Former UNESCO head Federico Mayor Zaragoza has criticised the Netherlands’ rejection of UNESCO membership for the Palestinian Authority. He told Radio Netherlands Worldwide: “I’m a good friend of the Netherlands, but this time we're totally at odds”.
The Spaniard, who headed UNESCO from 1987 to 1999, defends the Palestinian Authority’s admission to UNESCO, describing it as justified. He says he’s pleased that UNESCO has shown that it won’t be intimidated by the United States’ threats to cut off its funding.
“UNESCO’s right to exist is based on good ideas and especially on the democratic values it espouses,” he explains.
The Palestinian Authority was granted UNESCO membership on Monday. The Netherlands voted against its admission, saying this should be gained through negotiation with Israel on unresolved issues and according to the roadmap laid out by the Quartet (the European Union, the United States, the United Nations and Russia).
Read more about the Dutch position on Palestinian UNESCO membership
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© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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What is this??? And why shouldn't Palestine belong to UNESCO? Is this a private "whites only" club??? The day is not complete if someone isn't hated.