Page 4 - Issue 72

V O L .1 E L I T E ISSUE 72

As for my professors, among the professors who My reasoning was acknowledged, and it was
left a great impact on me are Professors Zaki agreed that I would be appointed as a trainee
Shafi'i, Dean of the Faculty, who later became a until I reached the required age.
Minister of Economy, Boutros Ghali, Saeed Al- Indeed, I spent the next two years - the most
Najjar, Teamah Elgarf, Labib Shuqair, Abdel distinguished that professionally shaped my
Malik Odah, and other brilliant names in the career - at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
fields of political science, sociology, and where I was assigned to work in the
statistics. This academic stage witnessed a Department in charge of International
unique phenomenon, as a number of our institutions and Conferences, which was the
colleagues moved, one year after their largest department at the time. I had the honor
graduation, to teaching positions in the of working under the supervision of the
departments, most notably Dr. Aly El-Din Hilal Director of Administration, Counselor Ismail
and Dr. Gouda Abdel Khaleq. Moving from a Fahmy (who later became Minister of Foreign
study fellowship to a teaching relationship gave Affairs), alongside distinguished diplomats such
it a distinctive human character, the close ties of as Mohamed ElBaradei and Mervat Tallawy.
which have remained until the present time. The diversity of tasks has given me exceptional
experience in being able to carry out tasks with
the highest standards of efficiency.
Unfortunately, it turned out that it would be
impossible for me to take the diplomatic corps
exam despite reaching the legal age due to the
outbreak of the 1967 war, when I was recruited
as an artillery officer for seven years, from
Then, I graduated at the age of nineteen, which January 1968 until April 1974, during which I
was an early opportunity on the one hand, but fought the War of Attrition and then the
acted as a hindrance on the other. My October 1973 War. This period represented an
graduation date was August 10, 1965, before I important stage in my personal and professional
learned of my academic grade or ranking in the career, during which I learned the true meaning
class. Just five days later, on August 15, I of homeland. It is ownership, not just
received an official letter from Minister belonging. On seeing how the homeland is
Mahmoud Riad, then Minister of Foreign usurped, and how defending it becomes an
Affairs, congratulating me on my success and existential duty.
inviting me to come to the Ministry of Foreign Despite the challenges of this national mission,
Affairs headquarters. I have not given up on my old dream of joining
After I inquired about the reason for this letter, the diplomatic corps. I began studying the exam
it knew that it was an agreement concluded materials during short breaks, and this attempt
between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ended in success that exceeded expectations.
College of Economics to select the top ten from Q2: During your work as Egypt's ambassador to
each department to join the diplomatic corps. Russia, how did bilateral relations develop in the
Upon checking my ranking, I discovered that I political, military, and economic fields?
had ranked seventh in the economics Before my assignment in Moscow, I had served
department. at Egypt’s Permanent Mission to the United
When I went to the ministry, I faced an Nations in New York—the pinnacle of
obstacle. They informed me that I could not diplomatic representation—where I was
take the exam because the minimum age was 21 afforded a unique opportunity to engage and
years, while I was 19 years old. I objected, negotiate with representatives of 192 states.
saying: “It was you who summoned me, how This experience greatly enriched my negotiating 4
can you now refuse to accept me?” skills, broadened my horizons of thought and