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The Director-General meets with the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs
On 10 October 2013, Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, received H.E. Mr. Kristian Vigenin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.
鈥淵our visit to UNESCO occurs at an important moment in the life of the Organization, when the on-going session of the Executive Board is examining the strategy, programme and policies that will guide our work in the years to come鈥, said Ms Bokova, in welcoming the Minister during his first visit to the Organization鈥檚 Headquarters.
The Director-General thanked Minister Vigenin for Bulgaria鈥檚 support to UNESCO as well as to her reform policy. She paid tribute to Bulgaria鈥檚 emerging role as a donor country and underscored the positive impact that the extra-budgetary projects funded through the Bulgarian Funds-In-Trust have been making in beneficiary countries in the Caribbean, with Arab States and in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Director-General discussed with Mr Vigenin key topics and future priorities for the Organization, which will be examined during the forthcoming 37th session of the General Conference.
Minister Vigenin congratulated Ms Bokova on her nomination by the Executive Board for a new mandate as UNESCO Director-General. He reiterated Bulgaria鈥檚 steadfast support to the Organization, especially in the current financially-challenging period. Speaking on programmatic cooperation, he reaffirmed Bulgaria鈥檚 determination to strengthen this partnership through the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Southeast Europe, opened in Sofia in 2012.
