Controversy as Two Lebanese Candidates Vie for UNESCO Chief Post

After two Lebanese figures announced their nominations for the key post of head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Lebanese political scene appears to be divided about the two candidates.

Ex-Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh announced his bid for the leadership of the Paris-based organization during an interview on LBCI TV on March 16, but media reports have said that the move was not coordinated with Lebanese authorities.

Meanwhile, Lebanese expat Vera El Khoury Lacoeuilhe told MTV on Monday that she has been in contact with the Lebanese government about her possible nomination for the past year and a half and that she has received the support of Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

According to the U.N.'s website, El Khoury Lacoeuilhe has represented the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia during two mandates at the Executive Board of UNESCO, and at the International Organization of Francophonie.

Media reports have said that the woman also enjoys the support of Culture Minister Rony Araiji and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.

Describing Salameh as “a friend who is known by everyone in Lebanon,” El Khoury Lacoeuilhe stressed that she is “well-known at UNESCO.”

“I'm famous at UNESCO. The ambassadors of all countries consult with me at UNESCO,” she said in phone interview with MTV.

“For UNESCO, I consider that I'm the right person at the right time for this post,” El Khoury Lacoeuilhe added.

According to media reports, El Khoury Lacoeuilhe visited Bkirki on March 20 to seek the support of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

Some media reports have claimed that prominent Lebanese businessman Gilbert Chagoury has persuaded FM Bassil to support El Khoury Lacoeuilhe's bid, alleging that the Lebanese mogul has “business ties” with the woman's husband.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat threw his support behind Salameh on Sunday, urging the Lebanese government to endorse his nomination and criticizing El Khoury Lacoeuilhe without naming her.

“The Lebanese government must take a decision without hesitation. Who else other than Ghassan Salameh is eligible of this post?” Jumblat tweeted.

“Ghassan Salameh is the best Lebanese and Arab candidate to oversee this institution, due to his experience, competence, knowledge and relations,” the PSP leader added.

“Salameh is an intellectual, political and humanitarian figure and one of the Lebanese elite who have elevated Lebanon's name in all fields,” Jumblat went on to say, warning against any “suspicious nominations.”

Salameh, who is professor of international relations at Sciences-Po (Paris) and the founding dean of its Paris school of international affairs, was minister of culture in 2000-2003.

He has served as special adviser to the U.N. secretary-general and as the political adviser to the U.N. mission in Iraq.

Salameh is also an author and the co-chairman of the board of the International Crisis Group and the founding chairman of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture.

Meanwhile, El Khoury Lacoeuilhe currently lectures on international organizations at the Sorbonne Law School (Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne), according to the U.N.'s website.

“With 20 years of experience as a diplomat in multilateral diplomacy, she has chaired several inter-governmental committees including the World Heritage Committee. She also was the chair for UNESCO’s Independent External Evaluation Ad Hoc Working Group,” says the U.N. website.

On February 24, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Bureau appointed her as a member of an Independent Team of Advisors to support “the second phase of the ECOSOC Dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the U.N. development system in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

Y.R.