UNESCO pleads with U.S. to reinstate funding

David Killion, center, permanent delegate of the United States to UNESCO, reacts as delegates vote on Palestinian membership to the U.N. cultural agency in Paris Oct. 31, 2011. / AP Photo

PARIS - The head of UNESCO is pleading with the U.S. to reinstate funding cut off after the agency granted membership to Palestine.

Director-General Irina Bokova warned in a statement Wednesday that the move jeopardizes programs "in America's core interests," such as those fostering a free media in nascent Mideast democracies.

U.S. cuts UNESCO funding after Palestinian vote

She said that without U.S. support, "it will be impossible for us to maintain our current level of activity."

On Monday, the members of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization voted to welcome Palestine.

UNESCO approves Palestinian membership
Israeli minister calls Abbas "obstacle" to peace
Quartet makes push for Israel-Palestinian talks

The United States typically funds about 20 percent of the agency's budget, but American law bars contributions to organizations that grant membership to territories that are not internationally recognized as states.

[Adam_Smith_123]

"UNESCO pleads with U.S. to reinstate funding"

What part of the law forbidding payments if they accepted "Palestine" as a member did they not understand?

It seems they have a lot in common with the Palestinians. They expect that their actions have no consequences.

[markincleveland]

Israel should just make it a policy to treat it's Arab population exactly the same as the Palestinians treat any Jews in their territory, when they become a state. If Jews are expelled, Israel should expel all the Arabs; if Jews are not allowed to hold public office, Israel should have the same policy; if Jews are not allow to hold office, the same goes . .etc.

[McJen50]

UNESCO knew it was American law to defund any organization that recognized a Palestinian state and yet they voted for it anyway.

[vageorge]

UNESCO knew the law but they also knew that obama is a renegade and does not respect the law. They thought obama would give in but it is not obama's decision. The Congress has to stand firm with the law. Besides we need to stop funding all agencies that are really supporting our enemies. We need the money to take care of our own country

[technocoffee]

OUR COUNTRY IS BROKE--no more UNESCO, UN, foreign aid---so many countries who hate the USA and who want Israel wiped off the earth shouldn't get another PENNY from us.

[Mark869]

It's about time we did this! The UN and UNESCO have been operating against US interests for years, while receiving the lion's share of funding from us. Good riddance to bad rubbish, rest in pieces UNESCO! Let's cut off foreign aid for countries who are not supporting our interests as well. We need the funds to aid the poor AT HOME anyway.

[Testor1234]

I don't get it...there are plenty of other rich countries in the world. Why don't these other countries get in bed with CANSECO?

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
****She said that without U.S. support, "it will be impossible for us to maintain our current level of activity.****
"au revoir"

[Nissl]

I want to say "you make your bed, you lie in it." The problem is that this move now allows the Palestinians to join a UN trade organization, and if we also defund that (as required by current law) US patents lose their international legitimacy. There isn't an easy solution to that one.

[vageorge]

Now tell me something. Just how many countries really try to enforce our patent rights? China? The UN has been subversive toward the US for a long time. They have a tendency to support our enemies. If we cut off all support for the UN and evicted them from our country I doubt they could survive. They are really only important to many of our enemies. Our true allies negotiate directly with us. We would save $billions by not supporting the UN and the money saved could be used to help our country which has been put into dire circumstances thanks to obama and his administration

[john5673]

So they (cartel) have shown their displeasure over the planned new housing units on Palestinian soil. That is? or they sheds their crocodile tears as usual for the last 60 years? They also know very well that new housing units are being planned and will be constructed using their donated funds as usual. If I am wrong, they should immediately condemned the action and approve U.N.Membership of the nation of Palestine waiting for their VETO. But the entire world knows that they are just fooling themselves and the statuesque will continue forever, until there will not be any inch left and 4 million human beings are either eliminated or expelled. But the beauty of the western hypocrisy is such that Obama is getting Nobel Peace Price for his such un-noble act.

[tsigili]

Sorry folks.......funding is not deserved. You have actually interfered with seeking peace, so you get penalized.

Next time, consider all of the aspects of your decisions.