From the beginning of his career, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy '74, Egypt's ambassador to Germany, made great strides as a diplomat. At age 24, after serving in the cabinet of the foreign minister for two years, he traveled to New York as third secretary at the permanent mission of Egypt to the United Nations, a top posting for a young diplomat.

   "The 1970s was a period of significant change in the world, from the call for a New International Economic Order and the Camp David Accords to the oil crisis and the Iranian Revolution," Ramzy said. "To be in New York, the capital of the world, at such a time was very special. . and to be able to sit behind the nameplate of my country, negotiating and speaking in public fora was a unique formative experience."

   Ramzy's career took off after that, taking him to major cities where he witnessed significant political and socioeconomic transitions firsthand. Serving as counselor in the Egyptian embassy in Moscow in the late 1980s, he was there during the fall of the Berlin Wall and the final years before the collapse of the Soviet Union. In Washington, working as Egypt's deputy chief of mission in the mid 1990s, he observed the signing of the Oslo accords, the first direct, face-to-face agreement between Israel and Palestine. "In the White House, I saw Palestinians and Israelis in tears -- tears of joy for peace. It says a lot about what humanity is striving for," he said.

   Recounting a similar incident that affected him when he was in New York, Ramzy noted how numerous people from all walks of life came to sign President Sadat's condolence book when he was assassinated. "Sadat took a risk for peace, and people came because of what he stood for," Ramzy said.
   Quickly rising in his career, Ramzy took up his first post as ambassador to Brazil at the age of 42, the youngest Egyptian ambassador at the time."For me to be an ambassador at that stage of my life was very special," he noted.

   After staying for three years in Brazil, which he considers as a "true melting pot," Ramzy wore different diplomatic hats from 2005 to 2007 as Egypt's ambassador to Austria, permanent representative of Egypt to the United Nations in Vienna and to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Egypt's representative in the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors, as well as non-resident ambassador to the Slovak Republic. During those years, not only did he enjoy the "exceptionally beautiful" city of Vienna and its proximity to many European countries, Ramzy was able to foster productive relations with Austria.Today, from his post in Germany, he hopes to do the same. "Germany is the largest economy in Europe and the third largest in the world," Ramzy said. "It is very important to bring its economic relations with Egypt to the level of political relations."

   Keen on relaying his life lessons to the young generation, Ramzy pointed out that passion and an open mind are the keys to a successful diplomatic career."The life of a diplomat can be very exciting, but it is not easy," he said. "There are lots of responsibilities and constraints on your personal life, but if you love it enough, it is highly rewarding."

By Dalia Al Nimr