In a statement, the state department said it notified Unesco director Irina Bokova on Thursday of the decision. The United States suspended its Unesco funding in 2011 over its vote to include Palestine as a member, and now owes about $550 million in back payments. ‘Profound regret’The head of Unesco Irina Bokova voiced “profound regret” over the decision which she called a “loss to multilateralism”. “After receiving official notification by the US Secretary of State, Mr Rex Tillerson, as Unesco Director-General, I wish to express profound regret at the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from Unesco,” said Unesco director general Irina Bokova in a statement. Bokova said, “Unesco will continue to work for the universality of this Organisation, for the values we share, for the objectives we hold in common, to strengthen a more effective multilateral order and a more peaceful, more just world.”

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 12, 2017 13:41 UTC