Ambassador

Former Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Head of Mission of Egypt to the European Communities and NATO         

Following his graduation from the American University at Cairo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in February 1972, he was appointed from December 1972 until February 1975, as member of the bureau of the Prime Minister of the Confederation of Arab Republics; comprising Egypt, Syria and Libya. In 1973-74 he toured six African nations as ‘Rapporteur’ of a Presidential Delegation delivering messages on behalf of the President of Egypt and the Confederation to the Heads of States of Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Zaire.

In 1975 he joined the Egyptian Diplomatic Service as Diplomatic Attaché and following a year of training in the Diplomatic Institute, was appointed as member of the bureau of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.  In 1977, he was promoted to Third Secretary and later on to Second Secretary following his transfer to the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations in New York to become a member of the Delegation of Egypt to the UN. From 1977 to 1981 he was Egypt's Alternate Representative to the First Political and Security Affairs' Committee of the General Assembly. He represented Egypt in meetings of the Non-Aligned, African and Islamic Groups. He was also Egypt's representative to the meetings of the Committee on the Indian Ocean, Preparatory Committee on the World Disarmament Conference and Outer Space.  In 1978, he was Egypt's Alternate Representative to the First General Assembly Session devoted to Disarmament, and from February 11-15, 1980 concluded in New York a seminar organized by the International Peace Academy on “Multilateral Negotiations and Third Party Roles."   He was also Egypt's representative to the Non-Aligned Expert Group Meeting on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in Buenos Aires, Argentina from July 2-11, 1980. In December 1980, he was elected by acclamation as Rapporteur of the Disarmament Commission in New York.   In May 1981, the Commission further elected him as Chairman of its main working group on the Reduction of Military Budgets. In February following his return to Cairo, he joined the Cabinet of Dr. Boutros Ghali the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

In August 1981, he received the First James F. Byrnes International Center Fellowship offered by the President of the University of South Carolina (USC), where he continued his postgraduate education in the Department of Government and International Studies (GINT). In 1983, he concluded his course and comprehensive examination requirements with seven distinctions and in May 1984 received his Ph.D. in Philosophy also with distinction. Throughout his stay at South Carolina, he was guest lecturer and speaker at various academic, strategic and military institutions in South Carolina, Georgia and elsewhere and was hosted by several Radio and Television political talk shows including the Emmy awarded show: World in Review in Atlanta, Georgia and the World Thing of WIS TV 10 Columbia, South Carolina. He was also organizer and participant at meetings of the International Studies Association (ISA), a non-governmental, multidisciplinary association with worldwide membership, held in Cincinnati 1982, Mexico City 1983, and Atlanta 1984.

In July 1984, Dr. Karem was appointed Member of the Cabinet of the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Cairo. In December 1984 he was member of Egypt's delegation to the 15th Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Sanaa, Yemen.  In April 1985, he was guest of the Carter Center and Emory University for the Center's Consultations on the Middle East presided by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. In August-September 1985, he was member of Egypt's delegation to the Third Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which convened in Geneva, and in that capacity served as special advisor to the President of that conference.

Dr. Karem was also member of Egypt's delegation to the Meeting of the Foreign Minister of the Non-Aligned movement held in New Delhi, India, from April 16-19, 1986. He was also member of Egypt's delegation before the Fifth Islamic Summit Conference of the Organization of Islamic Conference held in Kuwait from January 21-29, 1987.   Dr. Karem was also member of the Egyptian delegation to the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Mediterranean Members of the Movement of the Non-Aligned Countries meetings in Bryony, Yugoslavia from June 3-4, 1987. He was Alternate Representative of the Delegation of Egypt before the United Nations International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, which met in the United Nations in New York from August 24 till September 11, 1987.  He was also participant at the International Conference on Contemporary Arab Studies organized by the American University in Cairo from October 15-17, 1987.

Since 1984 Dr. Karem lectured young career Egyptian, Arab and African Diplomats in training, at the Institute for Diplomatic Studies attached to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a course on the: “Skills of Negotiations: A Theoretical Analytical Framework,” with special emphasis on the United Nations and Crisis Management.

Dr. Karem was also Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Department of Economics, Political Science and Mass Communications at the American University in Cairo from 1986-1988 where he taught 200 and 400 Level courses on Comparative Politics and an advanced, special Seminar on Diplomacy.

In March 1988, Dr. Karem was transferred to his country's Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva and assumed the position of Deputy Head of the Egyptian Delegation to the Geneva based United Nations Conference on Disarmament.  He also undertook the position of Coordinator and Spokesman for the Group of Non-Aligned and Neutral States (G-21) for agenda item five and six of the Conference on Disarmament entitled: The Prevention of An Arms Race in outer Space, and Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear Weapon States Against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons.

From 18-19 March, 1988 Dr. Karem was a participant at the Quakers Seminar on:" The United nations and Future Directions in Multilateral Disarmament," held at Chateau de Bossey, Celigny, Switzerland.

During the period of August 27-28, 1988 Dr. Karem was special envoy of his Government to the Soviet Union to witness the destruction of three medium range delivery systems (capable of carrying nuclear weapons) in accordance with the INF Treaty.

In 1989 his book, published with Greenwood Press Publishers of Praeger, on A Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle-East: Problems and Prospects, was chosen by CHOICE a monthly review service published by the Association of College and Research Librarian in the United States, as best book in the field of International Relations for its “Outstanding Academic Standard.” The announcement was published in the May 1989 issue of CHOICE. Later on the same work was nominated for the ‘Annual Mershon’ award of Ohio State University for the best first book in the field of National Security Studies as well as the Hillary Roderick Award of Excellence of the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

From May 14-17, 1989 Dr. Karem was a participant in an international conference held in Guernsey Islands and organized by the Program for Promoting Nuclear Non Proliferation (PPNP), Center for International Policy Studies of the University of Southampton, U.K. The conference dealt with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Dr. Karem participated as Alternate Representative of Egypt in the meetings of the Second Preparatory Committee for the Fourth Review Conference of the NPT Treaty held in Geneva from 11-18 September, 1989, and from 19-23 September 1989 before the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof.

Dr. Karem is also Egypt's representative in the International Studies Association (ISA) Governing Council and in that capacity attended the meetings of the Council held in Vienna, Austria from 6-7, October 1989.

Following nomination by his government Dr. Karem accepted to prepare a Monograph on the:" National Concept of Security of Egypt," to be published by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and in that capacity attended from October 21-28, 1989 UNIDIR's meetings on" National Concepts of Security of States," held in Moscow, USSR.

In 1990, Dr. Karem was Alternate Representative of Egypt to the Third Preparatory Committee of the Fourth Review conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which convened in Geneva from April 23 to May 4. From 20-21 June he was invited by Prince Sadruddin AGA KHAN and Groupe de Bellerive to participate in a Colloquium on: "Non-Proliferation in a Disarming World: Prospects for the 1990's," His presentation was entitled: "Arresting Arms Proliferation in Middle East." The Colloquium was organized on the occasion of the convening in Geneva, in August September, of the Fourth Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which, Dr. Karem, attended as Alternate Representative.

In 1991 Dr. Karem assumed the post of coordinator of the G-21 on Negative Security Assurances for Non-Nuclear Weapon States in the Conference on Disarmament. He was also appointed by the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) on the Prevention of an Arms Race in outer Space as "Friend of the Chairman" on the issue of Verification of Anti-Satellite Weapons (ASATs). His working paper was presented to the AHC and subsequently to the 46 UN General Assembly.

In February 1991 he was invited in Washington D.C. to attend the annual meeting of the American Association of Advanced Sciences (AAAS) and made a presentation on: “Implication of Proliferating Advanced Weaponry: Nuclear, Chemical, Missile and Naval Forces.”

In April he attended in Budapest, Hungary, a Project Meeting on "Regional Approaches to Disarmament: Security and Stability," organized by UNIDIR, in which Dr. Karem was assigned the Chapter on: “Regional Approaches to Disarmament in the Middle-East.” In April he also attended the Preparatory Committee of the Third Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention.

From May 21-23 Dr. Karem was guest on the Government of Germany attending a Verification Trial Inspection of Chemical Weapons carried out in conjunction with the Negotiations of the Chemical Weapons convention in the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. On September 11, he participated in a Panel organized by the Council for Responsible Genetics, the Federation of American scientists, Stockholm Institute for Peace Research (SIPRI) and the NGO Committee for Disarmament in Geneva, on the Biological Weapon Convention. He was also Egypt's Alternate Representative to the Third Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention from September 9-27, From 19-22 September, he was main speaker on a Panel on "Transparency, Verification and Reassurance Measures," in a Quakers organized International Conference entitled: Towards a Threat Reduction and War Prevention Regime in the Middle East," at Jongny-sur-Vevey, Switzerland.

Dr. Karem has been a regular lecturer to the UN Disarmament Fellowship Program in Geneva during the years 1989, 1990 and 1991; he is also author of numerous articles published in Arab periodicals and Newspapers.

Dr. Karem is recipient of the Egyptian Presidential Decoration IV Order and USC's Educational Foundation "Fellow of the Foundation award" membership of the JONATHAN MAXCY CLUB in recognition of his "unselfish support of academic programs at the University of South Carolina." Because of this academic excellence he was also initiated into GAMMA CHI CHAPTER of PI SIGMA APLHA the National Political Science Honor Society in the United States. He is also member of the Egyptian association of the United Nations, the Egyptian Association of International Law, and the Egyptian-American Friendship Association, the Alexandria Chapter.

In 1991, he contributed two articles one to the Applied Science and Analysis, ASA, Inc. Newsletter dated April 4, issue number 23. This article was entitled: The Case for Establishment of a Zone Free from Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East. The second article was published in the September special issue of IEEE SPECTRUM on the Gulf Legacy. His article dealt with The Role of Diplomacy throughout the Gulf War Crisis. Also in 1991 he was invited by the Center for Strategic Negotiations to participate in an international Conference entitled: Containing Nuclear Proliferation: Contingency Planning for Challenges Ahead, from 11-14 November at Airlie House VA.

In January 27, 1992 Dr. Karem was a guest of the Swiss Government for a Swiss tour of Chemical Industry in Basle. From January 27-29 he participated in Geneva in UNIDIR’s second workshop of the group of experts on Regional Approaches to Disarmament, Security and Stability,

In 1992, he concluded his tour of duty in Geneva with the successful conclusion of the Chemical Weapons Convention. He was appointed by his Foreign Minister as the First Director of the newly established Department for Disarmament Affairs, in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and assumed his new duties in September 1992. Dr. Karem was member of the Egyptian Delegation to the 98th Session of the Council of Ministers of the League of Arab States which met in Cairo in September 1992 and in an extra-ordinary Session on January 12, 1993 to discuss the Chemical Weapons Convention. Later that month he attended, in that new capacity, the 36th, General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, from September 21-26, 1992. In October/November he attended the meetings of the First Committee of the 47th General Assembly in New York. Also in November he submitted to the Canadian Center for Global Security in Canada a paper on Practical Measures towards the Realization of a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East, for publication by the Center. This paper was co-authored with Dr.Mohamed Shaker Egyptian Ambassador to the United Kingdom. It appeared in the December 1992 issue of Aurora papers; N0.16 published by the Center.

From December 5-7 1992, he was discussant in a panel on Arms Control Negotiations in the Middle East, which was part of the Sixth Annual Conference for Political Research on Arab Israeli Negotiations and the Future of Peace in the Middle East, organized by the Center for Political Research and Studies of Cairo University. From December 10-11 1992 he presented a paper on Regional Nuclear Non-Proliferation measures, to a Conference organized by UNIDIR in Paris on Nuclear Deterrence Problems and Perspectives for the 1990's.

In March 1993, he was Deputy Head of the Delegation of Egypt before the First UNGA Committee on Restructuring. In the same month he was keynote speaker before the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on Arms Control, which convened in Cairo. Later on, he presented a paper to Conference of Research Institutes in the Middle East jointly organized between UNIDIR and the Egyptian Institute for Diplomatic Studies, in Cairo from 18 to 20 April 1993. His paper was entitled: “Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and of Ballistic Missiles, What are the Dangers and What are the Possible Regional and Global Solution.”

In June 1993, he attended the meetings of the Core Group on Non-Proliferation, which met in Oslo, where he presented a paper on “An African Perspective on Transparency in Armament.”  From September 7-9 he presented a paper on: “The Regional Security Setting: A Middle East Perspective,” to a joint Conference organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense and the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. War College. The Conference was held in Cairo. Following that, he participated In an International Conference organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Defense and Foreign Policy, in the Greek Island of HALKI.  His presentations focused on identifying the Challenges before the Non-Proliferation Regime until 1995. From September 19-21 he was member of the Egyptian Delegation to the 100 Session of the Council of Ministers of the League of Arab States, which met in Cairo. He was also Deputy Head of the Egyptian Delegation before the 37 General Conferences of the IAEA, which met in Vienna for one week starting on the 27 of September.

He made a presentation to a special conference organized in Paris by the Centre D' Etudes ET de Recherché Internationales (CERI) on October 28, 1993. The topic of his paper was: “Le Proche Orient: Fondement Sécuritaires de la Paix.” He also represented Egypt in a special Arab League Committee established in accordance with resolution 5285 dated 19 April 1993 to prepare a technical study to assist the Secretary General of the Arab League in his duties towards the Establishment of a Zone in the Middle East Free From all Weapons of Mass Destruction.

From 17-21 January 1994, he was deputy head of the Egyptian delegation to the Second Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference held in New York. From January 30 to February 4, he made two presentations to the Arms Control And Regional Security (ACRS), Working Group "Conceptual Basket" which was held in Cairo. His presentations were on The "Definition of the Region", and "Lessons Drawn From Previous Arms Control Proposals." From 14-15 February 1994, he made a presentation before an international conference held in Geneva and organized by the Institute for Foreign Policy analysis (IFPA) and the United Nations institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). The Conference title was "Security and Economic Implications of the Diffusion of Advanced Military Technology". His presentation dealt: with the Middle East. In March Dr. Karem was member of the Egyptian Delegation before the 101 Foreign Ministers Meeting of the League of Arab States.

From May 30 until June 4 1994, Dr. Karem was a member of his delegation to the IAEA Board of Governors. From 6-8 September 1994, he participated in the HALKI International Seminar in Greece. The theme was “Cooperation and Security in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Balkans”. He presented two papers, one on the “The Middle East: Existing Status of Regional Efforts and Arrangements,” the other on “Security Assurances for Non Nuclear Weapon States: NPT Dilemma.” He also became member of Halki's Steering Committee. He was also member of his delegation to the 102 Regular Session of the Arab League Foreign Ministers meeting in Cairo from September 14-15, 1994 and member of his delegation to the 38 The General Conference of the IAEA from September 19-25, 1994.

From October 25-26,1994 he was Chairman of the Arab League Working Group on Weapons of Mass Destruction and consolidating an Arab Position on the NPT. During November 1994, he traveled to New York to participate in the 49th General Assembly as Egypt's Deputy Head of delegation to the First Political Committee. In December he was Guest Speaker in Cairo before the African Pug wash. His statement was on the extension of the NPT.

From January 23-27, 1995, he was Deputy Head of the Egyptian delegation to the Fourth and Final Preparatory Committee of the NPT held in New York. From January 30-31 he was guest Speaker in a Panel on "NPT extension and the Middle East", as part of the Carnegie Endowment International Conference on: Nuclear Non Proliferation in 1995: Renewal, Transition, or Decline? Held in Washington D.C.

During the period from 22-23 march, 1995 he was member of the Egyptian Delegation to the 103 Session of the Arab League Council of Ministers which met in Cairo in preparation for the NPT Review and Extension Conference. In his capacity as Director for Disarmament Dr. Karem attended the Fifth NPT Review and Extension Conference in New York during the period from April 17 till May 12, 1995. Immediately before that, he attended the special Non Aligned High Officials meeting in New York on the 12th and the 13th of April in preparation for the NPT. From July 11-12 he was guest Speaker before an international conference organized by the German Foundation Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on “Security and Peace in the Mediterranean Region.”

He also attended the 39th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna from the 17th-22 of September 1995.

In his capacity as Alternate Representative of Egypt, Dr. Karem attended the 50th meetings of the United Nations General Assembly and participated in the work of UNGA First Committee until November 21, 1995. During the same period he participated in the Sixth Annual Arms Control Conference organized by the John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies of the Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas, from 17-19 November 1995. His presentation was on the “Aftermath of the NPT". From December 11-15, he was a participant in Workshop on Arms Control and Security in the Middle East III, in Petra, Jordan. This Workshop was Co organized by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC), University of California, USA and the Jordanian Higher Council for Science and Technology.

DR. Karem was elected by acclamation as chairman of the Arab League Committee on elaborating the principles of a Draft Treaty on the Establishment

Of a Zone Free from all Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East, which met in Cairo under his Chairmanship from December 18-20,1995 and further from May 14-15, 1996.

He participated in the 13th Annual Verification Symposium entitled " verification, Compliance and Confidence Building: the Global and Regional Interface," held in Montebello, Canada from the 13-16 March 1996.

On April 11, 1996, Egypt hosted the signing Ceremony for the Opening for signature of the African Nuclear-Weapon- Free Zone Treaty, organized by his Department.

Dr. Karem accepted in April 1996, the invitation from the German Peace Research Institute, Frankfurt to become member of the Advisory Board on the project organized by the Institute on “Pro-activist Non-Nuclear Policy.”

In May 1996 his Government nominated him as an expert in the United Nations Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, which met in New York.

He was Egypt's representative to the Seminar organized by the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which met in Tel Aviv, Israel from June 2-4, 1996.

He headed his country's delegation to the Conference on Interaction and Cooperation in Asia (CICA), which met in Almaty, Kazakhstan from 10-14 June 1996. From 7-10 September he participated in a conference organized by UCLA in Lund, Sweden on the Dynamics of the Middle East Arms Control. From September 14-15, he was a member of his country's delegation to the Arab League Council of Ministers that met in Cairo. He attended the 41st, General Conference of the IAEA in Vienna from September 16-20.

In November 1996, Dr. Karem attended the meetings of the First Committee in New York, following that he was Egypt's representative to the meetings of the First Preparatory Committee of the CTBT in New York from 19-22, November. From 2-5 December he attended in Kyoto, Japan, a Seminar on Nuclear Disarmament, after the indefinite extension of the NPT, organized by the Ministry For Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non Proliferation, of the Japan's Institute of International Affairs. His paper was on "The aftermath of the indefinite extension of the NPT: A critical assessment." From December 17-20, he chaired the Arab League Committee on Weapons of Mass Destruction. He was also a member of Egypt's delegation to the 107 session of the Council of Ministers of the Arab League from 30 31 March 1997. He headed his country's delegation to the NPT Preparatory Committee of the Review Conference in New York from 7-18 April. From 21-23 May he participated in the intercessional workshop on small arms and light Weapons in Asia in Katmandu, Nepal. Following that he participated in a Workshop on the same topic in Tokyo, during the period from 26-28 May. He participated in the last meeting of the group of experts, which was held in New York from 7-18 July, which finalized the study presented to the General Assembly on Small Arms and Light Weapons.   From 27-28 July he headed the Arab League Working Group on "Weapons of Mass Destruction".

From August 4-8, he participated in a conference organized by UCLA, Center for International Relations at Wilton Park, UK, on: “Arms Control in the Middle East: The Future Agenda?”

Also in August Dr. Karem was decorated by the Ministry of Defense Corp of Engineer “Coat of Arms” in recognition for his role in addressing the problem of: Landmines in Egypt.

From September 20-21 he was member of the Delegation of Egypt before the Arab League Council of Ministers in Cairo.   Following that, he was Deputy Head of the Egyptian Delegation to the Forty First-IAEA General Conference in Vienna. In November, he represented Egypt to the Fifty Second United Nations General Assembly before the First Committee in New York.

Dr. Karem Chaired a panel entitled “Other NPT Issues: Universality, Security Assurances and Nuclear Weapon Free Zones,” in a seminar organized by the Program for Promoting Nuclear Non Proliferation (PPNN) held in Annecy, France from February 27 to March 1, 1998.   He led his country’s delegation to the meeting of the Second Preparatory Committee of the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT, which met in Geneva.  In May 1998, he was chosen by acclamation as member of the Core Group of the PPNN.   Further on he was re nominated by his Government as an expert to assist the Secretary General of the United Nations to prepare a report on Small Arms and Light Weapons.  The Group met in New York from May 26-29, 1998.  From May 30th he attended a meeting organized by PPNN in Southampton U.K. assessing the outcome of the Second Preparatory Committee of the Review Conference of the NPT.  Dr. Karem accepted to teach a 200 level undergraduate course entitled An Introduction to Political Studies during the Spring Semester at Misr International University (MIU).   From February 15-16, he chaired the Arab League working group on Weapons of Mass Destruction.  From March 24-25 he was member of the delegation of Egypt to the Arab League Council of Ministers.  On April 13th he was Principal Speaker before a colloquium organized by the American University in Cairo; English Public Lecture Series.  The address was on: Arms Proliferation: Internal and External aspects.”  Dr. Karem participated in an electronic conference on "The Future of the Conference on Disarmament and its Agenda", held from January 12-23, 1998; Co-hosted by the Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington DC and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), Geneva.   From 14-17 July 1998, he presented a paper to a conference organized by UCLA in Lillehammer, Norway, on the Future of Arms Control in the Middle East.  This event included participants in track II of ACRS.  From 7-9 September he participated in a workshop organized in Tokyo on Small Arms and Light Weapons.   From 16-18 September he was a member of Egypt’s Delegation to the meetings of the Arab League's Council of Ministers.  From 21-25 September Dr. Karem attended the General Conference of the IAEA in Vienna.   He attended the meetings of the first Committee in New York from the 27th of October till the 15th of November and during that period he participated in his capacity as a member of the Core Group of the PPNN in a workshop on the "The 1999 Preparatory Committee Session for the 2000 NPT Review Conference".  He delivered a presentation in a session devoted to Recommendations to the 2000 NPT Conference on "Security Assurances, Universality, and NWFZ's".  He delivered a speech before the Shura Council of the Egyptian Parliament on the occasion of discussing a report on the establishment in the Middle East of a Zone Free of Weapons of Mass Destruction, on November 30,1998.   The joint National Security, Foreign Affairs, and Arab Committee prepared the Report.  Dr. Karem was a Speaker before the Third Sitting entitled "Towards a Middle East Free of Nuclear and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction", organized by the North Atlantic Assembly "Mediterranean Dialogue Seminar" in collaboration with the Egyptian People's Assembly, in Cairo from 7-9 December, 1998.

Dr. Karem accepted to become a founding member of the newly established Egyptian Council on Foreign Relations.  From 18-20 February 1999, he participated in a Workshop organized by the Swiss Government on Small Arms in Geneva Switzerland.  Following that he attended the meetings of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms in Geneva from 22-26 February.  Dr. Karem was invited to speak in Cairo before a Symposium on Nuclear Energy and its peaceful applications in the Twenty First Century organized by the League of Arab States and the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna from the 2-4 March 1999.  From 11-14 of March he attended the 25^TH PPNN Core Group Meeting and Briefing Seminar on” The 1999 Preparatory Committee Session for the 2000 NPT Review Conference: Issues and options", at the Chauncy Conference Center, Princeton, USA.  He was Chairman of a Panel on Universality and Nuclear disarmament.

On March 18 the Council of Arab Ministers of the League of Arab States meeting in Cairo adopted a Special Resolution by acclamation praising Dr. Mahmoud Karem for his exemplary efforts during his Chairmanship of the Committee on Preparing a Draft Treaty for the Establishment of A Zone Free From Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East.  The Ministers went on to state that such an unprecedented resolution is a clear testimony of commendation Ambassador Karem deserves.

Dr. Karem participated in the Second Arab Symposium on: "Human International Law and Verification including Weapons of Mass Destruction" organized by the international Institute of Criminal Sciences in Italy and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Arab League, in Cairo from the 23-24 of June 1999.  He presented a paper to the Second Panel.   During May he participated in his country's delegation before the Third Preparatory Committee of the Review Conference of the NPT in New York.

In August 1999 Dr. Karem was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Egypt to Japan.  Ambassador Karem headed the Egyptian delegation, which participated in the Tokyo International Conference on Semipalatinsk, which was held on September 6-7, 1999 to discuss means of providing assistance to this region, which was affected due to the nuclear tests conducted by the former Soviet Union.

Ambassador Karem headed the Egyptian delegation to the 6th Ad Hoc Liaison Committee Meeting for the assistance to the Palestinian people, which was held in Tokyo on October 15th, 1999.  He also represented the Government of Egypt in the unofficial meeting of the Regional Parties and the Gavel Holders of the Working Group of the Multilateral Track of the Middle East Peace Process in Tokyo on October 14, 1999.

In November 1999 Ambassador Karem was selected as Visiting Professor on International Relation of Takushoku University, where he lectured to the students and local community audience on the topic ”Japan and Egypt among the world”.

In December 1999 Ambassador Karem attended the Program for Promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation Core Group Meeting in Oslo, where he had fruitful discussion with other core group meetings about the situation in the Middle East, India and Pakistan, the future of NPT and other related matters.

From March 11-12, 2000 Ambassador Karem participated in a seminar of World Partnership Forum (WPF) organized by the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) at Okuyugawara in Kanagawa Prefecture, on:”Globalization and Modern International System”.

From May 30 till June 4, 2000 Ambassador Dr. Karem participated in the Defense Threat Reduction Agency 9th Annual International Conference in Norfolk, VA in the United States, where he headed a panel and presented a paper on: “Poles Apart? Arms Control in a Multi-Polar World”.

From October 8-10, 2000, Ambassador Karem participated in “World Partnership Forum in Mie discussion the topic of IT Revolution: A Significant Impact to Our Lifestyle”.

On March 23, 2001, Ambassador Dr. Karem participated as a panelist in Africa Day 2001: Commemorating the 38th Anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) at United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan.

On June 10, 2001, Ambassador Dr. Karem participated in an International Symposium organized by the Japan Association for United Nations Studies (JAUNS) at the United Nations University, U Thant International Conference Hall. He presented a paper on: “The Role of Japan in the 21st Century: What are the World’s Expectation?”

From December 3 -4, 2001, Ambassador Dr. Karem participated in "TICAD Ministerial-Level Meeting" at Takanawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo.

On January 23, 2002, Ambassador Dr. Karem participated in  “Tokyo Follow-up meeting to the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects” at Hotel Nikko Tokyo, Japan.

Ambassador Karem participated as Head of the Egyptian delegation to “the 8th International Energy Forum in “Osaka from September 21-23, 2002.

On October 12, 2002, Ambassador Karem gave a speech at the 2nd International Symposium on “Islam & Information-Telecommunication Technology” in Waseda University.

On December 13, 2002, Ambassador Karem participated in a symposium on Islam: Fostering Peace and Dialogue in an Interdependent World as a panelist at the United Nations University.

On December 17, 2002, Ambassador Karem was invited as distinguished guest by the National Institute for Defense Studies, where he lectured on “Egypt and the Crossroads of Peace in the Middle East”.    

Since 2003, Ambassador Karem is appointed Member of the Board of Trustees of the  UNIDIR.

On January 20, 2003, Ambassador Karem participated in International Security Symposium Weapons of Mass Destruction and International Security as a panelist at Air Staff College, JASDF.

On May 9, 2003, Nippon Press Club invited Ambassador Karem as guest speaker, where he lectured on “Iraq: the aftermath”. 

On August 7, 2003, Ambassador Karem gave a speech at the 2003 World Conference against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs in Nagasaki; he was also a panelist on a Panel on Nuclear Disarmament.

In September 2003 he was appointed as Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In October Dr. Karem, a graduate of the “English School Helioplois”, was appointed Chairman of its Board of Trustees.  He accepted the appointment as member of the Board of the Institute of Asian studies, Zagazig University, as well as the Board of the Institute of Asian studies, at Cairo University.

In 2004-2005, he took part as an expert appointed by the director General of IAEA. The work resulted in a study on “Multilateral Approaches to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle”.

In March 2005, he was appointed Ambassador of Egypt to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Council and Commission as well as Permanent Representative to NATO.

In May 2005, he was accredited as Ambassador, Head of Mission of Egypt to the European Commission.

In the same month, he participated in the reunion of the Euro-Med Ministerial meeting in Luxembourg.

On the 21^st and 22^nd of June 2005, Ambassador Dr. Karem participated in the “International Conference on Iraq”, held in Brussels in the Council of the European Union.

On the 29^th of June 2005, he participated in the reunion of the Advisory Board on Disarmament matters in Geneva, where he was requested to serve two more additional years by the Secretary General of the UN.

On the 11^th of July 2005, Ambassador Karem participated as a speaker in the European Policy Center Dialogue entitled “What prospects for reform in the wider Middle East?”

In September 2005, H.E.Dr. Karem was accredited as Ambassador of Egypt to the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg.

On the 7^th of November 2005, he participated as a speaker in a Seminar entitled “Security in the Middle East” in Seville, Spain.

On 26-28 November 2005, Ambassador Karem participated in the Euro-Med Summit that took place in Barcelona.

On 16-17 January 2006, Ambassador Karem took part as a speaker in the Conference entitled Mediterranean Dialogue II: Harmonization of Security Policies in the Mediterranean Region, that took place at the George C. Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany.

On 8-10 February 2006, H.E.Dr. Karem participated in the 46^th Session of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters at the United Nations in New York.

Ambassador Karem participated in the High – Level Event with Mediterranean Dialogue Countries organized by NATO in Rabat, Morocco on 6-7 April 2006.

On 12 September 2006, Dr. Karem was the main speaker in the Hearing on the Construction of the Euro Med Free trade area, organized by the Committee on International Trade at the European Parliament.

On 20-21 November 2006, he participated in the Conference organized by the European Commission in Brussels, entitled “Towards an EU external energy policy to assure a high level supply security”.

On 19 December 2006, Ambassador Karem was awarded the Prestigious Award of the Best Diplomat of the year 2006 in Belgium in the presence of H.E.Mr. Karel de Gucht, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium and Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy at the European Commission.

On the 1^st of March 2007, Ambassador Karem was a speaker, in the Symposium about the efforts of creating a Weapon of Mass Destruction Free-Zone in the Middle East and about the role of Belgium as a temporary member of the UN Security Council. Were also Speakers H.E.Mr. Karel de Gucht, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Mrs. Anne-Marie Lizin, President of the Senate, and Dr. Hans Blix, former UN-weapon inspector in Iraq and President of the Weapons Mass Destruction Commission. The Symposium was jointly organized by the Belgian Senate and Belgian Parliament, and held at the Senate premises.

On 18 & 19 April 2007, Ambassador Karem participated as a speaker at the conference organized by the North Atlantic Council at Vilnius, Lithuania, in the panel entitled “Addressing the present and Future Challenges in the non-proliferation framework”.

On 22-23 May 2007, Ambassador Karem took part in a visit to Taranto Naval Base, Italy, and attended NATO’s biannual Day at Sea, organized by NATO and SACEUR.

On 14-17 June 2007, he participated as a main speaker at the 24^th International Workshop on global security organized by the Centre for Strategic Decision Research and sponsored by the Minister of Defence of France H.E.Mrs. Michèle Alliot-Marie. The Conference took place in Paris and his presentation was part of the panel entitled “the Expanding of Security Challenges- Political Views”. The Ambassador’s paper was entitled: “the definition of Security: the Rehash of an Old Debate”.

On the 4^th of July 2007, Ambassador Karem was a main speaker at the Conference organized by the Greens Group in the European Parliament, entitled “Iran: Alternatives to escalation”.

On 16-18 July 2007, Ambassador Karem participated in the 48^th session of the secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that took place at the United Nations in New York.

From 12-16 September 2007, Ambassador Karem participated in the Halki International Seminar 2007 organized by Heliamepin Rhodes, Greece, entitled “Re-defining Security in SEE, the Black Sea and the Middle East; Searching for New Ways to Address Regional Security Problems”. Dr. Karem chaired the following Panel: Promoting democratic reform and good governance in the Middle East: Are there lessons to be learned from Southeastern Europe?. He was a discussant in another panel on EU/Arab relations and presented another paper to a third.

On 28 November 2007, Dr. Karem took part in the hearing on the threat of nuclear proliferation organized by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Belgian House of Representatives, where he made a presentation to the Committee.

Ambassador Karem was a panellist at the “NATO’s Partnerships- The Oberammergau Symposium” on 22-23 January 2008, in the panel entitled “Partnerships after Riga. Are We Making Progress?” the symposium took place in the NATO School.

Since April 2008, Ambassador Karem has become member of the Board of Advisors to the International Workshop on Global Security of the Centre for Strategic Decision Research, California.

And on 20-22 June 2008, he attended the 25^th International Workshop on Global Security that took place in Rome, Italy; he was a panellist on a panel concluding the event.

On 20-21 November, Ambassador Karem was a discussant in the Conference entitled “Arms Control Revisited: Non-Proliferation and Denuclearization” that took place in Warsaw, Poland.       

From 9 to 11 December 2008, Ambassador Karem was a main discussant in the Defense Leaders Forum organized jointly by the Ministry of Defense of Portugal, Microsoft and NATO in Lisbon, Portugal, where the theme was: “NATO Operations: IT Challenges for Nations & Industry”. Dr. Karem’s presentation in the panel was on “Piracy off the coast of Aden: the need to work together.”  In June 2009 Dr. Karem Chaired a panel organized by the 26^th International workshop on global security co organized with the Ministry of defense of Turkey.  His panel dealt with “Strategies for dealing with regions in crisis: Israel, Palestine, and in the Middles East.