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Egypt's Enany Set to Lead UNESCO Despite Criticism of Heritage Record at Home
Khaled El-Enany will be UNESCO's first Arab director despite heritage groups citing demolition of Cairo's historic necropolis and controversial projects near St Catherine's Monastery.
- On Thursday, Khaled El-Enany is set to be confirmed as head of UNESCO by a formal vote of all 194 member states at the general conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
- Last month, Enany was elected by UNESCO's 58-member Executive Board with 55 votes, backed by Arab and African nations, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stating, `We have to lift this historical injustice to Egypt, to the Arabs, to the Muslims, and to the Africans`.
- Heritage advocate Sally Soliman said `What happened in the cemeteries is erasing a huge part of Egypt's history` as the NGO World Heritage Watch last week urged reconsideration over Cairo's 'City of the Dead' demolitions.
- A UNESCO spokesperson described the result as a sovereign decision of member states, while Egypt's government defended the projects, saying registered monuments were spared and tourism work was essential.
- UNESCO's World Heritage Committee earlier this year requested an expert mission to assess the Great Transfiguration project around St Catherine's Monastery as Enany pledged funding diversification and decision-making reforms.
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16 Articles
16 Articles
For the next four years, Khaled El-Enany will lead the World Heritage Organization. His message of connection resonates internationally, but in his own country, criticism of the man who "helped destroy Egypt's heritage" prevails.
·Netherlands
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The Egyptian Khaled El-Enany becomes the new director of Unesco.
·Germany
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One month after his appointment by the organisation's Executive Council, this former Minister of Antiquities and Tourism won 172 of the 174 votes cast, and he will face an unfavourable situation, particularly at the departure of the United States, which contributed 8% of the total budget.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Center
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
43% Center
L 43%
C 43%
14%
Factuality
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