Cairo celebrated Friday the appointment of Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The official website of the Egyptian government wrote on its Facebook page that Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with Wali on Friday, welcoming UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ decision to appoint her the new Director-General of the UN office in Vienna.
“This choice expresses the well-deserved international recognition of Egypt’s international positions and its role in anti-terrorism, organized crimes and drugs. It is also a recognition of the competence of the Egyptian Minister (Wali),” the government statement said.
Also commenting on the appointment, the Foreign Ministry said: “Wali has the experience and the competence qualifying her to this important position, which will serve the best interest of member countries and achieve the office's goals in facing the challenges resulting from organized crime and the spread of drugs and addiction.”
It added that Egypt is keen on contributing to supporting the United Nations system and enhancing multilateral cooperation, whether through Egyptian nationals holding positions in the United Nations or its missions to the organization and its specialized agencies, fostering the implementation of the UN Charter principles and goals.
Wali was appointed minister in 2014. She has previously served in the governments of former Prime Ministers Ibrahim Mahlab and Sherif Ismail.
The Foreign Ministry expressed its appreciation to Guterres’ efforts to support international peace, security and sustainable development.
In her first comments following her appointment, Wali said: “My selection to the post reflects an international recognition of the role Egypt plays internationally.”
She said that organized crime, drugs and corruption deprive communities from development.
“Trafficking in human beings is what mostly threatens human dignity, particularly of women and children,” Wali added.
