Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Saturday attended the graduation ceremony of the 47th batch of diplomatic attaches, named after Ahmed Aboul Gheit who was the foreign minister of Egypt from 11 July 2004 to 6 March 2011.

Speaking at the ceremony, the minister said this year's batch will start their career at a time when Egypt's foreign policy faces serious challenges, especially for direct neighboring countries and threats of terrorism in the region that is witnessing unprecedented changes.

The international arena also faces critical challenges, the minister added.

Shoukry described diplomatic attaches as the first defensive line to protect the Egyptian decision's independence, refuse dependency, expand Egypt's national role, help in securing the homeland and support the economic renaissance.

He also expressed appreciation to Aboul Gheit and called on the fresh graduated diplomatic attaches to follow his diplomatic style of professionalism and perseverance in serving the nation.

For his part, Aboul Gheit expressed his happiness for naming the new batch after him, calling in the new diplomatic attaches to spare no effort to serve the country worldwide.

Source: MENA