Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty
FM Abdelatty made these remarks while attending the ministerial meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
During the meeting, Abdelatty called for stronger protection of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, stressing the need to uphold international conventions, including the Hague Convention and UNESCO treaties.
According to a Foreign Ministry statement, he reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to cultural dialogue as a means to promote mutual understanding, tolerance, and global peace.
He said cultural diversity is key to building bridges between civilizations and addressing shared challenges such as climate change, extremism, and armed conflict.
Abdelatty also highlighted Egypt’s nomination of Khaled El-Enany for UNESCO director-general, noting the growing support his candidacy has received from regional bodies, including the Arab League and the African Union.
He explained that El-Enany’s vision puts culture at the centre of efforts to shape the future, advance peace, and promote human understanding.
Abdelatty said El-Enany has already visited more than 60 countries across all continents to hear member states’ views on strengthening UNESCO’s role.
He expressed hope for continued international backing for the Egyptian nominee, saying his comprehensive vision could create new opportunities for cooperation, innovation, and global cultural engagement.
The Ancient Civilizations Forum was launched in Athens in April 2017 at the initiative of Greece and China.
It brings together nations with some of the world’s oldest cultural legacies, including Egypt, Greece, China, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Bolivia, Mexico, and Peru, to promote dialogue, cooperation, and peace.
The forum seeks to use this shared heritage as a bridge for understanding and as a form of "soft power" that can support global stability and development.
Since its creation, it has held ministerial meetings alongside major international events, positioning itself as a cultural complement to political and economic diplomacy.
Its logo depicts a constellation of stars over a globe, symbolizing the connection between ancient civilizations across time and space and its mission to link past, present, and future through cultural cooperation.
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