Roundup: Egypt loses UNESCO runoff elections, shows support to French candidate in final round

Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-14 00:29:44|Editor: yan
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CAIRO, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Egypt congratulated on Friday France's candidate to UNESCO Director-General post Audrey Azoulay over winning the runoff election to decide the runner up who will compete against Qatar's candidate in the final round.

Egypt has also confirmed its full support for the French candidate in the final round of the vote, which will be held later in the day, a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

Egypt's candidate for the UNESCO Director-General post Moushira Khattab lost to her French rival Audrey Azoulay in a runoff vote that was held earlier in the day.

Azoulay got 31 votes, while Khattab garnered 25.

The fifth round of election will be held later in the day between Azoulay and Qatari candidate Hamad Abdul Aziz Al Kawari.

The ministry stressed Egypt's confidence in Azoulay's ability to run UNESCO in case she wins the election, underlining her vast expertise in tasks related to UNESCO.

Meanwhile, Egypt submitted an official note to UNESCO requesting a verification of violations that marred the electoral process of the organization's new Director-General.

Spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement the Permanent Mission of Egypt to UNESCO presented an official note to UNESCO's Director General Irina Bokova to request the verification of the violations that have been detected throughout the electoral process, which started on Monday.

Abu Zeid added that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met on Friday with Bokova and thanked her for her efforts in managing the organization during her presidency as well as her full cooperation during that period.

"Minister Shoukry also conveyed what has been detected regarding the electoral process over the past few days and demanded that these violations be investigated urgently for their direct impact on the integrity of the electoral process," the spokesman said.

In another statement, the foreign ministry said that Egypt has competed with honor in the UNESCO election to select a new chief of the Paris-based UN body.

It thanked all countries that supported the Egyptian candidate in the UNESCO elections, adding that Khattab has gone far in the elections thanks to the support of these countries.

"Egypt will always remember such honorable stances," the ministry said, expecting more cooperation with these countries in the coming period.

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