New Bulgarian UNESCO Director Bokova: No Clash of Civilizations

The new UNESCO Director, Bulgarian Irina Bokova, does not believe in a "clash of civilizations"; she has called for international understanding on cultural diversity. Photo by BGNES

Newly elected Directo of UNESCO, Bulgarian Irina Bokova, has declared her hopes for international understanding within the organization.

"I hope that we will be all together, with the representatives of the Arab world, of course, but also with all regional groups in UNESCO because I have never believed in the clash of civilizations," Bokova said in her short statement after her election, as cited by the Bulgarian National Radio.

"UNESCO exists in order to bring tolerance, dialogue. Its task is cultural diversity. We need a new humanism, which was the main point in my program, "The New Humanism of the 21st Century," the Bulgarian director of UNESCO explained adding that all of her competitors for the top job had excellent ideas that she would not hesitate to borrow.

Bokova beat Egyptian bidder, Faruq Hosni, who was seen as the candidate of the Arab states, in the fifth round of voting for the UNESCO Director position with 31 vs. 27 votes.

"I have told the Egyptian delegation that I hope that we would work together within UNESCO because I don't think there is such a thing as a "clash of civilizations," Bokova said.

 

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