Paris: The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) elected Egyptian Khaled El-Enany today, Monday, by an overwhelming majority and the highest vote in the organization’s history.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced that El-Enany received the votes of 55 out of the 57 member states of UNESCO’s Executive Board, marking the largest number of votes ever garnered by a candidate for the Director-General position since UNESCO’s establishment in 1945.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended its warmest congratulations to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Egyptian people, and the Arab and African peoples on this achievement. It highlighted that the victory is a testament to the confidence the member states have in Egyptian diplomacy and El-Enany’s competence, underscoring his cultural contributions and comprehensive vision for UNESCO’s work.

The ministry explained that the success was the result of a 30-month-long election campaign spearheaded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under President El-Sisi’s direction. The campaign aimed to secure this historic achievement for Egypt, a nation with a unique civilization deserving of representation at the helm of this significant international organization dedicated to human heritage.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister noted that El-Enany’s election is a tribute to the cultural, civilizational, and intellectual contributions of Egypt and the broader Arab and African worlds over millennia. He expressed gratitude to the League of Arab States, the African Union, and all countries that supported Egypt and its candidate.

Abdel-Ati emphasized the responsibility that accompanies this trust, urging all UNESCO member states to work together to safeguard heritage, contribute to knowledge dissemination, and promote peace, coexistence, and tolerance among civilizations.