Eleonora Mitrofanova from Russia was elected Wednesday to chair UNESCO's executive board for the next two years, replacing Benin's Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yai, Xinhua reported.
The Russian ambassador and permanent delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was elected in the first round of balloting.
A communique issued after the election quoted the new executive board chairman as saying that people are entitled to demand that UNESCO make reasonable and balanced decisions in the world which is in the middle of a crisis, so as to help people get back their confidence, tolerance and understanding.
She said tolerance is key to avoiding regional and global conflicts.
The 58 members of the executive board are responsible for reviewing the implementation of the programs adopted by the general conference, the ruling body of UNESCO which has 193 member states.