NPC Newsmaker: UNESCO DG Bokova to Speak on How U.S. Funding Cuts to the Organization Hurt American Influence Abroad

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Dec 12, 2011, 02:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova will speak at a National Press Club Newsmaker press conference at 9:00 a.m. Friday, December 16, in the Zenger Room of the National Press Building, 529 14th St., N.W., Washington, D.C.

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Three days after raising of the flag of Palestine in a ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the Director General will speak on the cut in U.S. funds to the organization following the vote of UNESCO's General Conference to admit Palestine as a member state on October 31.

Due to a 21-year-old law, the U.S. government was required to immediately cut its contribution to UNESCO, leading to a significant shortfall in the budget this year and a projected shortfall of over $80 million for next year and the year after.

While the cut in funding is significant to the organization, the Director General maintains that U.S. influence abroad will be reduced without its voice at full volume at UNESCO.

SOURCE National Press Club