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Washington: The United States on Tuesday officially returned to join the AndScientific, educational and cultural organization after an absence of five years.
The return of the United States to the Paris-based UNESCO was based primarily on concerns that China had filled a leadership gap since the United States withdrew during trump administration. UNESCO’s governing body voted last week to approve the Biden administration’s proposal for the United States to rejoin.
On Monday, the US handed over a document confirming that it would accept the invitation. It’s official, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said on Tuesday. A welcome party with flag hoisting and dignitaries is expected in late July.
“This is excellent news for UNESCO. The momentum we have regained in recent years will continue to grow now. Our initiatives will be even stronger around the world,” Azoulay said.
The Biden administration announced last month that it would apply to join the 193-member organization that plays a key role in setting international standards for artificial intelligence and technology education.
The United States is now the 194th member of UNESCO.
“Our organization is once again going global,” Azoulay said. She described the resurgence of the United States as “excellent news for multilateralism as a whole. If we are to meet the challenges of our century, there can only be a collective response.”
The Trump administration announced in 2017 that the United States would withdraw from UNESCO, citing anti-Israel bias. This decision entered into force a year later.
The United States and Israel stopped funding UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011.
The Biden administration has requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to direct UNESCO dues and arrears. The plan anticipates similar requests for subsequent years until the $619 million debt is paid in full.
This makes up a large part of UNESCO’s $534 million annual operating budget. Before her departure, the United States contributed 22% of the agency’s total funding.
The United States had previously withdrawn from UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as poorly managed, corrupt, and being used to advance Soviet interests. He rejoined in 2003 during the presidency of George W. Bush.
The return of the United States to the Paris-based UNESCO was based primarily on concerns that China had filled a leadership gap since the United States withdrew during trump administration. UNESCO’s governing body voted last week to approve the Biden administration’s proposal for the United States to rejoin.
On Monday, the US handed over a document confirming that it would accept the invitation. It’s official, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said on Tuesday. A welcome party with flag hoisting and dignitaries is expected in late July.
“This is excellent news for UNESCO. The momentum we have regained in recent years will continue to grow now. Our initiatives will be even stronger around the world,” Azoulay said.
The Biden administration announced last month that it would apply to join the 193-member organization that plays a key role in setting international standards for artificial intelligence and technology education.
The United States is now the 194th member of UNESCO.
“Our organization is once again going global,” Azoulay said. She described the resurgence of the United States as “excellent news for multilateralism as a whole. If we are to meet the challenges of our century, there can only be a collective response.”
The Trump administration announced in 2017 that the United States would withdraw from UNESCO, citing anti-Israel bias. This decision entered into force a year later.
The United States and Israel stopped funding UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011.
The Biden administration has requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to direct UNESCO dues and arrears. The plan anticipates similar requests for subsequent years until the $619 million debt is paid in full.
This makes up a large part of UNESCO’s $534 million annual operating budget. Before her departure, the United States contributed 22% of the agency’s total funding.
The United States had previously withdrawn from UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as poorly managed, corrupt, and being used to advance Soviet interests. He rejoined in 2003 during the presidency of George W. Bush.
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