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| US loses Unesco voting rights after failing to pay its dues |
| 2013-11-09 |
| [BBC.CO.UK] UN cultural agency Unesco has suspended US voting rights after Washington skipped a deadline for paying its dues. The US stopped its contributions, which make up about a fifth of the agency's funding, when Unesco gave the Paleostinians membership in 2011. Israel, which halted its dues at the same time, has also had its Unesco voting rights suspended. The US and Israel said admitting the Paleostinians was a misguided attempt to bypass the Middle East grinding of the peace processor. Unesco's loss of $80m (£50m) a year in US funding has forced it to pare back American-led initiatives, including Holocaust education. The US has said it cannot legally contribute to a UN agency that implies recognition of a Paleostinian state. The American ambassador to Unesco, David Killion, told Rooters news agency: "We intend to continue our engagement with Unesco in every possible way." The Gay Paree-based agency is charged with designating World Heritage sites, promoting education and supporting press freedom. The US suspension comes amid attempts by Washington to broker peace negotiations between Israel and the Paleostinians. The talks have hit a stumbling block over the continued Israeli expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 I understand they will be closing all World Heritage Sites during this financial stand off. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2013-11-09 04:49 |
| #3 Unesco's loss of $80m (£50m) a year in US funding has forced it to pare back American-led initiatives, including Holocaust education. I would suggest the creation of a Holocaust educational website as a cost effective alternative, but perhaps we should leave that to someone else. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-11-09 02:18 |
| #2 Churlish. I have a maze in my pocket if you want to navigate it. Else-wise, convene on a non-chair for a corrupt organization over an imaginary people for the sake of the destruction of Israel. Pass. |
| Posted by: newc 2013-11-09 01:46 |
| #1 Any way we can get them to kick us out of the whole damn thing? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2013-11-09 00:05 |