letter fromCairo Bi-monthly Perioidical/Sixth-Special Issue /November 2015 Egypt in Security Council to support Africa & World Peace 1 العدد الخامس اكتوبر" 2015 " Bi-monthly PerioidicalSixth-Special Issue /November 2015 Table of contents Letter from Cairo A Bi-Monthly Periodical on the p 4 current political, economic, and cultural developments in Egypt Urgent causes await Egypt and top priority Issued by Foreign Information Sector State Information Service given to African, Arab Arab Republic of Egypt & development issues Board Chairman Ambassador p 13 Salah A Elsadek President Sisi: Your confidence in Egypt’s role will be Editor-in-Chief well-placed Abdel Mo'ti Abu Zeid Executive Editor Nashwa Abdel Hamid p 18 Egyptian senior diplomat, Editors Dr. Boutros Boutros Mostafa Ahmady Ghali Layout p 23 Nisreen Ahmed The pyramids and Cairo Tower in blue on the 70th anniversary of the UN SIS Website: http://sis.gov.eg Email: [email protected] 2 Editorial Egypt’s uncontested non-permanent seat at UN Security Council is a well-deserved win Egypt won a non-permanent member seat at the United Nations Se- curity Council (UNSC) for the 2016-2017 term. In the voting session, Egypt secured the votes of 179 of the 193 nations entitled to vote at the UN. Egypt ran for the North Africa seat unopposed and now represents Africa along with Senegal. This is the sixth time Egypt is voted as a non- permanent Security Council member. The Foreign Ministry has put its full weight behind the campaign. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry flew to New York in April to promote Egypt’s cause. Senior diplomats in Cairo and in Egyptian missions abroad have held meetings to canvas support, focusing particularly on African ambassadors in Cairo and representatives from Latin American and Arab states. Egypt’s UNSC win confirms recog- nition by African states of the importance of Egypt restoring its effective role in Africa as Africa’s representative to UNSC. This step demonstrates the steady progress of Egyptian relations and recognition of African states of Egypt’s role at present as well as in the past, as a proponent of national liberation causes. This also means that Egypt has regained its regional in- ternational prestige and reintegrated into its continent. The winning by the new Egypt of the United Nations Security Coun- cil non-permanent seat contributes to its openness to the world. This can also create a new regional role and build strategic alliances for Egypt to address pressing security and regional issues, particularly following the emergence of several extremist groups that pose threats to world peace and security. Moreover, Egypt enjoys distinct relations with most states of the world. Together with the seat, Egypt would win further international support, particularly as UNSC takes the lead in the identification of threats to international peace and security and partners with parties to conflict for their peaceful resolution. The Council may also impose sanction or, in certain cases may even mandate the use of force. Under its own mandate, UNSC shall elect judges to the International Court of Justice, which would put Egypt in such capacity into the limelight. This would help Egypt re- gain its leading role and international creditability, thus creating a window of opportunity for Egypt to solve many complex African and Arab crises. Letter From Cairo -Sixth/Special Issue - November 2015 3 Urgent causes await Egypt and top priority given to African, Arab & development issues For the 6th time, Egypt wins UNSC seat In one round of voting on October 15, the United Nations General Assembly elected Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on January 1, 2016. Egypt officially locked a two- year, non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council after 179 of the 193 UN member states voted in favor of its membership. Egypt was vying for one of two seats allotted to the Africa Group, while Senegal won the second seat with 187 votes in its favor. Ukraine, Uruguay and Japan also secured the three other available seats on the Council, representing the Eastern European, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific regions, respectively. Egypt will hold the seat from January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2017. It was last a member of the UN Security Council from 1996-1997. Egypt has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council five times; in 1946,1949-1950, 1961-1962, 1984-85 and 1996-1997. New York City. Egypt’s winning of a non-permanent The gala was in honor of Egypt’s UN Security Council seat came to crown candidacy to the UN Security Council. strenuous efforts exerted by the Egyptian For months the Egyptian Ministry of political leadership and diplomacy. Egypt, Foreign Affairs worked on securing the which enjoyed regional support for its votes of UN member states in return for bid, was virtually guaranteed the seat but Egypt’s vote and support in its endeavor officials and representatives campaigned to secure seats in other UN councils and heavily in the lead-up to the vote. Egypt’s organizations. It is noteworthy that Egypt Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attended was very close to be one of the five the Security Council session reviewing permanent members, where a decision to resolution 1325 on women and peace and that effect had already been adopted in security, where he spoke of Egypt’s past Dumbarton Oaks Conference in 1942, but efforts and future plans to abide by the such a decision was cancelled in 1945 as a resolution. result of subsequent negotiations. “Women are among those most vulnerable The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said to terrorism. We will work to give priority Egypt will work ‘vigorously’ to defend and to this issue during our upcoming UNSC support African and Arab priorities at the membership,” Shoukry said at the session. Security Council. The new membership Egypt’s permanent mission to the United reflected the world’s trust in the Egyptian Nations also hosted 500 guests, including role on the regional and international levels, all UN ambassadors and their spouses, at a and the need to effective Egyptian efforts gala dinner at the Metropolitan Museum in 4 Letter From Cairo -Sixth/Special Issue - November 2015 concerning regional and African issues. Egypt’s Credentials and The UN Security Council membership is also an important step to find final solutions Eligibility for the UNSC to the crises gripping the region. Since its first session in January 1946 until 1992, only 15 Arab states had been During his speech to the 70th General represented in the Security Council. Egypt Assembly, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi had been selected in the first formation called for support for Egypt’s bid. It is an of the Security Council in 1946 for one objective he has pursued in many of his year. It has been a non-permanent member foreign trips, especially to European states, of the UN Security Council five times; Russia and China. The President’s speech in 1946,1949/50, 1961/62, 1984/85 also underlined the importance of Egypt as and 1996/97. Egypt participated in the member of the UNSC. foundation of the UN since the end of the Egypt’s UNSC seat reflects trust of int’l Second World War; it was not just a witness community at a critical time to the establishment, rather efficiently took part in drafting its charter and always Egypt’s election to the UN Security expressed and practiced commitment to its Council reflects trust of the international principles and objectives. Along history, community in Cairo to play a vital role Egypt enjoyed an increasing political during a critical time of history, the weight in contemporary international Egyptian Presidency said. In a statement, affairs in general. Such a prestige is the Presidency welcomed the results and based on Arab, regional (Middle East) thanked the countries that voted in favor and continental role (Afro-Asian), as of Egypt. Egypt is looking forward to the well as its participation in various peace- effective participation in the UNSC and keeping operations in different continents. working with all members to boost the Egypt also has a vast experience within council’s role in achieving its primary the Security Council where it has been a objective of maintaining international sincere voice in the interest of Arab and peace and security. African states in particular and developing The statement asserted Egypt’s keenness countries in general. on shouldering its historic responsibility Speaking to the 69th session of UNGA towards defending the Arab and African on September 25, 2014, President Abdel causes and its effective role in upholding the Fattah Al-Sisi called for a non-permanent principles of the UN charter. Egypt would seat in UNSC. In all his foreign visits, strive to defend the African interests to be the President has spared no effort to the best representative for the continent in garner support for Egypt’s candidature. In promoting peace, security and development, parallel, the Egyptian government initiated the statement said. Also, Egypt would a diplomatic campaign on the African, remain at the forefront of countries that Asian and Arab levels to secure support support a just and comprehensive solution from voting blocs within UNSC for Egypt’s for the Middle East peace process, the candidature. To this end, the Egyptian Presidency added in the statement. In light Foreign Ministry intensified its contacts of the challenges facing the region, Egypt with various world capitals. Egypt’s claims would continue playing a decisive role in in this respect are premised on its roles in reaching a settlement for all crises including international security and peace-keeping the Palestinian cause, the situations in operations, its recognition of the importance Libya, Syria and Yemen, the statement of sincere commitment to stability and said.