priority number one,” while remaining optimistic about the possibility of convincing the US to return to UNESCO in the future.

According to VNA

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/unesco-co-tong-giam-doc-moi-nguoi-ai-cap-522887.html