United States informs UNESCO of intent to withdraw.

• Position: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was infomed by the United States on 28 December that it intended to withdraw from UNESCO at the end of 1984.

A State Department spokeman said the decision "was based upon our experience that UNESCO has extraneously politicized virtually every subject it deals with, has exhibited hostility toward the basic institutions of a free society, especially the free market and the free press, and has demonstrated unrestrained budgetary expansion".

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar said he learned of the decision "with regret and conern". A withdrawal, he said, "wo0uld adversely affect the principle of universality of membership, which is of fundamental importance to the United Nations system". Given the significance of UNESCO's work and objectives, he hoped that a way would be found for the United States to remain a member of that organization.

Amadou Mahtar M'Bow, UNESCO Director-General, said he had consistently stressed the need to safeguard the universality. of UNESCO and had always acted within the limits of his prerogatives to ensure that no Member State should be exluded from it. He regretted a decision which, if put into effect, would be prejudicial to the principle of universality. He would take all measures necessary so that UNESCO could continue its mission in accordance with its Constitution and the decisions of its General Conference.

In a letter replying to Secretary of State George P. Shultz on 18 January, Mr. M'Bow said a distinction should be drawn between viewpoints expressed by UNESCO's individual member States or groups and the activities of UNESCO itself, whose ethical role dictated that it should transcend particular ideologies, without ignoring them. The vast majority of decisions of the UNESCO...