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US loses Unesco voting rights after failing to pay its dues | US loses Unesco voting rights after failing to pay its dues |
(35 minutes later) | |
UN cultural agency Unesco has suspended US voting rights after Washington skipped a deadline for paying its dues. | |
The US stopped its contributions, which make up about a fifth of the agency's funding, when Unesco gave the Palestinians membership in 2011. | |
Israel, which halted its dues at the same time, has also had its Unesco voting rights suspended. | Israel, which halted its dues at the same time, has also had its Unesco voting rights suspended. |
The US and Israel said admitting the Palestinians was a misguided attempt to bypass the Middle East peace process. | |
Unesco's loss of $80m (£50m) a year in US funding has forced it to pare back American-led initiatives, such as Holocaust education. | |
The US has said it cannot legally contribute to a UN agency that implies recognition of a Palestinian state. | |
The American ambassador to Unesco, David Killion, told Reuters news agency: "We intend to continue our engagement with Unesco in every possible way." | The American ambassador to Unesco, David Killion, told Reuters news agency: "We intend to continue our engagement with Unesco in every possible way." |
The Paris-based agency is charged with designating World Heritage sites, promoting education and supporting press freedom. | The Paris-based agency is charged with designating World Heritage sites, promoting education and supporting press freedom. |
The US suspension comes amid attempts by Washington to broker peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. | The US suspension comes amid attempts by Washington to broker peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. |
The talks have hit a stumbling block over the continued Israeli expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. | The talks have hit a stumbling block over the continued Israeli expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. |