This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41598991
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US quits Unesco over 'anti-Israel bias' | US quits Unesco over 'anti-Israel bias' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US is pulling out of the UN's cultural organisation Unesco, accusing it of "anti-Israel" bias. | The US is pulling out of the UN's cultural organisation Unesco, accusing it of "anti-Israel" bias. |
| The agency is known for designating world heritage sites such as Syria's Palmyra and the US Grand Canyon. | The agency is known for designating world heritage sites such as Syria's Palmyra and the US Grand Canyon. |
| The state department said it would establish an observer mission at the Paris-based organisation to replace its representation. | |
| Unesco head Irina Bokova said the withdrawal was a matter of "profound regret". | |
| The US withdrawal represented a loss to the "UN family" and to multilateralism, Ms Bokova added. | |
| In 2011 the US cancelled its budget contribution to Unesco in protest at its decision to grant full membership to the Palestinians. | |
| The US withdrawal is also motivated by a desire to save money, Foreign Policy magazine reported. | |
| US President Donald Trump has criticised what he sees as a disproportionate contribution by the US to UN institutions. The US funds 22% of the UN's regular budget and 28% of UN peacekeeping. | |
| Unesco is in the process of choosing a new leader, with Qatari and French former ministers Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari and Audrey Azoulay neck-and-neck in the contest to replace Ms Bokova. |