Palestine has been admitted as a full member of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) despite strong opposition from Washington.
The membership bid required two-thirds approval and was passed with 107 countries out of 173 voting in favour and 14 against the bid. Fifty-two abstained from vote.
"The general assembly decides to admit Palestine as a member of UNESCO," said the resolution adopted by 107 countries.
Israel, the US, Canada, Australia and Germany were among the countries that voted against the bid while Japan and Britain were among those abstaining from vote.
UNESCO is the first UN body Palestine has sought to join since applying for full recognition of an independent Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly.
Granting membership to Palestine, however, could be costly for UNESCO. The UN body might lose its US funding over the move. Currently Washington supplies over 20 percent of the agency's budget.
The membership bid required two-thirds approval and was passed with 107 countries out of 173 voting in favour and 14 against the bid. Fifty-two abstained from vote.
"The general assembly decides to admit Palestine as a member of UNESCO," said the resolution adopted by 107 countries.
Israel, the US, Canada, Australia and Germany were among the countries that voted against the bid while Japan and Britain were among those abstaining from vote.
UNESCO is the first UN body Palestine has sought to join since applying for full recognition of an independent Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly.
Granting membership to Palestine, however, could be costly for UNESCO. The UN body might lose its US funding over the move. Currently Washington supplies over 20 percent of the agency's budget.
Toa Maoni Yako:
0 comments: