PARIS – The 193 member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) approved yesterday, during an extraordinary session of the general conference, the proposal submitted by the US to rejoin the organisation.
After two days of discussions, 132 member states voted in favour and 10 against the return of the US to the organisation from which Washington has withdrawn twice, causing a negative impact on the organisation’s work, reported Xinhua.
The US will fund the equivalent of 22% of the organisation’s regular budget, according to a press release from Unesco.
Besides the progressive payment of the arrears, the US will also make voluntary contributions to fund programmes including those supporting access to education in Africa and the memory of the Holocaust, Unesco said.
Speaking to the press after voting, Yang Jin, permanent representative of China to Unesco, said that the US should contribute to promoting the unity and cooperation of the organisation after its return, instead of engaging in confrontation and division.
“China urges the US, following its return to Unesco, to fulfil its obligations and commitments, pay membership dues in full and on time, and pay off as soon as possible the dues owed to Unesco for many years,” he said.
Yang also called on the US to adhere to true multilateralism, respect the sovereignty and social systems of all countries, respect and maintain social diversity, refrain from ideological confrontation, and commit to promoting mutual understanding and cooperation among member states.
The US pulled out of Unesco twice, in 1984 and 2017. In June this year, the US sent a letter to the director-general of Unesco, proposing to rejoin the organisation as early as July based on a concrete financial plan, which includes a commitment to repay its estimated arrears of US$619 million (RM2.9 billion). – Bernama, July 1, 2023
