site.btaPresident Radev Acknowledges UNESCO Director-General Azoulay as Her Tenure Ends

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has sent a letter to Audrey Azoulay on the occasion of the completion of her eight-year tenure as Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Press Secretariat of the head State said on Friday.

Radev writes that the excellent cooperation and vigorous dialogue at the highest level between UNESCO and Bulgaria were reconfirmed during Azoulay's term, and the visit by the Director-General to this country on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Bulgaria's accession to the organization contributed to this.

The President describes Azoulay's participation in the observances of May 24 in Bulgaria as "a great honour and recognition for the devotion of our State to UNESCO's values and mission", considering that May 24 is "a unique holiday dedicated to letters, knowledge, science and culture". Radev further expresses his gratitude for his joint work with the Director-General.

"At times of significant global changes, Audrey Azoulay succeeded in consolidating UNESCO by her staunch support for multilateralism and by her leadership," the President comments.

The head of State points out that as the birthplace of Irina Bokova, who was the first woman and the first representative of Eastern Europe to head the organization during two consecutive terms, Bulgaria supports and actively contributes to the realization of UNESCO's purposes. "This country is therefore grateful for Azoulay's personal commitment to the implementation of initiatives of utmost importance for the international community and for reaffirming the significance of education, science and culture," the letter reads.

Azoulay's term as UNESCO Director-General will officially end on November 15, 2025. She will be succeeded by Egyptian archaeologist Khaled El Enany.