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UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova: Humanity needs the active participation of women

23 September 2009 / 08:09:34  GRReporter
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Her majesty Irina Bokova won today the race for General Director of UNESCO with 31 votes out of a total of 58. During her visit to Greece at the beginning of the summer Mrs. Bokova gave an exclusive interview to GRReporter. Irina Bokova managed to open up a space in her busy program and we met half an hour before an official reception, which was organized in her honor in King George hotel. Right away we found a quiet place in the restaurant of the hotel, where Mrs. Bokova spoke of her priorities for the modern role of the organization, for the role of women and about interesting meetings she went to during her stay in Greece.

The interview was taken by Marina Nikolova

First I would like to start with the question why did you decide to become a candidate for the position of a General Director of UNESCO?

This is a decision made by the Bulgarian government and I feel extremely honored. I believe it is a huge responsibility for me as well that I am the candidate. First because Bulgaria is one of the oldest European countries – many civilizations have lived on our land, which have contributed to the world and European cultural-historic spiritual development. So for me it seems very natural for Bulgaria to be believed as one of the countries, which are engines of UNESCO in this regard.

Second is the fact that Bulgaria is country with a tolerant and multicultural tradition. A country, which is on the cross road between north and south and east and west. We have always proven that we can live in a cultural and ethnic diversity. I believe we have given many examples in history about how we can preserve this cultural diversity…how we can be tolerant to others.

Third is the fact that Bulgaria has an extremely active history in UNESCO. It would be enough to mention that the last general conference, outside the headquarters in Paris, was in Sofia in 1986. This is a fact, which is remembered and respected. When I arrived in Paris, I met many colleagues-ambassadors of mine, who said: “As young diplomats we were in Sofia, we remember…” Two weeks ago I invited a group of diplomats to Sofia – 60 people from 44 countries. We visited few cultural monuments in Bulgaria, which are included in the world cultural heritage list. Then, we passed by NDK (National Palace of Culture) and many of them recognized the building. Right away they remembered that the UNESCO general conference took place there.

In other words, there are many reasons why we believe it is suitable for Bulgaria to be part of this race. Of course, last but not least is the fact that there has not been a candidate for General Director from Eastern Europe until now. We decided that if we spoke of our region, Bulgaria is the best positioned country compared to the rest, to be e representative for Central and Eastern Europe – to represent this region in UNESCO.

In connection to this, what will your cause be, your personal signature, if you are to be chosen for the position?

My personal priority is not that different that what is mentioned in the UNESCO statute, namely that UNESCO is the soul and the conscience of UN and of humanity. It is the sole organization, which deals with culture. It is called upon to approve the values of humanity, of tolerance, of understanding, of dialogue – UNESCO is not an agency for technical development aid. UNESCO is something more than a separate program or a small project. UNESCO is inextricable bound with the experience of a world conflict, as it was the Second World War, transferred into our time. And I believe that especially now, when we are living in a time of crisis and globalization, which is definitely a positive phenomenon that creates uncertainty and many communities seek shoulder to lean on, UNESCO is the organization, which should give many answers. I believe that my priority will be exactly to seek for a new type of humanity, participating in which will be the developed and the developing countries, in a dynamic, constantly changing world that we live in. I believe that UNESCO needs to adapt itself and give those spiritual answers about globalization to people seeking it.

Will the financial crisis influence the activities of the organization?

Unfortunately, yes. It is already being influenced, because in many areas we already see cutting development aid, cutting some programs – UNESCO as an organization has a very limited budget. The financial resources are more than limited. UNESCO has a big resource of extrabudget means, which is divided in relation to its priorities. Mainly education. For a big part of humanity and especially for the developing world, education is the number one priority. I would say that not only in the developing countries but also in the developed ones, there almost isn’t a government, which in such times of crisis does not look for part of the answers in improving education. I believe that UNESCO needs to become a leader when it comes to innovations, technology and the connection between all levels of education – mainly science and researches, which are the answer of the current crisis.

How do you think the role of the organization will change in a world where virtual reality is taking over reality more and more?

This is exactly where I believe UNESCO’s new role should be. The organization needs to give a new and modern answer. I was in Colombia a week ago. There is a very interesting agency for research and science there and I had a conversation, which I have with many ministers and political figures in many countries, about the light of this virtual space, which exists. UNESCO can contribute by making access to different research information easier. Scientists from all over the world have the need for faster information sharing. UNESCO can cooperate for removing some legal barriers so virtual scientist groups can be created, where they can work on common projects. Or if there is a need of a legal framework, UNESCO can create it. UNESCO set its first example by creating the first global digital library, which was officially opened only three weeks ago, during the last session of the Executive council. In other words such activities have already started and I believe we must continue in this direction – it will be good for everybody.

If you are chosen for General Director of UNESCO, you would be the first woman on this position. How would you support women in their pursuit of participating more actively in all spheres of public and political life and to hold leader positions?

I believe that symbolically this will be extremely important, because until now there really hasn’t been a woman on this position. It is even a bit strange and paradoxical, because in other organizations there have been women. Precisely this organization, which is spiritual, which deals with education, culture and communication, where it is believed that women are more interested in, has never had a woman General Director. According to me this would be very nice. I believe UNESCO should join more actively this global campaign for a better place for women, because humanity right now needs the active participation of women, so they can contribute in the spiritual area, in science, in economics. Humanity will gain from this. We need to use this talent in order to achieve higher prosperity, a better way of life in the different societies. What I see right now in the world, because for one reason or another as a diplomat of the Foreign Ministry I have participated in three world UN conferences dealing with women problems – in Copenhagen in 1980, in Nairobi in 1985 and in Beijing in 1995. I have the feeling that this enthusiasm, which had overtaken the world with the Decade of UN for women development, has decreased. Especially in time of crisis, women are from this part of society that is mostly influenced. Whether it is layoffs, or women raising their children alone, or they are suffering some kind of discrimination, or they are mostly affected from violence during conflicts. Women need a more active attitude towards them – something different than what we have had until now. It seems to me that UNESCO needs to take its part as a leader. For example one of the ways it can do it is to – I remember that during the Women’s Decade it was a must for governments to accept certain policies, in order to create coordination structures – administrative, which were supposed to follow that every application of a policy should pay attention of how it affects women. This does not exist anymore. I believe that UNESCO can do a lot and I have the intention, if I am chosen for this position, to pay a specific attention to the role of women in different societies.

What meetings did you have in Greece until now and are you expecting any support form the country?

I had many interesting meetings in Greece. I came here to express my gratitude towards Greece. As I have said in all meetings, UNESCO needs Greece, as Greece I suppose needs UNESCO. This is a country with a special place in world and European culture, sign of which is the fact that right now chairman of the 34th UNESCO General Conference is Mr. George Anastasopoulos – Greek ambassador in UNESCO, former minister, former deputy chairman in the European parliament – a very respectful figure. This shows that Greece has authority in the organization. I came here to express my gratitude to Greece for being one of the closest partners of Bulgaria. Not only a neighbor but the closest partner in the EU in this world cultural space. I shared this with my Greek partners and friends – Mr. Valinakos, deputy minister of foreign affairs, Mrs. Dzidzikostas, chairwoman of UNESCO’s National Commission, Mrs. Bourdara, UNESCO representative in the Executive Council and I just had a meeting with Mr. Anasopoulos who is the director of the international organizations department in the Foreign Ministry. I shared with them the way I see the campaign. For me the procedure to choose a candidate is a process, not a one-side act. It is a process, in which many discussions take place – discussions about the role and place of UNESCO, for the necessity of reforms of how to develop in the future. I also needed to hear what Greece thinks of me and more importantly what Greece thinks about all those subjects. Of course, yes – I need their support.

I think it is still early to be talking about support from different countries, because there is still a lot of time until the elections, so support is not my main goal here – to ask and to insist. I presented some of my views, I expressed hope that in the future with Greece we will have a tighter cooperation in UNESCO, independently of what happens on the elections. Even though I have to say I am very optimistic about possibility of being chosen as a General Director of UNESCO. In any case, I accept the decision of the Bulgarian government with great responsibility - I would say a national feeling of responsibility - because I know that the campaign is very important for Bulgaria. I am receiving many letters and calls from people who are wishing me luck and are asking what they can do to help. Those are mayors, municipal managers, non-governmental organizations; I won’t even mention writers, painters and intellectuals. So I realize the responsibility. I believe I have a real chance – I am very optimistic and positive and with this state of mind I came to Greece.

Greece also has some expectation from UNESCO related to the campaign for the return of the Parthenon marbles. What is your opinion and what commitments can you take regarding this subject?

This is a very important issue for Greece, for its cultural heritage and its preservation. UNESCO is definitely playing a very positive role as a mediator. This issue is discussed in the Committee for illegally taken cultural monuments. There is even a resolution, which was accepted during the last session of the committee on May 11-13 in Paris. Gladly welcomed is the cooperation between the Greek and British ministries of culture. The role of UNESCO General Director is encouraged. I believe that Greece, especially after building the New Museum, has the full right of wanting those marbles to be returned. We talked about this yesterday. I forgot to mention that I also had a meeting with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture. According to me UNESCO needs to encourage and to support this dual-sided dialogue between Greece and Britain, in order to find a balance and a more acceptable solution. I am very sympathetic towards Greece about this subject, about their ambitions and desires. It is completely understandable.

What else can UNESCO do to preserve the Bulgarian cultural monuments?

I believe that Bulgaria has more things to include in the world cultural heritage list. When it comes to this Convention, I have talked to the Ministry of Culture and to some historians. I believe that it is realistic to “include” the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak as a cultural monument, together with some newly found tombs like Alexandrovo, Golyama Kosmatka Mound and some other and to be presented as a series of monuments of culture – this is a new trend in the cultural heritage committee. We could call it the “Valley of the Kings”. We could also include some of the preserved churches in Tarnovo like “Birth of Christ,” the “Bulgarian Sistine Chapel” in Arbanasi and some other preserved medieval churches, because Bulgaria does not have only Thracian art, it also has well preserved medieval art like the Rila Monastery.

Let us not forget the nonmaterial heritage convention. In it Bulgaria is one of the first countries to participate. The convention is connected to tradition, folklore and everything we have as national identity. As masterpiece we managed to include there the Bistritza Folk Ensemble, because of the way they sing. But I believe we have more things to show as world monuments of nonmaterial heritage. 

Tags: News UNESCO UN
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