On the twenty-first of September of each year, the world celebrates the International Day of Peace. On this occasion, the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs joins various peace-loving countries and organizations, especially civil society organizations, in commemorating this day, which coincides with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. It is a culture that is concerned with one of the lofty values that the world seeks to achieve and consolidate in all its parts, especially in this difficult phase that is witnessing international and regional events and developments that lack peace. Therefore, it was only natural that this year’s International Day of Peace would bear the slogan “Cultivate a culture of peace”.

The Council strongly commends the historic and continuous white hands of Egypt in trying to cultivate this culture, as Egypt has been at the forefront of countries contributing to global peace, starting with its role as one of the founder of the United Nations and the groupings of the Global South, led by the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77, which demand a fair international order that respects international law and achieves the development aspirations of the peoples of the whole world, which is the closest guarantee for the maintenance of international peace and security.

 Egypt was also the first to call for a comprehensive approach to the UN peace and security architecture during its last membership in the Security Council in 2016/2017. It also established the Aswan Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development in December 2019, Egypt is working to integrate the United Nations and African system for the maintenance of international peace and security, through its current membership in the African Peace and Security Council, and the meetings that will be held under Egypt’s presidency with the United Nations Security Council, along with the integration of the role of the African Union Center for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development, hosted by Egypt, with the UN Peacebuilding Commission and Fund, in which Egypt participates in its advisory group. Egypt established the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding in 1993 to serve the culture of peace.

At the same time, and in light of the worsening regional and international crises, the Council strongly supports Egypt’s efforts to advance its leading role in achieving peace in the occupied Palestinian territories, which is witnessing one of the most heinous massacres in modern history at the hands of the Israeli occupation Government, in light of the inability of the international community to carry out its responsibilities to maintain international peace and security.

In this context, the Council stresses that the commemoration of the International Day of Peace requires a positive, dynamic participatory process in which dialogue is encouraged and disputes are resolved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation, including the role of institutions and active States in maintaining peace and security, and not only the absence of conflicts. That is the only way humanity can enjoy a secure and prosperous future.