LOC13:18
10:18 GMT
PARIS, Oct 31 (KUNA) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is set to vote on Monday on the Palestinian bid
for full membership during the 36th session of the organization's general
conference.
A diplomatic source told KUNA that a string of controversies and crisis
would break out if the Palestinian bid was approved by the organization,
adding that the United States would withdraw its financial support to UNESCO,
which makes about 22 percent of the total budget estimated at USD 70 million.
He noted that two US legislative laws would prevent financing any UN agency
that approves Palestine as a member.
He said that Kuwaiti Minister of Education and Higher Education Mohammad
Al-Mulaifi has expressed his country's support for Palestine's membership, as
well as the support of Arabic Group, the 77th Group, and Latin American Group.
Other European countries have also expressed their support for the Palestinian
membership, said the diplomatic source.
The Palestinian bid was added to the conference's agenda on Friday, and was
followed by attempts to postpone it for 24 hours in order to make the due day
expire, he added.
The source pointed out that the bid will be discussed after Palestinian
Foreign Minister Riad Al-Maliki gives a speech later on today, noting there is
an agreement on voting on the item and expressing the opinions of the member
countries afterwards.
He said that according to UNESCO's statute on full membership, a country
needs the approval of the Executive Board and then two-thirds of the votes of
the 193 members during the General Conference.
The UNESCO's Executive Council recommended granting Palestine full
membership during the organization's General Conference on October 5.
A draft resolution, presented by 24 states, including non-Arab nations, on
Palestine's membership in the organization, won approval of 40 states.
Fourteen abstained and four others voted against -- the United States, Latvia,
Romania, and Germany. (end)
tm.ma
KUNA 311318 Oct 11NNNN