UNESCO . . . Why I am a Candidate

When it was decided that I run for the new UNESCO Director General post in the elections next fall, the decision was based on the fact that I am an artist who had devoted his entire career to culture. My candidature is so far supported by three regional organizations, namely the League of Arab States, the African Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. However, some persons - especially in France - cast doubt on the designation on the grounds of some oral words that were uttered in the past and they gave them prominence in their campaign. Hence I will go back to the statement for the sake of clarification and interpretation.

At the outset, I would like each and everyone to avoid confusion because the sufferings and injustice done to the Palestinian people for more than half a century stare world conscience in the face and have a great impact on the Arab countries, including the most moderate among them.

I am saying, in an absolute sense of responsibility, that I was expressing angry feelings at what is happening to an entire people deprived of its land and rights. What human conscience can be indifferent to such a tragedy?

Definitely, I never, throughout my life, humiliated or meant to hurt anyone. Although the words themselves are charged with extreme cruelty, they should be seen in context. I would also like to recall that for years I have been serving as minister of culture in a state that made peace with Israel and is persistently endeavoring to give precedence to dialogue over violence.

I am here repeating that I am a man of peace and I am aware that peace is based on understanding and respect. In the name of these values which I believe in I go back to the words which I inadvertently said in May 2008 and which were taken as a call for burning Hebrew books. They were shocking, and I understand that.

I clearly regret the words said and which I could have justified as being uttered under the tension and provocation of the discussion at the time. However, I will not take that as an excuse. This is neither my nature, nor what I believe in. Unfortunately my adversaries took advantage of this to attribute negative things to me. Nothing is more abhorrent to me than racism, rejection of the other or a desire to discredit any human culture, including the Jewish culture.

These words were uttered with no intention. As I do not deny responsibility for them, I say out to complete freedom and away from any pressure, that I am duty-bound to leave no room for doubt by rejecting any form of resentment or arrogance. This is out of esteem of those who may have been offended or shocked by these words. This is my stand in no equivocal terms. I am appealing to all who are attacking me not to fall in the trap of confusion. To them I say, look at my life, personality and contributions to the dialogue of cultures and faiths and to the promotion of mutual understanding among people without discrimination. Do not look at one sentence. Review twenty seven years spent in the service of culture and make an assessment of what I did in the service of humanity, creativity, writers and books. I opened many libraries in poor villages in my country and contributed to the revival of the Alexandria Library. Who can believe in superstitious matters that would make of me an organizer of execution by burning?

I know that some have content themselves with making reservations on my attitude towards cultural normalization between the Arab world and Israel. The reason is simply that normalization cannot be achieved by a decision, but has to spring from the people themselves when peace – with all its implications – becomes a reality throughout the region.

Egypt is a main element in the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict that has persisted for sixty years and which obstructs the establishment of relations based on trust and cooperation among the peoples of our region. I have always been convinced of my country's opting for peace and I have always served its cause. It gives me honor to present my contribution – within my means - to the establishment of just and lasting peace in the region. Few weeks ago, upon my invitation and despite various forms of opposition, Daniel Barenboim led the symphonic opera and conducted at a concert in Cairo. The fierce attacks I am facing from the less tolerant circles in my own country are testimony to my commitment. Should I fail, it would be a triumph for them, and the openness which I am championing will be seen as deceptive.

Enough of the past and let us look ahead to the future. What is my program? Why am I a candidate for UNESCO? We believe that the Organization needs a new spirit. Its founders designed it to be a headquarters for meetings, debates and initiatives to build people's minds and spirits and a bastion for peace. I believe that the prime task of a UNESCO Director General is to revive this hope in order to insure cultural diversity, dialogue of cultures and mutual reconciliation at a time identity tensions are mounting.

This renders it imperative to develop objectives and methods of action for UNESCO which can no longer satisfy itself with the role of a simple technical agency stretching its resources to extend regular assistance.

Hence, it is necessary to make an in-depth search for reform mechanisms for UNESCO without seeking commandeering, hegemony, or moral or ideological modeling. In all modesty and absolute effectiveness, UNESCO needs to become once again a key player on the international arena in its own fields (education and rehabilitation, preservation of heritage and support of cultural creativity, scientific vitality, and intellectual discussion). It also needs to open up onto current issues like the search for a new paradigm for "coexistence", a solution to the climactic challenge, the presentation of new ecological behavior, new rules for engagement with the ethical issues relating to life and its applications . . . etc.

UNESCO is, par excellence, the place for dialogue between peoples transcending political and religious as well as ethnic and linguistic differences. While there is need for mobilization against the reactionary forces and advocates of society closure which are active everywhere, the choice of an Arab, a Muslim and an Egyptian – regardless of his person- will put a message of big hope to the test and put cultural diversity in real context after remaining an oft much taken about point but a mere slogan in many cases. I think I am up to the challenge and hope that my proposals will convince member countries. I think culture, like economy, as a vital component of the new world order, has become more urgent than ever. I am confident that peace is inseparable from culture.

Farouk Hosny