New Election of UNESCO Director General in 2013

Irina Bokova, the current Director General of UNESCO, was elected to her current four year term in 2009. A new election will be held in 2013. The election should take place in October and November of 2013, based on the recommendation of the preceding Executive Board meeting. Nominations of candidates for the position must be made well in advance.

The previous four people to hold the office all served more than one term:

• Koïchiro Matsuura, 1999-2009
• Federico Mayor Zaragoza, 1987-1999
• Amadou Mahtar M'Bow, 1974-1987
• René Maheu (who previously served as Acting DG), 1962-1974

Novinite.com reported on September 24th that Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has officially nominated Irina Bokova for a second term as Director General of UNESCO. However, it also reported on October 26th:

The former Bulgarian president, Geogi Parvanov, said on Thursday that the current Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, was the most suitable figure to lead the Bulgarian Left party (BSP).

Here is the Wikipedia entry for Director General Irina Bokova.

Sabahionline.com reported on September 13th:

Djibouti has nominated Rachad Farah, its ambassador to France and permanent delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), to head the UN agency, Djibouti's La Nation reported Thursday (September 13th).

Here is the Wikipedia entry for Ambassador Rachad Farah (in French).

Leaked U.S. State Department Report on 2009 election.

Wikileaks published the contents of a reporting cable from the U.S. Mission to UNESCO discussing the 2009 election of the UNESCO Director General. Click here to read the cable.