UNESCO's book burner

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So Many Things Wrong With The UN .....

UNESCO's book burner

Egypt isn't the best model for cultural sensitivity

By THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Could an international organization dedicated to freedom of expression and protecting "the world's inheritance of books" possibly elect a book burner as its director general? Lord forbid. Yet that is exactly what may happen today in a runoff election for director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

UNESCO's stated mission is to serve as a "laboratory of ideas" while promoting education and "working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture." In yesterday's fourth round of voting, Egypt's Faruq Hosni earned an exact 29-29 tie with Bulgaria's Irina Bokova, a long-respected diplomat and scholar. Mr. Hosni has rightly drawn widespread criticism for his association with censorship and extreme cultural bias rather than openness.