The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) started this evening at its headquarters in the French capital Paris to elect the 11th Director-General of the International Organization, succeeding Irina Bokova, whose term expires in November.

Qatar’s candidate HE Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari came out ahead in Monday’s first-round vote for the new director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

HE Dr. Al-Kuwari got 19 out of 58 votes, followed by French nominee Audrey Azoulay on 13 and Egyptian Moushira Khattab on 11.

The other four candidates are Vera El-Khoury Lacoeuilhe from Lebanon (six votes), Qian Tang from China (five votes), Polad Bulbuloglu from Azerbaijan (two votes) and Pham Sanh Chau from Vietnam (two votes)..

Commenting on the outcome of the first round of elections, HE Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari told Qatar News Agency (QNA): “We are pleased with this result, which reflects Qatar’s international standing and the world’s response to its candidate.” We continued efforts to reach our destination is a legitimate right because we are the sons of the Arab and Islamic civilization and our right to boast of this and the right of the Arab culture to play its role in achieving the objectives of this long-standing organization, HE Dr. Al Kuwari added.

He noted that “tomorrow will be the second round, and we will walk with confidence because the world today confirmed that the State of Qatar maintains the principles of UNESCO and works to serve world peace by nominating one of its sons to lead UNESCO in the coming period, stressing that the management of UNESCO is not a job, but a mission through which we seek to achieve UNESCO’s goals in the fields of culture, education, preservation of world heritage and so on.

The Qatari candidate moved early two years ago with a clear vision of the challenges facing the organization and he understands the risks that UNESCO is facing. He has a vision to deal with these challenges,” he said.

Members of the agency’s executive board have until Friday to select a successor – by overall majority – to outgoing director general Irina Bokova of Bulgaria.

The victor then has to be confirmed by a vote by the general conference of all member countries on November 10.

Fifty-eight members of the UNESCO executive board are holding its 202nd session in Paris under the chairmanship of Germany’s ambassador to UNESCO Michael Worbs to choose the candidate.

The new director-general will assume office on November 15. The UNESCO director-general is appointed for a period of four years, and may be appointed for a further term of four years, but shall not be eligible for reappointment for a subsequent term

Source: Fana News