Irina Bokova
- January 5, 2024
- Diplomat
Quick Facts
Irina Bokova Biography
| Name | Irina Bokova |
| Birthday | Jul 12 |
| Birth Year | 1952 |
| Place Of Birth | Sofia |
| Birth Country | Bulgaria |
| Birth Sign | Cancer |
| Spouse | Lubomir Kolarov, Kalin Mitrev |
| Children(s) | Naia Lyubomirova Kolarova, Pavel Lyubomirov Kolarov |
Irina Bokova is one of the most popular and richest Diplomat who was born on July 12, 1952 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Irina Georgieva Bokova (Bulgarian: Ирина Георгиева Бокова ; born 12 July 1952) is a Bulgarian politician and the former Director-General of UNESCO (2009–2017). During her political and diplomatic career in Bulgaria, she served, among others, two terms as a member of the National parliament, and deputy minister of foreign affairs and minister of foreign affairs ad interim under Prime Minister Zhan Videnov. She also served as Bulgaria’s ambassador to France and to Monaco, and was Bulgaria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. Bokova was also the personal representative of Bulgaria’s President to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (2005–2009).
On 22 September 2009, Bokova was elected Director-General of UNESCO. She defeated nine candidates at the election in Paris, with Farouk Hosny ultimately being defeated by 31–27 in the fifth and last round of voting. Hosny had been expected to win but attracted criticism from figures such as Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiesel over his anti-Israel statements. She took over the position from Koïchiro Matsuura of Japan. She entered the office of the Director-General as both the first woman, and the first Southeastern European to take this role. On 15 October 2009, the 35th session of the General Conference elected Irina Bokova of Bulgaria as the tenth Director- General of UNESCO. The investiture took place in a ceremony in Room I in the afternoon of Friday 23 October 2009.
Bokova demonstrates diplomatic and governance skills in a big international organization – UNESCO, which she heads for a second term. She has good reputation to the permanent five members of the UN Security Council. She speaks fluently English, French, Spanish and Russian – four of the six official UN languages (the requirement is for two). She has a clear vision about the mission and activity of the organization.
On 4 October 2013, the Executive Board of UNESCO nominated her for second term as Director-General. She was re-elected by the UNESCO General Conference on 12 November 2013.
In 2009, while most of the Bulgarian media was supportive of Ms. Bokova’s future role at the helm of UNESCO, some raised questions about her past as a daughter of a member of the totalitarian communist elite. Bulgarian-born German writer Iliya Troyanov criticised Bokova’s election as Director-General of UNESCO in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, calling it “a scandal,” in light of Bokova’s father’s communist past. On the other hand, The New York Times not only published an article, explaining who Mrs. Bokova is, but also officially supported her nomination on the grounds that “[s]he played an active role in Bulgaria’s political transformation from Soviet satellite to European Union member. That should be a strong asset in leading an organization badly buffeted in the past by ideological storms.”
Irina Bokova Net Worth
| Net Worth | $5 Million |
| Source Of Income | Diplomat |
| House | Living in own house. |
Irina Bokova is one of the richest Diplomat from Bulgaria. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Irina Bokova 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)
Bokova was a member of the Bulgarian communist party until 1990, when the party was renamed in Bulgarian Socialist Party, and her membership was cancelled, after changes in the law that year required that employees of several ministries, among them Foreign Affairs, should not be members of any political party. Bokova was two terms member of the Bulgarian Parliament – the first term in 1990-1991 during the 7th Grand (Constitutional) National Assembly, elected as a majoritarian representative with the Bulgarian Socialist Party list, and the second, during the 39th National Assembly, in 2001–2005, with the Coalition for Bulgaria list.
Irina Bokova is the daughter of the communist politician Georgi Bokov, editor- in-chief of Rabotnichesko Delo, the official newspaper and organ of the Bulgarian Communist Party. By descent Bokova is Bulgarian. Bokova graduated from the First English Language School, and then went on to graduate the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, preparing young apparatchiks from the entire Eastern Bloc for future tasks such as diplomats and agents under the control of the KGB. Subsequently, she worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, starting in 1977 as a third secretary and eventually becoming acting minister (ad interim) between 13 November 1996 – 13 February 1997. In 2015 German newspaper Die Welt discovered an error on her UNESCO biography page, where she was named the minister, and not the ad interim. When it came to public the error was immediately removed.
On 15 November 2009, she took office as the ninth Director-General of UNESCO, marking two firsts. She is both the first female and the first Southeastern European to head the agency. At UNESCO, Director-General Bokova advocates for gender equality, improved education and preventing funding for terrorism, especially by enforcing the protection of intellectual goods. A firm opponent of racism and anti-Semitism, Director-General Bokova has led UNESCO’s activities on Holocaust remembrance.
Height, Weight & Body Measurements
Irina Bokova height Not available right now. Irina weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.
Who is Irina Bokova Dating?
According to our records, Irina Bokova married to Lubomir Kolarov, Kalin Mitrev. As of December 1, 2023, Irina Bokova’s is not dating anyone.
Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Irina Bokova. You may help us to build the dating records for Irina Bokova!
On 6 April 2015, the French Embassy in Bulgaria announced that Mrs. Bokova has been awarded the French Order of the Legion of Honour.
Facts & Trivia
Irina Ranked on the list of most popular Diplomat. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in Bulgaria. Irina Bokova celebrates birthday on July 12 of every year.
On 29 September 2015, David Clark, chairman of the Russia Foundation, published an article in the Financial Times’ beyondbrics forum. In it the author comments: “Of the women from Eastern Europe being discussed is Irina Bokova, the current head of UNESCO and former Bulgarian foreign minister. She is considered to be a front-runner.”
How many years was Irina Bokova the Director-General of UNESCO for?
Irina Bokova served two 4-year terms as Director-General of UNESCO (2009-2017). She was the first woman and the first Eastern European to lead the Organization.
Who is the first woman Director-General of UNESCO?
Irina Bokova , born on 12 July 1952 in Sofia (Bulgaria) has been the Director-General of UNESCO since 15 November 2009, and reelected for a second term in 2013. She is the first woman to lead the Organization.
Who is the Director-General of UNESCO?
The General Conference of UNESCO, at its 41st session, has elected Ms Audrey Azoulay for a second mandate as Director-General of the Organization.
Who is the first President of UNESCO?
The first General Conference took place from 19 November to 10 December 1946, and elected Dr. Julian Huxley to Director-General.
How many countries are in UNESCO?
Member States List. The Organization has 193 Members and 11 Associate Members. Membership of UNESCO is governed by Articles II and XV of the Constitution and by rules 98 to 101 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Conference. Membership of the United Nations carries with it the right to membership of UNESCO.