Irina Bokova Dismisses Allegations of Mismanagement in UNESCO - AFP

The head of UNESCO, Bulgaria's Irina Bokova, has told AFP that recent reports of alleged mismanagement in UNESCO were “false” and aimed  to undermine her bid to become the next United Nations Secretary General.

In an interview with AFP published on Thursday, Bokova said: "I deplore these types of reports which I wouldn't say are impartial and are manipulative and untrue -- I'm not afraid to say -- totally false."

Seen as a strong contender for the top UN post, Bokova hit back at reports that she had appointed an under-qualified Brazilian national to a senior position in the UN cultural agency in an attempt to win over Brazil's support in the race.

During her seven-year tenure at UNESCO, there have been 42 investigations of possible conflict of interest which had resulted in the dismissal of 17 people, AFP quoted her as saying.

Bokova has also rejected a suggestion that she was Russia's candidate in the race, in which there are nine declared candidates so far.

"I wouldn't say that I am closer to Russia than I am closer to other countries," AFP quoted her as saying at the United Nations  headquarters.

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