Mahmoud Riad

Mahmoud Riad was an Egyptian diplomat who served in various positions in the Egyptian government and the Arab League. He was born in Qalyubia, Egypt, in 1917 and graduated from the military academy. He fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and was a member of the armistice committee. He joined the foreign ministry in 1952 and became an expert on Arab affairs. He was the ambassador to Syria, the permanent representative to the United Nations, and the minister of foreign affairs. He played a key role in the Arab boycott of Israel and the peace negotiations after the 1967 and 1973 wars. He was elected as the secretary-general of the Arab League in 1972, succeeding Abdul Khalek Hassouna. He tried to maintain the unity of the Arab states and to promote their interests in the international arena. He resigned in 1979 after Egypt was expelled from the league for signing a peace treaty with Israel. He remained a respected adviser to the Egyptian government until his death in 1992. He wrote three books, including "The Struggle for Peace in the Middle East", which was translated into English. He was honored by several countries for his diplomatic achievements.