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By John Irish
PARIS (Reuters) – Four years after the United States left UNESCO, the UN cultural agency, on allegations of anti-Israeli bias, diplomats say the Paris-based body managed to bring order in his home, potentially easing the way for Washington’s return.
The agency, founded on the ashes of World War II to protect humanity’s common cultural heritage, was thrown into turmoil after the United States, which provided a fifth of its funding, pulled out.
He underscored Republican President Donald Trump’s skepticism about the need for the United States to remain engaged in multilateral bodies and set the tone for a review and exit of numerous international agreements and organizations.
But that could change. While no direct contact has taken place with the incoming administration, diplomats say Democratic President-elect Joe Biden is open to a return, even if Congressional matters could slow him down.
“The US withdrawal was tough, but it allowed UNESCO to go back to basics,” said a European diplomat. “This meant trying to de-politicize it, especially with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian question, which took precedence over everything.”
UNESCO – the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization – is best known for the designation and protection of archaeological and heritage sites, from the Galapagos Islands to the Timbuktu tombs.
Most of its activities are indisputable, but when it came to, for example, resolutions on how religious sites should be managed in Jerusalem, every word was studied for allegations of prejudice.
According to diplomats, those tensions have calmed with resolutions that now pass more easily after direct mediation between UNESCO and the two sides, even as Israel has withdrawn from the organization.
“UNESCO has made excellent improvements in terms of easing some of the tensions and political polarizations. It is better managed and better managed financially,” Henok Teferra Shawl, Ethiopia’s envoy to the body, told Reuters.
He added that its CEO, Audrey Azoulay, was approved last week by a majority of the 58 member states of the Executive Committee ahead of next year’s elections, opening the door to her re-election, in stark contrast to a bitter campaign by 2017.
FINANCIAL FORUM
The body had to fill a huge financial gap. The United States left with $ 542 million in arrears. By 2017, UNESCO’s budget of around $ 300 million was half of its 2012 budget, meaning it was forced to freeze hiring, cut programs, and fill gaps with voluntary contributions.
UNESCO says member states’ budgets are now $ 534.6 million, with an additional $ 189 million coming from extra voluntary budget contributions.
A US return, via a letter informing the body, would also mean Washington would at some point repay its arrears.
Biden has a history with the organization. He went to UNESCO when he was vice president and his wife, Jill, was involved in previous teaching programs.
But things could turn out to be complicated given a US law prohibiting the US from funding UN bodies that have admitted Palestine as a full member, although an exemption can be asked.
“Biden said he wants to renew with multilateralism, so UNESCO should be one of those who benefit, but the Palestinian issue could complicate the speed of that return,” said a US official who asked not to be identified.
(Reported by John Irish; edited by Jonathan Oatis)
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