Egypt holds major ceremony honoring diplomacy icons

CAIRO – 11 December 2025: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a major celebration at Al-Tahrir Palace on Wednesday to honor the icons of Egyptian diplomacy who, over many decades, contributed to elevating Egypt’s regional and international standing.

The ceremony celebrated a distinguished group of Egyptian diplomatic figures who left an indelible mark on national service and on Egyptian diplomacy in regional and international fora, spotlighting their efforts to reinforce Egypt’s role as a fundamental pillar of stability in its Arab, African and global spheres.

The list of late honorees included former foreign ministers Esmat Abdel Meguid, Ahmed Maher and Nabil Elaraby; former Secretary-General of the United Nations Boutros Boutros-Ghali; and veteran diplomat Osama El-Baz, who was known as the dean of Egyptian diplomacy.

 

The ceremony also recognized a number of former Egyptian foreign ministers from different eras, including Mahmoud Fawzi, Kamal Hassan Ali, Ismail Fahmy, Mahmoud Riad, Mohamed Murad Ghaleb, Mohamed Hassan El-Zayyat, Mohamed Ibrahim Kamel, and Mostafa Khalil.

The celebration was attended by several state officials and other notable figures, including Minister of Justice Adnan El-Fangary, Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy, and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Ghada Waly.

A host of former foreign ministers, including Amr Moussa, Mohamed El-Orabi, Nabil Fahmy, and Sameh Shoukry were also present, alongside several parliamentarians.

The ceremony hosted the families of the honorees in an expression of gratitude and a reaffirmation of the enduring stature and historic role of Egyptian diplomacy.

 

In his address during the ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty expressed profound pride in honoring the icons of Egyptian diplomacy who, throughout their careers, formed a cornerstone in safeguarding national interests and enhancing Egypt’s international standing.

He affirmed that the professional and human legacy left by these distinguished figures will remain a source of inspiration for current and future generations of diplomats.