UNESCO Director-General expresses her profound sadness at the death of Philippe Séguin

Paris, 7 January

• © UNESCO/Michel Ravassard

“The death of Philippe Séguin was a great shock, filling me with immense sadness,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today. “He will be sorely missed. I send my sincere condolences to his family.” The French politician died of a heart attack at his Paris home on 7 January, aged 66.

“A man of passion, a politician of the highest calibre, and an exceptional servant of the State, Philippe Séguin left his mark on French politics, but was also active in the international political arena. There is no doubt that his death will leave a great void,” said Irina Bokova. “In the course of my career, I had the good fortune to meet this distinguished political figure on several occasions, and every time it was a rewarding experience. One could have nothing but the deepest respect for this man of conviction, who combined a taste for hard work with a charming personality. His scrupulous work as UNESCO’s Auditor in recent years was praised by all. His death has touched me deeply.”

Born on 21 April 1943 in Tunis (Tunisia), Philippe Séguin was Minister of Employment and Social Affairs in the government of Jacques Chirac from 1986 to 1988, then Chairman of the French National Assembly from 1993 to 1997. From July 2004, he was the first president of the French National Audit Office. As Auditor, he examined the accounts of several agencies within the UN system and notably UNESCO.

• Author(s):UNESCOPRESS
• Source:Press release No. 2010-03
• 07-01-2010