Abdullah Bishara (; born 6 November 1936) is a
Kuwaiti diplomat and politician, who was the first secretary-general of the
Gulf Cooperation Council
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (), also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC; ), is a Regional integration, regional, intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental, political, and economic union comprising Ba ...
(GCC).
Early life and education
Bishara was born on 6 November 1936.
[ He graduated from ]Cairo University
Cairo University () is Egypt's premier public university. Its main campus is in Giza, immediately across the Nile from Cairo. It was founded on 21 December 1908;"Brief history and development of Cairo University." Cairo University Faculty of En ...
in 1959.Balliol College
Balliol College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1263 by nobleman John I de Balliol, it has a claim to be the oldest college in Oxford and the English-speaking world.
With a governing body of a master and ar ...
, Oxford University
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...
, and studied diplomacy and international relations.[ Later he earned a master's degree in political science from St. John's University in the United States.][
]
Career
Bishara worked as a teacher from 1959 to 1961.[ Then he joined ]foreign ministry
In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral re ...
and served as second secretary for political affairs at Kuwait's embassy in Tunisia from 1963 to 1964.[ From 1964 to 1971 he was the director of the office of the minister of foreign affairs in Kuwait.][ Then he was appointed Kuwait's permanent representative to the ]United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
, and served in this post from 1971 to 1981.[
Bishara was the first secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council which he held from 26 May 1981 to April 1993. His assistant secretaries at the GCC were Saif bin Hashil Al Maskari from Oman and Abdullah Ibrahim Al Kuwaiz from Saudi Arabia.][ Bishara resigned from office in the late 1992, and his resignation was accepted at the GCC summit held in Abu Dhabi in December 1992. An Emirati diplomat Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi replaced him as secretary-general of the GCC.
In 1997, Bishara retired from civil service. However, at the beginning of the 2000s he served as a senior advisor to Kuwaiti Prime Minister, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed. During the same period he was also Kuwait's member on the GCC advisory committee and an advisor in the Gulf affairs department at the ministry of foreign affairs.][ He was also named president of diplomatic centre for strategic studies.][ He is the coordinator of the Kuwaiti – British friendship society.][ In addition, Bishara became a board member and an advisor to North Africa Holding (NorAH) in 2006,]
Personal life
Bishara is married and has two children.[ He is the author of various books.][ He also publishes articles in different newspapers.
]
Awards
In June 2003 Bishara was awarded by the United Kingdom Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bishara, Abdullah
20th-century Kuwaiti businesspeople
20th-century Kuwaiti writers
21st-century Kuwaiti businesspeople
1936 births
Living people
Cairo University alumni
Leaders of organizations
Permanent representatives of Kuwait to the United Nations
Secretaries-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council
St. John's University (New York City) alumni
Honorary commanders of the Order of the British Empire