Ahmed Sayyad
Ahmed Sayyad | |
|---|---|
أحمد الصيّاد | |
| Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Cooperation, UNESCO | |
| In office 18 April 1996 – 30 June 2010 | |
| President of the General Conference of UNESCO | |
| In office 1993–1995 | |
| Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Yemen to UNESCO | |
| In office 1987–1996 | |
| Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Yemen to UNESCO | |
| In office 2013–2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 November 1952 Radaa, Yemen |
| Died | 26 July 2021 (aged 68) Paris, France |
| Nationality | Yemeni |
| Alma mater | University of Baghdad; University of Montpellier |
| Occupation | Diplomat, academic, writer |
Ahmed Sayyad (25 November 1952 – 26 July 2021) was a Yemeni diplomat and senior international civil servant who served in several high-level positions at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), including President of the 27th General Conference (1993–1995) and Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Cooperation (1996–2010).[1]
He played a role in early institutional initiatives related to the Culture of Peace within UNESCO.[2]
Early life and education
Ahmed Sayyad was born on 25 November 1952 in Radaa, Yemen. He died on 26 July 2021 in Paris, France.[3]
He earned a bachelor's degree in law from the University of Baghdad in 1974. He later completed graduate studies at the University of Montpellier, obtaining a master's degree (DEA) in Political Science (1977), a Doctorate in Political Science (1979), and a PhD in law (1981).
Diplomatic career
Ambassador and Permanent Delegate (1987–1996)
Sayyad was appointed Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Yemen to UNESCO in 1987.
He was elected Member of UNESCO's executive board (1989–1993).[4]
In 1992, he introduced one of the first references to a “Culture of Peace” within UNESCO Executive Board deliberations.[5]
President of the 27th General Conference (1993–1995)
In 1993, Sayyad was elected President of UNESCO's 27th General Conference.[6]
During his presidency, he delivered official addresses during state visits, including that of President Nicéphore Soglo of Benin.[7]
Assistant Director-General (1996–2010)
In 1996, Sayyad was appointed Assistant Director-General for External Relations under Director-General Federico Mayor.
His appointment and responsibilities are documented in UNESCO archives.[8]
He continued in the role under Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, overseeing external relations and extrabudgetary cooperation.[9]
From 2010 to 2012, he served as Special Adviser for the Arab Region to Director-General Irina Bokova.
Second term as Ambassador (2013–2019)
Sayyad returned as Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Yemen to UNESCO from 2013 to 2019. During this period, he chaired the Group of 77 + China at UNESCO.
He was also interviewed on issues concerning Yemen and regional politics.[10]
Publications
Sayyad authored numerous works, including:
- UNESCO: A Vision for the 21st Century (1999)[11]
- UNESCO and the Culture of Peace: Better Late Than Never (2009)
- Yemen: Chapters from Hell (2010)
He also contributed to the Canadian Parliamentary Review.[12]
Distinctions
Sayyad received several honors, including:
- Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (France)[13]
- Ordre National du Mérite (Tunisia)
Personal life
He was fluent in Arabic, English and French. He died in Paris on 26 July 2021.[14]
References
- ↑ "Presidents of the General Conference". UNESCO. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "140 EX/28 – Culture of Peace". UNESCO. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "Ahmed Sayyad – Death record". MatchID. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ Yearbook of the United Nations 1991. United Nations. 1991. Retrieved 16 February 2026. Search this book on
- ↑ "UNESCO Executive Board – 140 EX/28". UNESCO Digital Library. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "27th Session of the General Conference". UNESCO Digital Library. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "Address by Mr. Ahmed Saleh Sayyad, President of the General Conference of UNESCO". Policy Commons. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "UNESCO Documentation Archive". UNESCO Digital Library. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "UNESCO Official Record". UNESCO Digital Library. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "Saudi Arabia, UAE 'inclined towards dividing Yemen'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "L'UNESCO : Une vision pour le 21e siècle". Institut national du service public. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "UNESCO Reaches Out to Parliamentarians" (PDF). Canadian Parliamentary Review. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ "UNESCO – Ordres et distinctions". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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External links
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