عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Cairo Asks UNESCO Not to ‘Politicize Discussions’

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the President of the Executive Board of UNESCO. (Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the President of the Executive Board of UNESCO. (Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
TT
20
TT

Cairo Asks UNESCO Not to ‘Politicize Discussions’

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the President of the Executive Board of UNESCO. (Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with the President of the Executive Board of UNESCO. (Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Egypt has urged the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to abstain from “politicizing discussions” at its headquarters.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met on Monday with Tamara Rastovac, President of the Executive Board of UNESCO.

The organization should adopt its decisions based on consensus, following broad consultation, according to the Minister.

Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Shoukry called on UNESCO to focus on its “main tasks in the areas of education, science and culture”.

The meeting also discussed ways to strengthen the role of UNESCO in supporting the requests of member states to restore their stolen cultural heritage and property, said Abu Zeid.

For her part, Rastovac stressed her keenness to work through consensus and the participation of all members in formulating the stances of the organization away from political polarization, to ensure the implementation of its developmental and cultural goals.

Egypt has raised this topic several times. In 2018, Cairo warned, in its speech during the 204th session of the UNESCO Executive Board, against the consequences of continuing to politicize the organization and involving it in political issues.

Cairo had said that the organization has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of member states.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Israel Is Ramping up Annexation of West Bank, UN Rights Chief Says 

Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)
Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)
TT
20
TT

Israel Is Ramping up Annexation of West Bank, UN Rights Chief Says 

Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)
Israeli army vehicles block a road during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, 14 March 2025. (EPA)

Israel has significantly expanded and consolidated settlements in the occupied West Bank as part of the steady integration of these territories into the State of Israel, in breach of international law, the UN human rights office said on Tuesday.

The report to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council later this month comes amid growing fears of annexation amid US policy shifts under President Donald Trump and new settler outposts in areas of the West Bank seen as part of a future Palestinian state.

"The transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime," UN High Commissioner Volker Turk said in a statement accompanying the report, urging the international community to take meaningful action on Israel’s advancing settlement.

"Israel must immediately and completely cease all settlement activities and evacuate all settlers, stop the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population, and prevent and punish attacks by its security forces and settlers," he said.

Israel disengaged from the UN Human Rights Council earlier this year, alleging a chronic anti-Israeli bias. Its military says it is conducting counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank and targeting suspected militants.