STATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/UN: “The Trump administration announced on Thursday [10-12-17] that it would withdraw from Unesco, the United Nations cultural organization, after years of America distancing itself because of what it called the group’s ‘anti-Israel bias.’
‘This decision was not taken lightly,’ according to a State Department statement on Thursday. In addition to anti-Israel bias, the department cited ‘the need for fundamental reform’ and ‘mounting arrears’ at the organization.
While the United States withdrew from the group, the Trump administration said it wanted to continue providing American perspective and expertise to Unesco, but as a nonmember observer. The withdrawal goes into effect at the end of 2018.
Unesco, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization known for its designation of world heritage sites, is a global development agency with missions that include promoting sex education, literacy, clean water and equality for women.
In a lengthy written statement, Irina Bokova, Unesco’s director-general, expressed regret at the American withdrawal and said that the American people shared the organization’s goals.”
-Gardiner Harris and Steven Erlanger, “U.S. Will Withdraw From Unesco, Citing Its ‘Anti-Israel Bias’,” The New York Times online, Oct. 12, 2017