Irina Bokova, Unesco's new Director-General designate, has described herself as a strong supporter of political pluralism and European integration in the wake of her selection to the UN body's top position, and promised to work for reconciliation following a sometimes acrimonious contest.

In the final round Bokova won by 31 votes to Hosni's 27. She is the first woman to hold the post.

Most Bulgarians have acclaimed Bokova's victory but some commentators feel that her election sends out a mixed message. "Those who dislike communism in this country are not happy about her promotion," Ivo Indzhev, a Bulgarian political blogger, said, quoted in the New York Times. "For people in this region, her appointment sends the message that the West can swallow someone’s communist past very easily but can’t abide an Arab who is anti-Israel."

Responding to criticism about her communist past, Bokova said her previous political affiliations had not come out of choice. "All my life I have shown I supported the political transformation of my country. I have nothing to be ashamed of," she said.  

Meglena Kuneva, the former foreign minister who is now the European commissioner for consumer affairs in Brussels, said Bokova’s election would "help improve Bulgaria’s image on the world stage."

Assen Indjiev, a Bulgarian television journalist, said Bokova was a consummate diplomat, someone who avoided ideological battles in favor of quiet diplomacy. "She is a conciliatory politician who prefers to be behind the scenes," he said, quoted in the New York Times. "No one in Bulgaria believed that she would make it, because we are a small and poor country, but she was determined and she succeeded."

Meanwhile, the Egyptian culture minister defeated by Bokova has blamed her victory on "Zionist pressures". Last year Hosni said he would burn "Israeli books in Egyptian libraries". He later apologised for the remark.

"The organisation has become politicised," Hosni told reporters at Cairo airport on arrival on September 23. "The reality is that we waged a fantastic battle. The Egyptian candidate had the newspapers and Zionist pressures against him every day," he said, referring to himself.

The Egyptian press echoed Hosni's remarks. Opposition weekly Al-Ahrar wrote on its front page about "a ferocious campaign against him by the American administration, under Jewish pressure".