UNESCO suspends programs due to budget deficitNovember 10, 2011 - 21:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - United Nations cultural agency UNESCO has been forced to suspend all its spending programs until yearend after the United States withdrew its funding, its director general said Thursday. In an address to UNESCO diplomats, Irina Bokova said the agency faces a $65 million (47 million euro) funding shortfall and would have to halt all of its activities, following a row with Washington over Palestinian membership. Last month, the United States and Israel pulled the plug on their UNESCO funding after members voted to admit Palestine as a full member, a move seen as a step towards its eventual recognition as a UN member state. US legislation dating from the 1990s requires the US administration, Israel's staunchest ally, to withdraw funding from any UN agency that admits Palestine as a full member before a final peace deal is reached with Israel. The Palestinians have also asked the UN Security Council for recognition, but the request is still being examined and Washington is all but sure to veto it. Bokova said she hoped the year-end review would allow savings in UNESCO programs which support cultural, educational and scientific projects around the world -- of around $35 million. "But this won't be enough to resolve our problem," she warned in a speech to the 36th session of the UNESCO General Conference. She went on to urge member states to increase their contributions to UNESCO's working fund in order to make up the shortfall caused by the US boycott, france24 reports. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |