Former Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby Passes Away 

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs mourned today (Monday) the passing of Nabil Elaraby, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League and the former Foreign Minister, who died at the age of 89, according to Reuters news agency. The Ministry described him as “one of the pillars of Egyptian diplomacy and its bright symbols through the ages.” The statement added, “The deceased devoted his life to defending the interests of his country and raising its flag high among nations at all international forums. History will witness the great national role he played in the international arbitration epic to reclaim the precious Taba land to Egyptian sovereignty.” Born in 1935, Elaraby graduated from the Faculty of Law at Cairo University, then obtained a master’s degree in international law, followed by a PhD in judicial sciences from the Faculty of Law at New York University. Nabil Elaraby served as ambassador to India and as a permanent representative of Egypt to the United Nations in Geneva between 1987 and 1991 and in New York between 1991 and 1999. He served as a judge at the International Court of Justice from 2001 to 2006, and was a member of the UN Commission on International Law from 1994 to 2001. He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt in March 2011, before being chosen as Secretary-General of the Arab League in May of the same year.