By David Singer ——Bio and Archives--January 26, 2012
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"I can only take UNESCO's refusal to comment further to mean that:Ms Bilello did not respond. Surprisingly, however - Mr Ford sent me an email on 18 January - but it failed to comment on my detailed submission. Instead Mr Ford sought to justify the legal correctness of a statement issued by UNESCO that I had criticized in various articles and blog posts. Mr Ford was quite peremptory in again letting me know that UNESCO would provide no further comment on the subject. Undeterred - I asked him to confirm whether he had seen my detailed submission sent to Ms Bilello and asked him two further questions that required simple "Yes" or No" answers. True to his word he refused to comment. A three -word email was obviously too hard to draft and send for the UNESCO Director of Public Information. In all of these ongoing discussions the very large Legal Department of UNESCO has remained silent - apparently hoping that its spin doctors in Public Relations will make the legal issues go away. UNESCO's conduct seems very hard to fathom. UNESCO is sailing into uncharted waters as its decision on Palestine has cost - and will cost it - the loss of 22% of its budget in unpaid American dues totalling about $225 million dollars to 2013. Even worse - loss of funding to the tune of about $85 million per annum is set to continue annually after 2013. Facing this funding shortfall, UNESCO has halted all new projects, and may be forced to lay off staff. The Center For Humanitarian Rights and Humanitarian Law (CHRHL) has spelled out the serious consequences of losing that funding:If I am mistaken in drawing the above conclusions - please advise me why within the next seven days."
- UNESCO cannot legally justify the decision to admit Palestine as a full member of UNESCO since a two thirds majority vote of 130 member states required by Article II (2) of the Constitution was not met - as I claimed in my email to you dated 1 December 2011
- UNESCO is not prepared to supply me with a copy of the recommendation of the Executive Board to the General Conference to admit Palestine to membership of UNESCO and any reports that formed part of that recommendation or were considered by the Executive Board prior to making that recommendation
"UNESCO, which has a budget of $653 million for 2011-2012, works to attain equal education around the world, mobilize support for sustainable development, and encourage intercultural dialogue. As a key player in fulfilling the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG), UNESCO supports and promotes literacy programs across the developing world. The right to education is enshrined in Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights. UNESCO's Education for All initiative, which seeks to meet the second MDG of universal primary education by 2015, has faced large funding gaps since its inception. UNESCO's own funding shortfall as a result of the Palestinian vote is likely to exacerbate budgetary constraints on this crucial program. Specific programs that may be affected include: literacy training for Afghan police, an Iraqi curriculum development program, and education infrastructure support in South Sudan."UNESCO'S response to this developing crisis has been to sail on its merry way - virtually oblivious to the dangers that lurk just beneath the surface that could cause this giant colossus to run aground. Whilst busy raising the flag of "Palestine" at UNESCO headquarters in Paris - UNESCO has attempted to recoup this staggering shortfall by:
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David Singer is an Australian Lawyer, a Foundation Member of the International Analyst Network and Convenor of Jordan is Palestine International—an organization calling for sovereignty of the West Bank and Gaza to be allocated between Israel and Jordan as the two successor States to the Mandate for Palestine. Previous articles written by him can be found at: jordanispalestine.blogspot.com