Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty with Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC and Director-General of the UN Office in Vienna during their meeting, Photo courtesy of Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty highlighted in the meeting Egypt’s plan to establish a global center of excellence to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property, a first of its kind worldwide.
The initiatives reflect Egypt’s commitment to leveraging international expertise and sharing knowledge to strengthen regional capacities in critical security and cultural protection domains.
FM Abdelatty also emphasized Egypt’s readiness to train both national and African personnel and to collaborate with UNODC to ensure effective governance and stability in these sectors.
Regarding maritime security, the Foreign Minister expressed his hope for the UN Office’s support in combating organized crime in the Red Sea and providing technical and logistical assistance to enhance freedom of navigation and stability in the region.
He emphasized that governance of the Red Sea remains an exclusive responsibility of the littoral states, as they are directly concerned with maintaining its security, stability, and sustainable resources, thereby reinforcing the principle of regional ownership in managing its affairs.
He also reviewed the measures Egypt has taken to address the increasing challenges in the Red Sea.
The meeting also addressed preparations for the International Conference on Early Recovery, Reconstruction, and Development in the Gaza Strip, to be held in Egypt.
Minister Abdelatty affirmed Egypt’s desire for active participation from all UN agencies and programs to benefit from their expertise, particularly during the early recovery phase as a precursor to reconstruction.
He further expressed hope that the UNODC would contribute to supporting the conference’s efforts, ensuring clear commitments and immediate early recovery projects that help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Dr. Waly presented a copy of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024, which aims to promote international cooperation and facilitate the exchange of electronic evidence in tackling serious crimes.
The two officials agreed on the importance of joint efforts to build capacities, share expertise, and address emerging challenges in cybercrime, cultural property protection, and regional security.
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