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Rabat – The European Union congratulated Audrey Azoulay on her election as new Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The EU issued a press statement on Friday night explaining that “UNESCO is an essential pillar of the multilateral system, a global force for the protection and promotion of cultural diversity and heritage.”
The statement added that the EU considers the organization the “strongest supporter of the universal right to education and of freedom of expression.”
The former French culture minister defeated former Qatari minister Hamad Bin Abdulaziz alKawari, winning 30 votes over al-Kawari’s 28 yesterday.
The daughter of André Azoulay, senior adviser to King Mohammed VI, is UNESCO’s second leader of French decent since Rene Maheu, who served as director general from 1961-1974.
“We congratulate Audrey Azoulay on her election as new Director General of UNESCO: we will continue to work together to protect, strengthen and relaunch UNESCO, as part of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ broader work to reform the UN system,” stated Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative, and Tibor Navracsics, EU Commissioner.
The EU’s statement Union added that it will continue to invest in strong multilateral institutions, including UNESCO. “It is only through our common commitment to education, culture, freedom of expression, intercultural dialogue, or against climate change, can we achieve a truly sustainable development and more peaceful world.”
“[The EU’s] commitment to UNESCO is a matter of interests as much as of principles. We regret the decision by the United States of America and Israel to withdraw from UNESCO: our goal is to make UNESCO deliver fully on its mission, and our support to UNESCO is here to stay.”
“The EU is and will continue to be an indispensable partner in support of the UN system and multilateralism,” concluded the release.
