The Executive Board of UNESCO nominated Irina Bokova for Director-General
05 October 2013 News
On October 4, 2013 after a secret ballot, the Executive Board's 58 members of UNESCO nominated Ms Irina Bokova for the post of UNESCO Director-General. The nomination for a second term of Ms Bokova as Head of the organization was backed by Bulgaria in the summer of 2012 with a decision of the Council of Ministers. On November 12, 2013 it is expected for the General Conference of UNESCO Member States to approve the bid of Irina Bokova for the post of Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, for which there are two more candidates - Prof. Joseph Maila from Lebanon and the Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Djibouti to France Rachad Farah. The Bulgarian candidate won in the first round of voting with 39 votes .
This decision of the Executive Board of UNESCO is an expression of trust and appreciation of the quality of the incumbent Director-General. Her nomination serves also as recognition of the courage that Irina Bokova demonstrated over the past four years, characterized by critical financial constraints to the Organization and complex and dynamic political environment.