Deputy prime minister 1991-92, secretary general of the United Nations (UN) from 1992. He worked towards peace in the Middle East in the foreign ministry posts he held 1977-91. Since taking office at the UN he has encountered a succession of challenges regarding the organization's role in conflict areas such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Somalia, Haiti, and Rwanda, with which he has dealt with varying success. A professor at Cairo University 1949-77, Boutros-Ghali specialized in African affairs. In 1977 he accompanied President Sadat to Jerusalem on the diplomatic mission that led to the Camp David Agreements and was appointed minister of state for foreign affairs that year.
