Bulgaria President Calls on UN to Back Bokova for Top Job

Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General and Bulgaria's nomination to take over as head of the United Nations. File photo, BGNES

UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova is a "very strong candidate" for the office of UN chief, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has said.

In his last address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), he has referred to Bokova as "a true leader with experience in international relations and excellent management skills" and "a candidate who deserves [the UNGA's] trust and support."

He has made clear ensuring equal opportunities for women in gaining access to senior decision-making positions, securing the well-being of children, and preventing destruction of cultural heritage are crucial tasks for the UN. It was under Bokova that UNESCO started promoting more actively the education of women and the need to preserve heritage in the face of pillage and destruction of ancient sites and artifacts committed by the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq.

“The time has come for a capable and respectable woman from Eastern Europe to lead the United Nations,” Plevneliev has added.

Bulgaria officially put forward the name of Irina Bokova as a UN Secretary General candidate in February.

However, as her critics questioned the nomination over Bokova's "Communist ancestry" (her father having been the Editor-in-Chief of a Communist newspaper), media reports suggested Plevneliev, who advocates a harsh breakup with all remnants of the Soviet era, would prefer another candidacy. He repeatedly denied the claims.

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