“Let’s establish UNESCO Egypt,” said Ambassador Moushira Khattab, Egypt's candidate for the position of director general of UNESCO, after losing the runoff against French candidate Audrey Azoulay, 31 to 25 votes, on Oct. 13.

Khattab reiterated her call to establish UNESCO Egypt during an interview with Hamdi Rizk on his show "Al-Nazra" on Sada al-Balad on Oct. 19. “Egypt’s battle at UNESCO is far from over. This is why I call on establishing UNESCO Egypt, as we have some of the finest authors, intellectuals and artists,” she said, noting that this is also a call to restore peace, freedom, justice and mercy in Egypt.

Mohamed al-Orabi, Khattab’s election campaign manager, told Al-Monitor, “Khattab’s call to establish an organization that carries UNESCO’s objectives aims to restore Egypt’s cultural stature through a current that preserves heritage and culture, fights discrimination and supports human rights. This organization can be an Egyptian tool to support any cultural or educational project in the country.”

UNESCO seeks to contribute to peace building, poverty eradication, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, science and culture. It is working toward a number of all-inclusive goals, such as ensuring quality education for all and lifelong learning, and addressing emerging social and ethical challenges, as well as promoting cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace.