[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22682]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF AMBASSADOR IRINA BOKOVA OF BULGARIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 2009

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, September 
22, 2009, Irina Bokova, Bulgaria's Ambassador to France, was elected 
the director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and 
Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As the first female director of UNESCO, 
Ambassador Bokova brings her diplomatic and cultural knowledge as a 
former foreign minister of Bulgaria and her work in helping to bring 
Bulgaria into the European Union and the North American Treaty 
Organization (NATO).
  As co-chair of the Congressional Bulgaria Caucus, I want to 
congratulate the people of Bulgaria and Ambassador Bokova for her 
success. Having visited Bulgaria first as an International Republican 
Institute election observer in June 1990 and since, I have seen 
firsthand this young democracy emerge from the oppression of Communism 
to being one of the most dynamic democracies of Europe. On my multiple 
visits over the years to Bulgaria, I have always been inspired by the 
extraordinary people who have overcome totalitarianism for liberty and 
freedom. Bulgaria is a cherished partner of America, and we want the 
best for this nation of historic treasures.

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