UNESCO

The United States is withdrawing from UNESCO, the United Nation’s cultural and educational agency, effective 31 December, the US state separtment said in a statement on Thursday.

The US State Department confirmed the country is officially withdrawing from UNESCO, the UN's cultural body it helped found back in 1945. The move is to take effect on December 31, Washington announced.

The United States has decided to withdraw from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), AFP is reporting on Thursday.

According to the US State Department, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova has been informed of the decision.

Yesterday the Executive Board of UNESCO failed to elect a new general manager and a successor of Irina Bokova, whose term expires, in a second round of voting, reports Mediapool. 

BELGRADE - Pristina's decision to give up on a UNESCO membership bid is not unexpected and it is a diplomatic success for Serbia, says Serbian Ambassador to UNESCO Darko Tanaskovic.

Pristina said earlier this week a "pragmatic" postponement of applications for membership in UNESCO and INTERPOL had been made based on full coordination with the US and other Quint nations.

In Paris today, a session of the UNESCO Executive Board will be held at the center of which will be the launch of the UN's Director-General for Education, Science and Culture.
 

UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova met with French First Lady Brigitte Macron, reports vevesti. 

They discussed topics such as the role of women in the modern world, gender equality, the importance of peace-building education and conflict resolution, and the prevention of radicalization of young people.

Pristina is yet to officially apply for UNESCO membership, and that is why the topic has not been included in the session of organization's Executive Board.

The session, which started on Wednesday, will determine the agenda for the General Conference that will be held in November, RTS is reporting.

Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose has angered environmental activists after announcing on Tuesday that the government will ask UNESCO to set aside a request made by the previous government in January to declare the 2,000-year-old Rosia Montana gold mine a protected area.

Photo: MFA

First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic says Kosovo will never become a member of UNESCO thanks to Serbia's friends.

Dacic spoke on Tuesday in Belgrade as he opened the 18th Congress of the International Federation for Latin America and the Caribbean Studies (FIEALC), held at John Naisbitt University.