Paris, Oct 13 (AP) UNESCO's executive board today choseformer French Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay to be the UNcultural agency's next leader over a Qatari candidate in anunusually heated race overshadowed by Mideast tensions.
The US announcement this week that it's quitting UNESCOrocked the multi-day election and heightened concerns aboutthe agency's funding and future direction.
Azoulay succeeds outgoing Director-General Irina Bokovaof Bulgaria, whose eight-year term was marred by financialwoes and criticism over Palestine's inclusion as a member.
Yesterday, the US and Israel said they plan to pull outof the Paris-based organization over its perceived anti-Israelbias.
The 45-year-old took the stage to chants of "Audrey!Audrey!" following her victory and said the response toUNESCO's problems was to reform the agency, not to walk away,an understated rebuke of the US and Israel.
"In this moment of crisis, I believe we must invest inUNESCO more than ever, look to support and reinforce it, andto reform it. And not leave it," she said.
In a short address, she also thanked "the Executive Boardmember states that gave me their trust" in her surprise 30-28vote win today over Qatari candidate Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari.
UNESCO's general assembly will have to sign off nextmonth on the executive board's leadership pick, but it's seenas a formality.
The new director will set priorities for the organizationbest known for its World Heritage program to protect culturalsites and traditions.
The agency also works to improve education for girls,promote an understanding of the Holocaust's horrors, defendmedia freedom and coordinate science about climate change.
Azoulay, a Jewish woman, had started the week's votingwith much less support but built up backing as othercandidates dropped out and won a runoff earlier today againstEgypt's candidate.
The vote was a huge blow to Arab states, who had longwanted to lead the UN Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization.
UNESCO has previously had European, Asian, African andAmerican chiefs, but never an Arab one since the organizationwas founded in 1945 following World War II to promote worldpeace through culture.
The agency's inclusion of Palestine as a member state in2011 complicated this push, as did Qatar's diplomatic disputewith Arab neighbors over accusations of sponsoring Islamicextremism.
Azoulay will be the second French leader of theorganization since Rene Maheu, UNESCO's director general from1961-74. Azoulay's father is Moroccan and was an influentialadviser to Moroccan kings, so she does have a connection tothe Arab world. (AP)RB.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.