Ambassador Irina Bokova visits Tunisia
Ambassador Irina Bokova, the Bulgarian candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO, visited Tunisia on July 8 – 9, 2009.
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.