Agency Report
The United States, on Friday, restored its membership of UNESCO, overturning U.S. exit during the administration of former president Donald Trump.
The UN’s cultural agency disclosed that an extraordinary session of the UN agency’s General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for the return of the United States.
It was learnt that about 132 members voted to restore U.S.’s membership in UNESCO, while 10 voted in opposition, and 15 abstained.
Member states that voted against the return of the U.S. to UNESCO were identified to include Iran, Syria, China and Russia. They were said to have argued on the procedure and suggested amendments.
Donald Trump had in 2017, withdrawn the United States from UNESCO, in conjucntion with Israel, accusing the UN agency of bias against the Jewish state. The pull was effected in 2018.