The Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni said he has made no sacrifices to win the post of UNESCO Director General. He stressed his intention to resign from his current post if he fails to win and affirmed he will not withdraw his candidacy if he feels he is not the main favorite, as the withdrawal would instead be a political decision. In an interview with media pundit Amr Leithi on Wahid min al-Nas [A person whatsoever] program on Dream TV on Thursday, he said that his apology for his statements on burning Israeli books was something personal and that he had realized he had made an unintentional mistake. He added: "I'm in charge of the top cultural post in the world, as I am Culture Minister of Egypt; a country with a superb heritage." "I am seeking the UNESCO post pushed by a political wish. I admitted my mistake when it came to burning books. I was just telling an MP there is no Israeli books in Egypt and said: 'If you can find these books, I'll burn them.' A journalist, though, caught this sentence and printed on Al-Gomhuria newspaper," the minister added. He also affirmed: "I'm against cultural normalization, and this opinion is based on a negotiation-like logic. I'll accept normalization when two states exist and after the Palestinian people get their right. I'm against timing, but not against normalization, and I'm sure that if they wanted peace they could make it so that we could normalize."
He was asked how he will deal with Israel' demands to include Jerusalem and some Palestinian historical sites to the State of Israel if he wins the UNESCO. He said such post would not authorize him to make this kind of decisions alone, as they would instead have to be made by the 58 State members. He said: "I would have my say and so would the Israelis and the Arabs. Eventually, the majority would prevail. "I know that I would have to face some challenges and that Israel would not understand me, but I would have to be transparent and fair. Even if you are against the normalization, you can't say so because this is what the job requires. Either you understand or reject this." Regarding his chances to win the post, Mr. Hosni affirmed: "Any new candidate reduces the chances of victory, as there are 58 votes to be distributed on all candidates. "Of course, after the Austrian candidate was put forward, we must re-make our calculations, as she is renowned in Europe and has run for the post of president in the past." Regarding his trust in the Arabs' and Africans' vote for him, he affirmed: "Tanzania and Benin are the only African countries that will not vote for me. As for the Arabs, we have the same blood and if I reach the top of the UNESCO, it will be a success for all Arabs and not only for Egypt. "My candidacy has been a political and sovereign decision, but this doesn't mean that if a State told me to do something, I would do it straight away," he added. "Generally speaking, I don't think the American Ambassador asked Egypt to field another candidate."
He was then asked whether he will be sorry if he loses. "Not at all. We are fighting a great battle that has not taken place at the UNESCO for some time. Egypt enjoys huge support and this proves his strength. As for the withdrawal, it would be a political decision." Hosni said: "I wouldn't like to remain minister if I lost the UNESCO elections. "I wouldn't resign. I would instead ask the President for permission to do so," he added.
