Irina Bokova, incumbent Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), was nominated by the Executive Board to continue to lead the organization on Friday.

The 58 members of the Executive Board of the UN cultural organization voted on Friday evening at the headquarters in Paris, choosing their new chief from three candidates, including Djibouti's Ambassador to France Rachad Farah and Lebanese academic Joseph Maila, as well as incumbent Bokova who seeks for her second mandate.

"Having obtained a majority of votes recorded, Ms Irina Bokova has been nominated for a second term as Director-General of UNESCO, " said Board's chairperson Alissandra Cummins, who is also the ambassador of Barbados, when announcing the outcome of the first round of vote.

On Nov. 12, the nomination will be submitted for approval to the General Conference of UNESCO, which brings together representatives of the Organization's 195 Member States.

Bokova was former Bulgarian foreign minister. She came to the position of UNESCO Director-General in October 2009, and is the first woman to have held the post.