Mahmoud Riad (Arabic: محمود رياض‎)‎ (1917-1992) was an Egyptian diplomat. He was Egyptian ambassador to United Nations 1962-1964, Egyptian foreign minister 1964-1972, secretary-general of Arab League 1972-1979.

A military officer turned diplomat, Mr. Riad was considered an expert on Arab affairs. He was a member of the Egyptian delegation that signed the 1949 armistice with Israel after the first Arab-Israeli war.

After serving in the army for nine years, Mr. Riad joined the Foreign Ministry in 1955 and quickly climbed through the diplomatic ranks. He became Ambassador to Syria in 1958 and chief delegate to the United Nations in 1962. He was Foreign Minister from 1964 to 1972.

He was elected Secretary General of the Arab League in 1972, succeeding Abdel-Khalek Hassouna, also an Egyptian.

Mr. Riad relinquished the Arab League 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 over the treaty, and league headquarters were moved from Cairo to Tunisia. The headquarters returned to Egypt in 1991 after treaty opponents reconciled with Cairo and resumed diplomatic ties.^[1]

[edit] Notes and References

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