Russia re-elected to UNESCO Executive Board

Russia has been re-elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for a new four-year term from 2011 to 2015, the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Friday. "This became possible after Russia's two-year successful presidency in the following governing body of UNESCO, active cooperation with UNESCO and its member-states," the ministry said in a statement. After the elections, held in line with the 36th session of the organization's General Conference in Paris, in addition to Russia, 30 new members joined UNESCO's Executive Board, including 6 representatives of Western Europe and Northern America, 3 from Eastern Europe, 4 from Latin America and the Caribbean Basin, 6 from Asia-Pacific region, 8 from Africa and 3 from the Arab region. “Russia is committed to the goals and ideals of UNESCO and plans within the next four years to work hard in all the priority directions within the competence of this unique international humanitarian organization of the UN system,” the ministry said. The Executive Board, comprised of 58 of UNESCO’s 193 member States, meets twice a year and assures the overall management of UNESCO. It also prepares the work of the General Conference and sees that its decisions are carried out.