The newly elected Director-General for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was announced on October 15. Bulgarian diplomat Irina Gueorguieva Bokova won the ballot and is the first woman to head UNESCO.

[Irina Gueorguieva Bokova, Elected UNESCO Director-General]:
"Mr. Director-General of UNESCO, this is a big moment because the General Assembly of UNESCO has expressed confidence in me to be the first director-general, the first female director-general of UNESCO."

Despite having little chance of victory before last month's vote, Bokova defeated Egyptian Cultural Minister Farouk Hosni. Last year, Hosni almost burned Israeli books – this could be attributed to his losing out to Bokova.

Jewish organizations were outraged by Hosni’s candidacy, while media rights activists accused him of turning a blind eye to censorship in Egypt. Israel did not openly oppose his candidacy and some European countries, such as France, backed his bid. 

However, UNESCO sources said the United States and a number of northern European countries, including Germany, supported Bokova.
   
Bokova will officially take her post on November 15.