The US joins UNESCO, which they left under Trump
On Friday, 132 states voted for the US return, 15 abstained, and ten countries opposed it, including Iran, Syria, China and, most notably, Russia.
The United States requested a return to UNESCO on June 12, 2023.
Alain Jogaard/AFP
The United States has officially joined UNESCO, which left under the leadership of Donald Trump, after a favorable vote at the UN body’s extraordinary general assembly in Paris. “The resolution has been adopted,” announced the president of the assembly, Brazilian Santiago Racabal Mourao, prompting applause.
Some 132 states, including Iran, Syria, China and especially Russia, voted for the US visit, 15 voted for it, ten opposed, and its representatives on Thursday made speeches on procedures and amendments on Friday to delay discussions.
“We are ready to welcome Washington’s desire to join UNESCO,” which would “make it possible to strengthen our organization,” but “we think they are trying to lead us into a parallel world, which is really beyond all the ridiculous explanation books. Lewis Carroll,” a Russian ambassador thundered Friday. shouted.
“In this broken place, the defenders of democracy and the rule of law have begun to lead us to violate these rules and take away privileged rights,” he said, hoping that the United States should pay its dues to UNESCO in full. As Washington gradually moves to do so, it can join.
“The manner in which the United States has requested this revenue is unacceptable” and “violates the spirit of the constitution” of the institution, he slammed the Iranian diplomat for his part.
Departs October 2017
Washington left UNESCO in October 2017, citing the organization’s “persistent anti-Israel bias”. This withdrawal, along with Israel’s, came into effect in December 2018.
Since 2011, when Palestine was admitted to UNESCO, the United States, led by Barack Obama, stopped all funding to the UN organization, a major setback for it, and then US contributions accounted for 22% of its budget.
But Washington wrote in early June to Audrey Azoulay, the UN chief for education, culture and science. Proposed “a plan” to return to the system.
The U.S. loan contracted to UNESCO between 2011 and 2018 is estimated at $619 million today, $534 million more than UNESCO’s annual budget, which they asked the U.S. Congress to provide by $150 million. Fiscal year 2024, an equivalent amount to be provided in subsequent years until “absorption” of arrears at UNESCO.
AFP
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