Wednesday, November 2, 2011

ARTICLE - CANADA CUTS OFF UNESCO ALLOWANCE

CANADA CUTS OFF ALLOWANCE TO THE UNESCO SPECIAL ENVOY TO HAITI
(Defend Haiti) - By Jonel Juste

OTTAWA - After the Palestinian Authority’s admission as a full member within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Canada has decided, as tje United States, to freeze funding provided to the organization, we have heard.

The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, John Baird, announced Tuesday to reporters in Ottawa that Canada has decided to freeze the funds provided to the organization after the admission of Palestinian Authority as a full member within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), reports online press agency Haiti Press Network.

Taking such a decision, Canada has also decided to cut off the allowance to Michaelle Jean, UNESCO Special Envoy to Haiti.

The financial contribution of Canada will remain at its current level. The country pays annually $10 million to UNESCO, in addition to the 2 million given to the Canadian Commission for the organization. Added to these are the costs of parallel operations such as Special envoy to Haiti, now held by Michaëlle Jean.

The agency must not count on Canada to fill the shortfall of U.S. withdrawal. American officials said yesterday they would suspend their financial contribution to UNESCO, which is 60 million per year and represents over one-fifth of its budget.

Canada is one of the ten countries opposed to the membership of the Palestinian Authority to UNESCO.

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