Cairo: Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi emphasized the importance of maintaining close cooperation between Cairo and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in areas of education, culture, and heritage preservation. He expressed these sentiments during a meeting with UNESCO's newly elected Director General, Dr. Khaled Al-Enany, attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty, as reported by Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohammad Al-Shennawi.
According to Kuwait News Agency, during the meeting, President Al-Sisi congratulated Dr. Al-Enany on his recent election to the UN body's top post. He regarded this achievement as a "historic" milestone that reflects Egypt's esteemed status and the international community's deep appreciation of its rich cultural heritage, intellectual contributions, and active participation in regional and international events.
The Egyptian president reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to UNESCO's activities and initiatives aimed at building bridges of communication among diverse cultures and peoples. Dr. Al-Enany, in response, expressed that the international trust placed in him necessitates diligent efforts to enhance international cooperation for the protection of global heritage, dissemination of knowledge, and the establishment of values such as intercultural peace, coexistence, and tolerance.
Dr. Al-Enany further highlighted that his vision for the future focuses on achieving UNESCO's objectives and revitalizing its role. His election as UNESCO Director-General was announced by Egypt on Monday, having secured an overwhelming majority of 55 out of 57 votes from the organization's Executive Board.