United States withdraws from UNESCO

The United States has decided to withdraw from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), AFP is reporting on Thursday.

SOURCE: B92 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017 |
 

According to the US State Department, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova has been informed of the decision.

"The decision was not an easy one to make," a statement is quoted by the media.

According to AP, Washington made the move due to "tensions over Palestine, specifically because of a resolution adopted by UNESCO, which Washington sees as being anti-Israeli."

The US will leave the organization on December 31 - but will maintain a permanent observer mission, it has been announced.

The US, one of the founders of this UN body - stopped financing UNESCO in 2011, after Palestine was granted membership.