Speech of Ambassador/ Dr. Ezzat Saad In the Closing Session of the Third Forum of Silk Road Network for Civil Society Organizations (SIRONET) Entitled “People – To – People Bonds”
October 22, 2023Seminar of the Center for Scientific and Analytical Information of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences On “The Middle East in a Changing World Order” Speech of Dr. Ezzat Saad with a paper entitled “Middle East Security in the aftermath of “Toofan Al-Aqsa””
October 30, 2023
On the 26th of October 2023, the council organized a meeting with Ambassador Mohamed Al-Oraby to discuss his personal experience in the diplomatic field, in particular, his posts in Israel and United States of America. In addition to talking about his experience as a foreign minister of Egypt in a crucial time of the Egyptian history in 2011.
Participated in the seminar number of the members of the council, in addition to students from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University, besides, participation of diplomatic attaché from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the meeting, Amb. Mohamed Al-Oraby talked about his experience in the diplomatic field, in addition to his work as a foreign minister of Egypt in a critical time in 2011, as this period presented challenges to Egypt and to the officials at that time.
In this context, the ambassador said that he joined the ministry of foreign affairs in 1976. During his work in the ministry and in the different posts, he witnessed several events like the visit of the late president Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat to Jerusalem, Camp David Accords, Baghdad conference, assassination of President Al-Sadat, and the events of 11th of September. Also, the ambassador talked about the influence of important political figures like Botrus Botrus Ghaly and Amr Mousa on him.
About his posts, he said that he started to work in the Egyptian embassies in Kuwait, London, Washington, Tal Aviv, and then being ambassador for Egypt in Germany from 2001 to 2008. After that he was associate to the minister Ahmed Abo Al-Ghait for the ministerial affairs at that time. Moreover, he worked in the ministry of transportation, then he was informed that he will be the minister of Foreign Affairs in 2011.
Amb. Al-Oraby described the day of the Oath as a special day, and the period of his service as minister of Foreign Affairs was fruitful despite it was a short period. The instructions for him at that time is to be calm regarding the Egyptian Foreign policies. In addition to, the concentration in the foreign policy, at that time, on the policies towards the Arab and African Countries. Concerning his resignation from the position of minister Foreign Affairs, this was based on agreement with Dr. Essam Sharaf to not be included in the next ministerial reshuffle.
On the other hand, he described his post in Israel as important and helped to understand the psychology of Israel and its people. In a related context, he said that “Toofan Al-Aqsa” operation will lead to a shift in the psychology of Israeli Army and Its people, adding that the Egyptians have a great position in Israel.
Regarding his post in Washington, it was important as well, and witnessed events like exempting Egypt from the military debts to the United States of America, as this qualified Egypt to enter Parise club after rescheduling the debts. Adding to that, this event is a sign of proactive strategy of Egypt and of making use of the situation.
In the end, Amb. Al-Oraby expressed his gratitude to the period of his work in the Egyptian Foreign ministry as it was interesting and exciting period, in which he came across important and vital international relation events that is happening in a decreased time framework.
