Mahmoud Riad ( ar, محمود رياض) (January 8, 1917 – January 25, 1992) was an Egyptian diplomat. He was Egyptian ambassador to

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

from 1962 to 1964, Egyptian

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

from 1964 to 1972, and Secretary-General of the

League of Arab States League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football Sports * Sports league * Rugby league, full contact footba ...

from 1972 to 1979. An army officer turned diplomat, Riad was considered an expert on Arab affairs. After fighting in the

1948 Arab–Israeli War The 1948 (or First) Arab–Israeli War was the second and final stage of the 1948 Palestine war. It formally began following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine at midnight on 14 May 1948; the Israeli Declaration of Independence had ...

, he was a member of the Egyptian delegation that signed the 1949 armistice with

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

. Following nine years of service in the army, Riad joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1952 and quickly climbed through the diplomatic ranks. He became Ambassador to

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

in 1955 and Permanent Representative to the

in 1962. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1964 to 1972. In 1967, Riad worked with his colleague and friend, Ambassador

Charles W. Yost Charles Woodruff Yost (November 6, 1907 – May 21, 1981) was a career U.S. Ambassador who was assigned as his country's representative to the United Nations from 1969 to 1971. Biography Yost was born in Watertown, New York. He attended t ...

, in an effort to find a solution before the outbreak of war. He was elected Secretary General of the

in 1972, succeeding

Abdul Khalek Hassouna Mohamed Abdulkhalek El Sayed ( ar, محمد عبد الخالق السيد) (28 October 1898 – 20 January 1992) was an Egyptian diplomat who served as the second Secretary-General of the Arab League Life and career Born in Cairo in 1898, A ...

, also an Egyptian. Riad relinquished the League of Arab States post in 1979 at the height of a crisis caused by Egypt's signing a peace treaty with Israel. Most Arab countries broke relations with

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

over the treaty, and league headquarters were moved from

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

. The headquarters returned to

in 1990 after treaty opponents reconciled with

and resumed diplomatic ties. He is the author of three books. His most prominent book titled "The Struggle for Peace in the Middle East" was translated to English and published in London, England 1982 ().

Honour

Foreign honour

* Malaysia: ** Honorary Commander of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace o ...

(PMN (K)) - Tan Sri (1965)

Notes and references

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Riad, Mahmoud 1917 births 1992 deaths Egyptian diplomats Ambassadors of Egypt to Syria Permanent Representatives of Egypt to the United Nations Foreign ministers of Egypt Secretaries General of the Arab League Honorary Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm 20th-century Egyptian diplomats