“This is the Egypt we want,” wrote Hafez Al Mirazi on social media, professor at the American University in Cairo and Egyptian journalist, “an example of the best that Egypt can offer through its diplomats and representatives in sophistication, confidence, and fine language.” Political speech can become a force that shapes circumstances and power structures beyond the words of the speaker. From diplomatic letters, to meetings, and now digital conferences, the power of communication still has authority for many leaders, allowing them to calculate their decisions and express leadership through the imaginative use of words. On June 29, during a virtual meeting by United Nations Security Council on the Nile dam dispute, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stated Egypt’s position in a speech that brings to the centre the importance of cooperation and a spirit of community, in which all points can be negotiated and addressed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHAFzwszu0w During the times of a global pandemic, which has reminded leaders and citizens worldwide on the essentiality of cooperation, Shoukry began by addressing the world’s core challenge: looking beyond self-interests. “We are reminded that, beyond the multitude of cultures and creeds, and the…
Power of Communication: Egyptian FM Shoukry’s UN Address on GERD Dispute Praised
June 30, 2020
