CAIRO, Nov 14 (MENA) - Deputy Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Hefny said Thursday the world today lacks peace more than ever before, and is in dire need of activating the preventive diplomacy that late Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, had always advocated.

In statements to the Middle East News Agency (MENA) on Thursday on the sidelines of his participation in an annual ceremony of the Kemet Boutros Ghali Foundation for Peace and Knowledge, Hefny added that in light of the wars, instability and unrest sweeping a number of regions of the world, especially the Middle East and Africa, there has become an urgent need to work on activating preventive diplomacy due to its essential role in avoiding conflicts.

He pointed out that the late Boutros-Ghali believed in the usefulness of such diplomacy and the effectiveness of actively promoting the culture of peace and resolving disputes through negotiations in accordance with the rules of international law out of conviction that this is the only way to settle disputes and resolve crises.

He noted the importance of reminding Boutros-Ghali's students of his teachings and principles in order to uphold the principles of peace and promote his vision for the benefit of humanity, as well as introducing generations that did not live during his time to his memorable political, diplomatic and academic career, his national stances and strong adherence to his principles for which he paid a dear price which he never regretted, but rather gained him more appreciation and respect in the eyes of the people in the Arab world and Africa to which he proudly belonged.

All through his career Boutros-Ghali showed the world his interest in enhancing security and stability in the African continent and his reformist vision for the international system and multilateral diplomacy, in addition to his tireless efforts to achieve the desired development for the advancement of African peoples.

The diplomat recalled that Boutros-Ghali assumed the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations at a very critical historical moment following the fall of the Soviet Union, and during a period during which the rules of multilateral diplomacy changed.

He was ahead of his time by presenting his historic initiative, the Peace Plan, which reflects his opinion on how the United Nations should respond and deal with conflicts, Hefny said.

He was also the first Secretary-General to set out specific visions for reforming the United Nations system before becoming the first Secretary-General of the international organization of La Francophonie, he added.

He pointed out that Boutros-Ghali, who was nicknamed the Knight of Human Rights, was not only an icon of Arab and African diplomacy, but also of international law, as everyone attests to his keenness to uphold the values of international law, something that the world today wishes for.

In this regard, the deputy foreign minister highlighted the urgent need to urge and educate the public opinion in the world about the importance of respecting international law and international humanitarian law and international resolutions in a way that enhances the multilateral diplomatic system and restores confidence in the international community after that confidence was shaken as a result of inaction and even failure to resolve conflicts.

It is important to return to Boutros-Ghali’s humanitarian and civilizational heritage in order to learn from it and preserve the gains achieved by humanity throughout its history, he stressed. (MENA)
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