UNESCO asks states considering withdrawal to 'reconsider their position'.

UNESCO asks States considering withdrawal to 'reconsider their position'

An appeal to member States who have withdrawn or are considering withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to "reconsider their position" was made at the conclusion of the organization's twenty-third General Conference.

During the five-week session (Sofia, Bulgaria, 8 October-9 November), considerable concern was expressed in the debate over the consequences of withdrawal -- particularly the financial aspects--and the expressed intentions of some States to withdraw if reforms were not made. The United States, which had provided 25 per cent of the budget, withdrew from UNESCO in 1984; in December 1985, the United Kingdom and Singapore withdrew.

The Conference approved a zero-growth budget for 1986-1987 of $307,223,000. The original budget of $398,468,000 was cut by 25 per cent to compensate for the loss of the United States contribution. The withdrawal of the United Kingdom and Singapore would mean a further reduction of 4.8 per cent ($17,519,040) and 0.1 per cent ($364,980), respectively.

Among the more than 100 decisions adopted by the General Conference was one which confirmed the "observer status" accorded to the United States by UNESCO's Executive Board in early 1985. The Conference also decided that any State that withdraws from the organization may, on request, be granted the observer facilities provided for in the case of non-member States.

In examining such requests, the Board was asked to take into account "the interests of the organization, and the need to encourage its universal vocation, the willingness shown by the State concerned to remain in contact with the organization with a view to co-operating with it; and the willingness shown by the State concerned to defray the cost of the facilities granted to it".

The Executive Board was also to appoint a group in 1986 to discuss with the United States the question of its financial contribution. The Board will specify the financial obligations of a Member State which withdraws from the organization in the middle of a two-year budgetary period. It could, if it chose to do so, request an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice for an interpretation of UNESCO's constitution on the matter.

The Conference decided that a State that withdraws from the organization loses the privileges of membership in UNESCO, in particular its staff quota, and that...