CAIRO, Nov 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — Egypt welcomed the appointment of Egyptian Social Solidarity Minister Ghada Waly as the new executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Xinhua news agency reported, quoting the Egyptian foreign ministry in a statement on Thursday.
The Egyptian statement highlighted Waly’s expertise and efficiency “that qualify her to assume such an important post,” expressing high appreciation of the UN role in maintaining world peace and security.
Waly will also serve as director of the UN Office at Vienna (UNOV).
“Egypt, through the UN posts assumed by its nationals and through its missions to the UN, is keen to contribute to supporting the UN system and boosting multilateral cooperation in a way that would promote the implementation of the UN Charter and its objectives,” said the Egyptian foreign ministry in the statement.
Earlier on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Waly as UNODC and UNOV chief as announced by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
“Waly brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in the field of sustainable development, poverty reduction and social protection, women and youth empowerment,” Dujarric said.
Waly has been Egypt’s minister of social solidarity since 2014, and she has developed the national anti-drug strategy and led a nationwide drug awareness and prevention campaign among youth.
The Egyptian minister is a graduate of Colorado State University in the United States.
