Paris (AP) – UNESCO It is scheduled to have the first overseer of the Arab world after Egypt’s former tourism and ancient minister Khaled el Anani was appointed to the agency’s executive committee on Monday.
If confirmed at the UNESCO General Assembly next month, El Anani will inherit the agency that will rewind from the recent decision of the Trump administration. Pulling out the USbail for budget shortages at the most well-known agents of World Heritage Sites around the world.
El Anani was seen as the forefront of his position as manager general and won the vote on Monday against his only challenger, Republic of Congo economist Farmin Eduard Matco.
The decision by the board representing the Agency’s 58 members 194 member states is expected to be finalized at the meeting of UNESCO’s general assembly in Uzbekistan next month.
Noble ambitions and enduring problems
In addition to selection and protection World Heritage Sites and Traditions, The Paris-based UN Education, Science and Cultural Organization is one of the most active activities, ensuring education for girls, promoting Holocaust awareness, promoting scientific research in developing countries and among other activities. UNESCO Chief Audrey Azurey led a particularly high-profile effort to rebuild. The ancient Iraqi city of Mosul After being devastated under the Islamic State Group.
UNESCO has also been plagued by mismanagement and accusations of waste for a long time.
Trump argues that the institutions that voted to recognize Palestine as a member in 2011 are too politicized and anti-Israel. Meanwhile, UNESCO US supporters say China can play a major role in the world group as it withdraws its support from Washington.
Meanwhile, votes come at times The entire UN system at the age of 80 It faces economic challenges in the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and deepens its division.
The candidate will become UNESCO’s first Arab leader
El Anani, 54, worked as a tour guide Ancient Egyptian site, He earned his PhD in France and became a well-known Egyptian scholar before working for the government. He served as Minister of Bones and Quantum from 2016 to 2019, then headed the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Ancients for two years after the merger of the two portfolios.
He is currently a university professor and teaches Egyptology at a public university in Cairo.
The Arab countries have long wanted to lead UNESCO. The African Union and the Arab Federation are among those who expressed support for his bid.
Egyptian President Abdel Fatta Elssi He welcomed the news and called the nomination “a historic achievement added to the Egyptian diplomatic and cultural records and the achievements of the Arabs and African people.” ”
During his tenure in government, El Anani oversaw the launch of a megatourism project, which includes several ancient discoveries that helped revive the Egyptian Civilization Museum in Cairo, Jewish Temples, and the country’s abused tourism sector.
El Anani is expected to focus on UNESCO’s cultural programmes and is committed to continuing UNESCO’s work to combat anti-Semitism and religious intolerance. Israel left UNESCO in 2018.
He has no experience with the United Nations, but his supporters say it will help him make tough reform decisions. He also says he’s trying to bring the US back to the UNESCO crease.
The Challenger is an insider from UNESCO
Farmin Matco, 69, spent most of his career at UNESCO, including a stint in Rwanda shortly after the genocide during peace talks in El Salvador.
He said he hopes UNESCO will focus on technical solutions. He helped support teacher training in Somali refugee camps in the 1990s, explaining that she would meet a few years after becoming Minister of Education.
Both candidates pledged to use more private sector money to compensate for the loss of the US and other funds, and continued efforts began under Azurei.
___
Associated Press authors Angela Charlton of Paris and Faye Abuergasim of Cairo contributed to this report.
