In Rabat, Ambassador Bokova held talks with Mrs Latifa Akharbache, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco, and with Mrs Satiha Sadas, Head of the Office of the Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Morocco.

During the talks, Ambassador Bokova stated in detail her vision of the place, role, and future of UNESCO, pointing out the advantages of the Bulgarian candidacy. She presented her strategy on the development of UNESCO, discussed the priorities of the Organisation and its ongoing reform, setting forth her view on the need for it to be continued.

In the course of the talks, Ambassador Bokova and her Moroccan hosts shared the opinion that the struggle of ideas and views on the future of UNESCO as presented by the separate candidates will greatly benefit the strengthening of the Organisation, the influence of which should be enhanced against the backdrop of the global economic and financial crisis, and of the need for a meaningful and effective dialogue among civilizations, religions, and cultures.

Later that day, a cocktail party was given at the Bulgarian Embassy in honour of Mrs Irina Bokova. It was attended by Directors-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco, by ambassadors of the European Regional Group, by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mr Kitín Muñoz, as well as by university professors and renouned Moroccan public figures.

During her visit, Ambassador Bokova met with H.E. Dr. Moudhi Abdul Aziz Al-Humoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education of the State of Kuwait, with Mr Abdullatif Ahmed Al-Baijan, Secretary-General of the Kuwait National Commission for UNESCO, and with Mr Mansur Al Otaiby, Director of the International Organisations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait.

In the course of her meetings, Ambassador Bokova presented her platform as candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO, outlining her vision for the future development of the Organisation and its priorities, along with the need to continue the reform within UNESCO and to increase its role in the fields of education, science, and culture.

During her meeting with the Minister of Higher Education of Kuwait, Ambassador Bokova discussed issues concerning education, as well as the leading role of UNESCO in this field. Opinions were exchanged regarding the place and role of UNESCO in connection with a number of challenges on a global scale.

During her visit to Lomé, Ambassador Bokova held meetings with Mr Koffi Esaw, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Togo, with Mr Messan Adimado Aduayom, Minister of Higher Education and Research of Togo, and with Mr Ampah Johnson, Representative of Togo to the Executive Board of UNESCO.

In the course of the meetings, Ambassador Bokova presented her platform as candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO. She exchanged views on the important position of UNESCO and the role it plays in connection with a number of global challenges. Also discussed were the future development of the Organisation, its priorities, and the reform taking place in UNESCO. Ambassador Bokova stated her view on the need to continue this reform. She showed interest in Togo’s priorities in the field of education and discussed the role of UNESCO in this sphere.

Ambassador Bokova reiterated before the hosts her commitment to engage in the problems of the African states and to work actively on the UNESCO strategy aimed at the specific problems of these countries.

Within the framework of her visit, Ambassador Bokova held meetings with Mr Laurent Gbagbo, President of Côte d’Ivoire, with Mr Youssouf Bakayoko, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and with Mr Gilber Bleu-Lainé, Minister of Education. Also present at the meeting with President Gbagbo were Mr Augustin Kouadio Comoé, Minister of Culture, and Mr Lou Mathieu Bamba, Secretary General of the Côte d’Ivoire National Commission for UNESCO.

In the course of her meetings, Ambassador Bokova exchanged interesting views on issues concerning international relations, education, science, and culture. She showed interest in Côte d’Ivoire’s priorities in the field of education, discussing the role of UNESCO in this sphere. The reform of UNESCO was also discussed, and Ambassador Bokova laid out her views on the need for it to be continued.

Ambassador Bokova met with Mrs Pierrette Faust, Regional Director of the city of Yamoussoukro, some 250 kilometers from the capital of Abidjan.

Ambassador Bokova reaffirmed before the hosts her commitment to engage in the problems of the African states and to work actively on the UNESCO strategy targeted at the specific problems of these countries.

During her visit, Ambassador Bokova met with Mrs Sani Morou Fatouma, Minister of Tourism and Crafts, with Mr Mohamed Ben Omar, Minister of Communication and Spokesman of the Government, and with Mrs Maïguizo Rakiatou Zada, Secretary General at the Ministry of National Education. Mr Amadou Maïlélé, Representative of Niger to the Executive Board of UNESCO, accompanied Ambassador Bokova at the meetings.
In the course of her talks, Ambassador Bokova exchanged interesting views on issues pertaining to education, science, communications, and technology. She also outlined before the hosts her views on the future development of UNESCO, its priorities, and the reform of the Organisation, stating her opinion on the need for it to be continued.

Ambassador Bokova reaffirmed her commitment to engage in solving the problems of the African states and to work actively on the strategy of UNESCO targeted at the specific problems of these countries.

Within the framework of her visit, Ambassador Bokova visited the National Museum of Niger Boubou Hama and signed the book of honour.

Within the framework of the visit, Ambassador Bokova met with Mrs Dora Siliya, Minister of Education, and with Mr Tens Kapoma, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Zambia.

During the talks, Ambassador Bokova presented her platform as candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO. She showed interest in Zambia’s priorities in the field education and discussed the role of UNESCO this shere. Ambassador Bokova also exchanged views on the reform of UNESCO, sharing her opinion on the need for it to be continued.

Ambassador Bokova reaffirmed before the hosts her commitment to engage in the problems of the African states and to work actively on the UNESCO strategy aimed at the specific problems of these countries.

Ambassador Irina Bokova visited Uganda on July 18-22, 2009, where she presented her candidacy for the post of Director-General of UNESCO.

During her stay, Ambassador Bokova visited the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO and held talks with Mr Augustine Omare-Okurut, Secretary General of the Commission, and with Mr Eriabu Lugujjo, Uganda’s representative to the Executive Board of UNESCO. In the course of her meetings, Ambassador Bokova acquainted herself with the activities of the Commission and its role as a specialised UNESCO instrument. She also discussed issues pertaining to education and the leading role of UNESCO in this sphere.

In Kampala, Ambassador Bokova was also received by Mr Okello Oryem, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, by Mr Gabriel Opio, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, and by Mr Cos Bataringaya, State Minister of Education and Sports in charge of Uganda’s Primary Education.

During these talks, Ambassador Bokova presented her platform as candidate for the post and outlined her views on the Organisation’s future development and priorities, as well as the need to continue the reform aimed at raising the role of UNESCO in the field of education, science and culture.

Within the framework of her visit, on July 9th she was received by Dr. Mohamed Al-Aziz Ben Achour, Director-General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organisation (ALESCO). ALESCO is a regional organisation, a structure of the League of Arab States with headquarters in Tunisia. Among its main objectives are protecting and familiarising Arab culture, and developing and promoting education in Arab countries.

Ambassador Bokova was also received by Mr Abderraouf El Basti, Minister of Culture and Safeguarding National Heritage of Tunisia, and by Mr Hatem Ben Salem, Minister of Education and President of the Tunisian National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture. Mrs Fatma Tarhouni, Secretary-General of the Commission, was also present at the talks.

During her meetings, Ambassador Bokova presented in brief the arguments of the Bulgarian government for her nomination for the post of Director-General of UNESCO. In the course of the talks, interesting opinions were exchanged regarding the importance attributed to UNESCO and its role in a multitude of challenges on a global scale. The future development of the Organisation was also discussed, as well as its priorities and reform, where Ambassador Bokova put forth her views on the need for it to be continued.

During her visit, Ambassador Bokova held a number of meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, the Ministry of Culture, and the Portugese National Commission for UNESCO.

In the course of her meetings, Ambassador Bokova acquainted herself with the work of the National Commission and with its role as a specialised instrument of UNESCO. She discussed problems concerning education, as well as the role of UNESCO in this field.

During her talks, Ambassador Bokova presented her platform as a candidate for the post, outlining her views for the future development of the Organisation and the need to continue the reform for increasing the role of UNESCO in the fields of education, science, and culture.

During her visit to Madrid, Ambassador Bokova met with Jorge Manuel Domecq, Director-General of the General Department for United Nations, Global Issues, and Human Rights with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain. At the meeting, Ambassador Bokova presented in brief the motives of the Bulgarian government for her nomination for the post of Director-General of UNESCO. She exchanged opinions with the Spanish side regarding the growing role of multilateral diplomacy and the United Nations, UNESCO in particular, during a time of global financial and economic crisis. In the course of her talks, she exchanged interesting views on the future of UNESCO and the need to continue the reforms already underway in the Organisation.

Later that day, at a cocktail party given by the Bulgarian Embassy, the candidacy of Ambassador Bokova was presented before the diplomatic corps in Madrid.