 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 1 - 7 July 1999 Issue No. 436 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 1 - 7 July 1999 Issue No. 436
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Special Interview Travel Living Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters The man for the job
By Salama Ahmed Salama
Ismail Serageldin, a candidate for the post of secretary-general of UNESCO, visited Egypt recently to canvas the support of his compatriots. He spent his days in Cairo meeting university professors, journalists, artists, party members and civil society activists. A prominent international figure who has distinguished himself as the head of several international organisations, Serageldin is currently vice-president of the World Bank. His credentials have won him the much-deserved support of nearly 35 Nobel laureates (including the eminent Naguib Mahfouz), and 200 illustrious world personalities, all of whom have backed his nomination to lead UNESCO after Federico Mayor, whose term of office ends this year.
Governments usually back the nomination of their citizens to high-ranking international posts, especially if the nominees are deserving and enjoy world-wide recognition for their personal, professional and scientific accomplishments. A case in point is Egypt's support of Boutros Ghali when he was running for the post of secretary-general of the United Nations some years ago.
In this case, however, the government has explicitly withheld its support. Instead, it has endorsed an Arab decision adopted within UNESCO to nominate Ghazi Al-Qusseibi, the Saudi ambassador to Britain, as secretary-general of UNESCO. Therefore no effort was made at the official level to provide the support and backing necessary for Serageldin's candidacy. Grassroots and civil society organisations, however, may be more effective, influential and even fairer than governments in selecting candidates to occupy international leadership positions. With his candidature strongly backed by influential figures both within and outside UNESCO, Serageldin has a good chance of winning.
The same may be said of the Japanese candidate, whose government provides a large chunk of UNESCO's budget. Yet the wealth of the candidate's country does not decide the outcome of the competition. The decisive factors are the candidate's qualifications and achievements.
Egypt's candidates are at an advantage, if only because of Egypt's contribution to world civilisation. Nor can we overlook this country's contributions to education, science, culture, human rights, combating poverty and addressing environmental problems. The experience and resources available to Serageldin clearly qualify him for the job. Egypt must free itself of its shackles, and throw its weight behind Serageldin when the consultative council of UNESCO convenes to choose the secretary-general in September.
