Ain Shams University honors elite ministers, ambassadors and diplomats in celebration of the centenary of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, inaugurated the scientific conference organized by the Middle East Research and Future Studies Center, which was held under the title "The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 100 Years", which is held in conjunction with Ain Shams University's centenary celebration of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sameh Shoukry.

The celebration was in the presence of Mr. Amr Moussa, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and the former Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, the thinker and parliamentarian Dr. Moustafa El-Feki, Director of the Library of Alexandria, Ambassador Mohamed Al-Orabi, Ambassador Ahmed Al-Ansari, Director of Information Management, Political Planning and Crisis Management, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Zaki Badr, former minister of education, Dr. Osama Heikal, former Minister of Information, Ambassador Mervat Al-Talawi, Ambassador Mushira Khattab, President of the National Council for Human Rights, Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Saoud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ayman Saleh, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research Affairs, Prof. Dr. Hesham Tamraz, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Middle East Research and Future Studies Center, and Prof. Dr. Ashraf Munis, Director of the Center for Middle East Research and Future Studies, General Rapporteur of the conference, and a group of deans of faculties and university professors.

In his recorded speech, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry confirmed that there are cultural commonalities with Ain Shams University, which we are proud to host for this celebration, perhaps the most important of which is the "Saffron Palace", the current headquarters of the Ain Shams University presidency, which was one of the first headquarters that hosted the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; This palace was also a proud witness to the adoption of the Charter of the League of Arab States between its corridors in 1945, marking the establishment of an institutional framework for the constants of Arab nationalism and the mechanisms of their joint action.

He personally expressed his pride in what he spent four years as a student at the Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University, from whose various faculties he also graduated, many national symbols abound in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy, and they were honored to represent Egypt abroad.

Pointing out that the year 2022 is an exceptional year in the history of Egypt, as it witnesses the passage of a century since Egypt obtained its right to independence according to the February 28, 1922 declaration, and the independence step had important results, the most important of which was the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the start of sending diplomatic missions to various countries of the world. And joining international and regional organizations, as Egypt began to put forward its visions, initiatives and ideas, and to participate actively in the map of global politics.

The past hundred years, with the events and radical transformations it witnessed on the global and regional arenas, have reflected that Egyptian diplomacy has gained a tangible balance of international credibility and the ability to influence and interact with global changes and pivotal issues, and succeeded over decades in the continuous development of its movements in foreign policy circles, creating Other departments according to successive international developments and data.

This came within the framework of conscious and responsible moves that take into account and preserve the determinants of Egypt’s national security on the one hand, and carry out what its geographical location and historical heritage imposed on it on the other hand, in connection with its regional leadership and its inherent role in preserving the pillars of stability and peace in our region.

In these moves, the Egyptian diplomacy was armed with solid national motives and principles that meet the interests of the nation whenever they are called upon. They are defended by diplomats who were entrusted with Egypt’s interests abroad, so they defended them with pride, pride and pride to enhance our national gains, and watched over the interests of the sons of Egypt abroad, assured of the unity of Egypt’s fabric. National and the cohesion of its internal front.

The Egyptian diplomacy, as it celebrates its centenary this year, is moving forward on its national path under the banner of the new republic in establishing Egypt’s active presence in various important forums and issues that have become afflicting the international community, and strengthening our presence in the global system through serious engagement in the interactions of various diplomatic frameworks. Actively contribute to the development of solutions to contemporary issues such as the environment, climate change, combating terrorism, illegal immigration, and other urgent international issues.

Egypt's hosting of the twenty-seventh session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) is proof of Egypt's active weight in one of the most prominent international issues, and a new testimony of confidence in Cairo's position in the global arena.

Talking about the centenary of Egyptian diplomacy, of course, calls for a discussion of Egypt's soft powers - despite its many religious, cultural and educational tools - which have become a current stream that contributes to advancing Egypt's foreign message through the implementation of these influential pillars.

He pointed out that Egyptian universities, with their academic, scientific and cultural balance and a prestigious international reputation, are one of the main arms of Egypt's soft power, and play their supportive role in the role of diplomacy in the context of building bridges of civilized and cultural communication with the countries of our Arab, African and Islamic surroundings. Those sister countries were students who gained knowledge and experience in the classrooms along with their Egyptian brothers, many of them returned to their countries occupying high positions in their countries, and others carried the beacon of enlightenment and development for their countries with the science and knowledge they gained in Egypt’s universities and various institutes. Many of Egypt’s professors have moved to difficult countries and areas of living, some of which are experiencing various crises, in order to assume this educational and enlightening role. Together with their fellow Egyptian diplomats, they write Egyptian success stories in those areas, believing in Cairo’s cultural role, present and future.

Ambassador Nabila Makram, Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Affairs Abroad, delivered a recorded speech, in which she expressed her appreciation for the role of Egyptian diplomacy, noting that the Egyptian state's pride in the role of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry is a matter of pride. The prestigious diplomatic institution and being a woman representing her country in various forums around the world.

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, stressed that the Egyptian Foreign Ministry is a model for Egypt's political independence, and Egypt has become free to establish diplomatic and consular representation abroad, which is one of the manifestations of sovereignty and independence, adding that if the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrates every year in March 15, the day of Egyptian diplomacy, this year was not an ordinary year; Because it is the centenary of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considered one of the most important Egyptian ministries, and a symbol of Egyptian sovereignty at home and abroad, and one of its tasks is to express Egyptian foreign policy, protect Egypt’s interests and the interests of Egyptian citizens abroad, and support and document Egyptian foreign relations, to ensure the achievement of Egyptian national security. The supreme Egyptian interests and the achievement of comprehensive development in its various dimensions, and within the framework of the efforts of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, new files were added to its tasks.

He explained that Egyptian diplomacy has proven successful in many events that the Egyptian state has experienced. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also fought many fierce battles, through which it has succeeded in proving that it is the nation’s shield and impregnable fortress. During the past century, since 1922 AD, Egypt witnessed grave events, in which the Egyptian Foreign Ministry did not leave a door but to knock it down insistently, to achieve Egypt’s interests.

He reviewed the most prominent of these positions, which are represented in the prominent role of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in the evacuation negotiations in 1954 AD, which resulted in Britain’s evacuation from the land of Egypt after an occupation that lasted more than 70 years, and during the tripartite aggression against Egypt in 1956, the Egyptian diplomatic movement began, and then the June War occurred In 1967, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs took it upon itself to clarify the Egyptian position for world public opinion on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

He pointed out that the Egyptian diplomacy continued its strenuous moves to exert political pressure on Israel with the aim of achieving a withdrawal from the occupied Egyptian lands, as it resorted to the United Nations and the Security Council.

After the glorious October victory in 1973, diplomacy immediately moved to provide the necessary political support to support the Egyptian armed forces on the front, through intensive communication with all international parties to explain the reality of developments on the ground and to stress that the Egyptian armed forces are performing their national duty to defend the homeland, while charging The international community has its responsibilities to achieve a just peace.

Egyptian diplomacy also played a major role in the Camp David negotiations, which resulted in the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, which was signed in March 1979.

Among the most prominent roles of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry is the great role it played in order to recover Taba, and this role was demonstrated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Esmat Abdel Meguid, of the Taba Supreme National Committee formed in 1985, referring to the role of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in canceling the American military debts On Egypt, after the June 30 revolution, it was able to open strong relations with all countries of the world based on equality.

Over the past four years, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry has played an important role, thanks to its foreign ministers, headed by Minister Sameh Shoukry, in restoring Egyptian relations with African countries.

Mr. Amr Moussa stressed that Egyptian diplomacy is part of Egypt’s soft power, explaining that the beginning of Egyptian diplomacy began with the end of the First World War and the start of talking about freedom of self-determination and the establishment of the League of Nations, passing through the 1919 revolution, with which work began to end the occupation and the evacuation of the British from Egypt, and the desire Egypt is represented in the League of Nations, which was carried out by the founders of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, noting that the Egyptian diplomacy had emerged in 1922 and continued to struggle to evacuate the occupation until the mid-fifties, noting that among the most important stations of Egyptian diplomacy was the 1936 treaty, as well as the Egyptian diplomatic march in keeping with the establishment of the League of Arab States Which was drafted by the Egyptian diplomacy, along with the Organization of African Unity and the San Francisco Conference, which drafted the Charter of the United Nations.

He added that the Non-Aligned Movement, which was to confront the cold war between the western and eastern camps, is one of the most important stations in the history of Egyptian diplomacy. He also referred to the Mediterranean identity. We are part of an Arab, African and Mediterranean identity; He stressed that the history of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not only related to politics, but rather has a major role in drafting articles of international law.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also had an economic and developmental role that cannot be overlooked, and just as art, literature and science are part of Egypt’s soft power, Egyptian diplomacy is an integral part of Egypt’s soft power, and he stressed the element of proficiency, seriousness and quality in every work that takes place on the land of this country.

Dr. Moustafa El-Feki valued the efforts of Ain Shams University and its role among academic institutions locally and internationally, and pointed out the special status that Egyptian diplomacy enjoyed in various international forums. Some of the Christian clergy.

He thanked Ain Shams University for this kind initiative and reviewed an aspect of Egypt's history during the twenties, which coincided and led to the birth of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prof. Dr. Hesham Tamraz: Egyptian diplomacy is a school, as the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the important ministries that play a national role.

Pointing to the honorable national roles of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the challenges it faced, including the battle to recover Taba, and it still plays very important roles, not only in the political aspect, but also other roles for construction and development, including defending Egypt's water security and placing it on its agenda before the international community, to preserve On Egypt’s legitimate right to the Nile waters, as well as holding conferences to attract foreign investments to strengthen the Egyptian economy, organizing conferences on climate changes around the world, and promoting Egypt’s tourism abroad. The Egyptian diplomacy cooperates with various national institutions to serve the issues of the country.

Ambassador Ahmed Al-Ansari, Director of Information, Political Planning and Crisis Management, pointed out that

That Egypt celebrates on March 15 of each year the Day of the Egyptian Diplomat, which is the date of the establishment of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Egypt had a pioneering role in establishing many international organizations and national movements, including the Non-Aligned Movement, the League of Arab States and the African Union.

Egypt carried the banner of pan-Arabism on its shoulders, and Egypt also helped the Arab peoples in their endeavors to obtain the right to independence. He said that economic diplomacy has become the most important arm of Egyptian policy by expanding the circles of foreign investments, as well as contributing effectively to achieving peace, stability and international security.

Prof. Dr. Ashraf Mou'nis explained that we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is a symbol of national independence, adding that the conference aims to know the roots and history of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the role of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in improving Egyptian relations with various countries of the world, in addition to highlighting the role of diplomacy The Egyptian Foreign Ministry, with its various forms, whether political, economic, cultural and environmental diplomacy, as well as highlighting the role of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in achieving cooperation with Arab and foreign countries and clarifying the role of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in facing challenges and crises and how to solve them, and the importance of Egyptian diplomacy in protecting Egyptian security and peace, and highlighting the most important achievements of the Ministry Egyptian Foreign Affairs in a hundred years.

Stressing that the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the most important symbols of national sovereignty throughout Egypt’s modern history, after the abolition of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the imposition of British protection on Egypt on December 18, 1914 AD, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs returned again by virtue of the issuance of a statement on February 28, 1922 AD, and on March 15 In 1922, the British government informed the countries that had political representatives in Cairo, that the Egyptian government was now free to return the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and therefore had the right to establish diplomatic and consular representation abroad.

He concluded by saying that the history of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the past 100 years has been bright, bright and effective in all areas of national work.

The inaugural session was concluded by honoring a group of attendees from the conference guests, followed by a number of important discussion and dialogue sessions.