Cairo: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi emphasized the importance of continued close cooperation between Egypt and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the fields of education, culture, and heritage preservation. Sisi asserted Egypt’s commitment to supporting UNESCO’s humanitarian initiatives and working jointly to build bridges of understanding between cultures and nations. This came during Sisi’s meeting with Khaled El-Enany, the newly elected Director-General of UNESCO.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty. Presidential Spokesman Mohamed el Shennawy stated that President Sisi began the meeting by congratulating El-Enany on his sweeping victory in the UNESCO Executive Board elections, where he secured the support of 55 out of 57 member states, leading to his election as director-general of the organization.

The President noted that this achievement represents a historic milestone and reflects Egypt’s esteemed international standing. It also underscores the world’s deep appreciation for Egypt’s rich civilizational and cultural heritage, as well as its intellectual contributions and influential presence on regional and global platforms. President Sisi expressed his sincere gratitude to the countries that supported Egypt’s candidate.

El-Enany appreciated President Sisi for his unwavering support throughout the nomination process. He also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its ambassadors and diplomats, Egypt’s delegation to UNESCO, members of his campaign team, and all national institutions involved, support that culminated in this historic victory. El-Enany affirmed that the international trust placed in him entails a great responsibility, requiring sustained efforts to strengthen international cooperation for the protection of world heritage, the dissemination of knowledge, and the promotion of peace, coexistence, and tolerance among civilizations.

He also outlined his vision for the coming phase, which aims to advance UNESCO’s objectives and reinforce the organization’s role in its core areas of work.