Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty on Friday made two phone calls with C´te d'Ivoire's Minister of Foreign Affairs L©on Kacou Adom and Burkina Faso's Minister of Foreign Affairs Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, as part of his efforts to mobilize support for the Egyptian candidate Khaled El-Anany in the election for the post of UNESCO Director-General scheduled for Monday in Paris. During the two phone conversations, the top Egyptian diplomat expressed Egypt's deep appreciation for C´te d'Ivoire's and Burkina Faso's supportive stances of Anany, saying this backing embodies the African unity and reflects the commitment of African states to strengthening continental solidarity behind the African Union-endorsed nominee, which in turn contributes to advancing African priorities and interests within regional and international organizations.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the talks between the foreign minister and his Ivorian and Burkinabe counterparts tackled ways of strengthening bilateral ties with C´te d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso, particularly in the economic, development and investment fields, in a manner that serves the interests and aspirations of African peoples. Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to continued consultation and coordination with its African partners to ensure effective African representation within UNESCO, and to support educational, cultural, and scientific issues of concern to the continent, in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063.