Stop USA Fund, Unesco Defer New Program

Steps the United States stopped aid to the Palestinians in the UNESCO following thereceipt of the agency, began to cause harm. Some of the new program is scheduled to beheld had to be postponed due to budget shortfalls.

Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, said due to steps taken by the United States,the budget agency education, science and culture of the United Nations is reduced to U.S.$ 65 million or about Rp583 billion for the budget year 2011.

To overcome the lack of budget, Bokova said UNESCO will make savings and reassess the activities of this month until December next year. "We have to take radical steps and should be done now," said Bokova, quoted by Reuters, 11 November 2011.

Bokova said the program-program delayed is a new program. While the program is a priority remains to do. So far, there are no plans to reduce employees in this agency.

He said the austerity measures will be applied to fund personnel expenses, travel expenses and communication, as well as cost reductions on some contracts. Hopefully,this way UNESCO can save up to U.S. $ 35 million (Rp314 billion) for this year's budget.

To cover budget shortfalls, said Bokova, UNESCO will use the capital funds of U.S. $ 30million (Rp269 billion). UNESCO will also provide budget priorities that are important only to the program and reduce operational costs.

It was for this year's budget. For next year's budget, said Bokova, Unesco threatenedshortage of funds up to U.S. $ 143 million if the U.S. remains discontinue assistance.Previously, the U.S. accounted for 22 percent of the budget of UNESCO.

Cessation of U.S. aid imposed after UNESCO accept Palestine as a member last month.The U.S. considers the Palestinians is not a UN-recognized sovereign state, so it can not enter into derivative UN organizations. (eh)