Intl. support rising for UNESCO after US exit

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed regrets over the US administration’s decision to pull out of the UN Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) over what Washington calls its “anti-Israel bias.”

The administration of US President Donald Trump said Thursday it would establish an “observer mission” to replace its representation at UNESCO after the Paris-based body designated the old city of al-Khalil as a Palestinian heritage site.

Through his spokesman Fahran Haq, the UN chief said Thursday that he “deeply regrets” Washington’s withdrawal.

However, he appeared to downplay the move, with Haq saying that “there are times when there may be differences on this or that issue, but the secretary-general, as you have seen, works well with the government of the US.”

In another development on Friday, China emphasized its support for UNESCO -- a day after the US announced it was pulling out of the cultural agency.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, “China hopes that all countries will make a contribution to preserving international peace. We will continue our positive role in the UNESCO and also conduct cooperation with other countries in this regard.”

UNESCO to choose new head

In the midst of controversy over US withdrawal, the organization is set to elect a new director on Friday.

Whoever gets the top position will need to restore relevance to the agency whose mission to protect the world's cultural and natural heritage has been torpedoed by rivalries and a lack of financial resources.

After four days of secret voting at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, Qatar’s former culture minister Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari qualified for the final vote, scheduled for Friday evening local time.

Qatar’s candidate will face off against either Moushira Khattab, an Egyptian diplomat and politician, or Audrey Azoulay, a former French culture minister, whichever woman wins a ballot on Friday afternoon.

In the face of Arab divisions and fierce infighting between the Qatari and Egyptian candidate, France has presented Azoulay as a consensus figure who could mend fences within the organization and sooth recent tensions.

SS