Sofia will be the seat of a regional centre for preservation of the intangible cultural heritage in South East Europe

It is not accidental that Nestinarstvo (fire-dancing) was entered in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This happened so quickly and easily not because the Bulgarian Irina Bokova is Director-General of the organization. But because the Permanent Delegate of Bulgaria to UNESCO Irina Bokova had worked long and hard for us to be among the intellectual and cultural wealth of humanity with our merits and the preservation of our traditions. A series of other successes for Bulgaria are also the result of her work. The campaign of Mrs. Bokova was a campaign for Bulgaria too. All the time she lobbied for Bulgaria, she brought to the country many of the ambassadors in UNESCO and showed them dances on live ambers. We know that with the same perseverance she will pursue the goals she has set in her program as Director-General of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization. For the people. For all the people on the Earth.

Irina Bokova Director-General of UNESCO

H.E. Mrs. Irina Bokova has a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (1976). Specialization in U.S. Foreign Policy at Maryland University, School of Public Affairs, Washington (1989). NATO fellow – Programme for Central and Eastern Europe focused on democratic institutions and minority issues (1992–1994). Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Program in Leadership and Economic Development (1999).
Attache and Third Secretary at Political Affairs and Human Rights Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1977–1982). Third Secretary, Political and Legal Affairs, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the UN, New York (1982–1984). Has worked in the UN Directorate (1984–1986) and in the European Security Directorate (1991–1992) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adviser at the Political Cabinet (1986–1990). Member of the 7th Grand National Assembly and Head of the Bulgarian National Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (1990–1991).
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006). Minister of Foreign Affairs (1996–1997). Member of Parliament in the 39th National Assembly.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the French Republic, Permanent Delegate of Bulgaria to UNESCO and Personal Representative of the President to the International Organisation of the Francophonie (2005–2008), Ambassador to the Principality of Monaco (since 2008).
She was elected Director-General by the Executive Board of UNESCO on September 22, 2009 and assumed the post on October 15.
Married, with two children.

More Humanity and Solidarity for a Better and More Humane World

• Education and science – a less visible but major activity of UNESCO
• The new humanism underlies the priority Africa
• We need to seek a balance between the preservation of monuments and current economic interest

Mrs. Bokova, with what ideas and proposals did you win the election for UNESCO Director-General?
All the time, since May last year, I have tried to run a positive campaign, with a message related to the basic ideals of UNESCO of tolerance, cultural diversity, respect for others, dialogue between cultures, education – also as an answer to the current crisis. I tried to impress the idea of a new kind of humanism, of greater solidarity, both between poor and rich countries and inside the societies. In fact, this is how I entitled my vision (the so-called 2000 words, or vision of UNESCO, which every candidate had to submit): “UNESCO in a Globalizing World. New Humanism for the 21st Century.”

Because I am convinced that an organization like UNESCO, founded after the Second World War with the aim of building peace in the minds of people, which we often call “the conscience of humanity,” is the moral and intellectual guardian of the big values –freedom, respect, dignity of the human person. About diversity, I think that such an organization should address even more strongly these original ideas of the organization founders.

Assuming the post, what will be your first priority?
My key message – after I thanked, of course, all other candidates and my principal rival, the Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni, with whom we became friends in the course of the campaign, since we met many times in different places – was the message of unity, of respect for the others. There is no division – the page is closed, this is the logic of democratic elections. What is most important now is that we unite around the goals and ideas of UNESCO. A message, which I sent to different regions of the world, above all to the Arab world, because Mr. Farouk Hosni was supported by our friends in the Arab countries. A message of friendship, of respect for the contributions these countries have made and are making to world culture and to the progress of humanity.

The most important thing now is to be able in times of crisis – there’s no time to waste! – with even greater power, much more energetically, more efficiently to tackle the issues facing us. And the issues are many. As you know, UNESCO is the leading UN organization in the field of education, culture, science and communications. No doubt, in education in the recent years. This seems to be a less visible part of its activity, but it is in education, where there is daily work – quite serious and hard “field work,” that UNESCO is the undisputed leader among all agencies and organizations within the United Nations system. UNESCO initiated the programme Education for All, a long-term project which will end together with the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. But a lot more can be done with regard to creating a more comprehensive strategy in the field of education primarily for the developing world.

In culture, too, there are quite topical themes – cultural diversity, intangible heritage. I must say that as Permanent Delegate of Bulgaria to UNESCO I am extremely satisfied by the fact that since September 30, we Bulgarians have another masterpiece in the List of Intangible Heritage (plus the Bistritsa Babi) – Nestinarstvo. This is very good news for us since in recent years Bulgaria has been very active in this field. We shall set up a regional centre in the field of intangible heritage under the aegis of UNESCO. I think these are concrete and clear responses to the increasingly globalizing world with quite concrete dimensions for greater balance in a global society, for greater harmony – UNESCO plays a very important part there.

Not least in importance, UNESCO is one of the few if not the only organization which has its mandate in the field of science – the natural and social sciences. UNESCO does not have laboratories or financing but it is a leader in international cooperation between the governments, in rendering assistance to the governments for elaborating policies in the field of science. And it plays an increasingly greater role from this point of view in the search for answers to such a serious issue for the entire humanity as climate change, for example. Under UNESCO are the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the International Hydrological Programme, everything related to prevention of natural calamities, safeguarding the coastline, the advance of the deserts, the tsunamis, i.e. there is a number of fields where the organization gives very concrete contribution. In the field of science in particular I have the ambition to enhance the leadership of UNESCO. Science, innovation, new technologies, including the so-called green technologies – this is the future of humanity and the answer to the new challenges.

Would you outline briefly what reforms does UNESCO need?
Every organization is a living body. The reforms are related to reduction of bureaucracy, greater flexibility, stronger emphasis on the interdisciplinary approach, more intensive cooperation, and of course, the participation of UNESCO in the reform of the United Nations Organization, which is very important in terms of focusing of resources – human, financial, etc. – particularly in the field of development aids. I think this is one of the most important things we need to do in the near future.

“New Kind of Humanism in the 21st Century,” what does this embrace?
Intercultural dialogue, dialogue between civilizations, cultural diversity, solidarity, aids. It is a fact that Africa is a priority of UNESCO, horizontal (UNESCO has two priorities: gender equality and Africa). I think the new humanism is the foundation of this priority. We really need to display greater solidarity and deeper understanding of the problems in this continent.

Would you share your views as to what can Bulgaria contribute to the intangible heritage of humanity? Do you think we have other cultural and architectural monuments that could be UNESCO sites?
The setting up of a regional centre in Bulgaria for safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage is a big success for which we have worked in the past two years. It has been approved by the Executive Board, the decision has been confirmed by the General Conference in the beginning of October and we will proceed to its building. In the field of material heritage Bulgaria has not inscribed monuments for a long time. I think there is capacity, I myself have had many talks with the Ministry of Culture, with the National Institute for Monuments of Culture – we have great potential, there are many new discoveries: Alexandrovo, Starosel… all Thracian tombs, we have unique prehistoric caves near Stara Zagora. I think it is quite realistic the Magura Cave to be inscribed as a monument. Some of the medieval churches can be considered too.

Bulgaria, by the way, has now applied for the World Heritage Committee, whose member it has not been for more than fifteen years.

I have worked for all this as Permanent Delegate of Bulgaria to UNESCO. I dare think I have contributed also with my campaign as candidate for Director-General. I dedicated two-thirds of the time to presenting Bulgaria. Now we have to start working on the concrete proposals and it is quite realistic within two or three years to have new monuments inscribed in the List.

Are we to expect any efforts and care on the part of Bulgaria, on the part of the state for protection of the monuments? And another aspect – how shall we convince the people living in these areas that they should preserve the uniqueness of these places, which would be to their benefit too?
The state, of course, plays a big role. In my opinion, the state should exercise a much stronger control for preservation of the monuments, and not allow any disturbance of the environment. It is extremely important also the local authorities to be clear about their responsibilities – both to us, as the people of Bulgaria, and to the global public opinion. Once we have a monument inscribed in the List of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity, we bear responsibility before the world – this is recognized as common heritage of humanity, the responsibilities are twice as big. But it is equally important that local people are convinced they have a long-standing interest in the monuments preservation, that the economic interest from some activity here and now may prove very maleficent in the long run. Nearly all major, significant monuments face the dilemma how to find a balance between their preservation and economic activity, because inscribing in the List entails major interest. This balance should be sought both by the state and by the local authorities, and above all by the local people. Children should be aware of this since their school years, they should be raised in a patriotic spirit, so that we respect our history and heritage. I think we should give more attention to this aspect of conservation.

“Woman of honour,” this is how they called you in a communique of the French Foreign Ministry. What values do you uphold in life, what is your dearest ideal, what matters most to you as a person, on which you draw confidence, energy and strength?
In a broader sense, and without pathos, I think it is humanism, respect for the others, the possibility to show respect for the others, despite the fact that they are different, to see in them what you respect in yourself, so that on this basis you could build something together. I think if we attain a little more humanity, a little more solidarity, if each one of us gives a bit more of oneself, maybe we will have a better and more humane world.

I am not an idealist, I am fully aware that in moments of hardships, of crises, it is hard to achieve this, but I believe it is something worth living for.

In Bulgaria we are still very enthusiastic and excited that a Bulgarian woman will head such an influential world organization.
I have received hundreds, perhaps thousands of calls, letters, SMSs from people around the world, mostly Bulgarians, of course. Not only from Bulgaria, but from Bulgarians living abroad. Nearly all mentioned, “I am proud to be a Bulgarian.” At this moment I am proud. And this has been my biggest reward and my greatest personal satisfaction. Because I think we are quality people and dignified people; we badly needed success, as I said several times, in order to get a little more courage and self-confidence… We achieved it and I am very happy I was part of this success.

Exclusively for Bulgarian Diplomatic Review
by telephone from Paris