October 23rd, 2009
Former student of MGIMO Irina Bokova became general director of UNESCO
General Conference of UNESCO, on Thursday approved a secret ballot for the post of director general of the organization Bulgaria Irina Bokova - MGIMO graduate, who became the first woman to head UNESCO, said the press office of UNESCO.
“182 people voted. Two or three bulletin was invalid, 166 people voted” yes “, - told to RIA Novosti spokesperson of the organization.
Elections for the first time in the history of UNESCO held in five rounds. Bokova ahead of the eight candidates, including Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko, who finished MGIMO on one stream with her (1976).
The fourth step of voting the two leaders - Bokova and the Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni - gained an equal number of votes. In the fifth round of Bulgarian only four votes ahead of an Egyptian.
In the first three rounds Hosni was leader. Returning home, he accused the United States, several countries in Europe and “Jewish lobby” in a conspiracy to derail his apparent victory.
Despite the scandal, Egypt will continue to cooperate with the organization, unlike Libya, which announced its withdrawal from UNESCO committee, if Bokova will be a director.