5 Oct 2011

UNESCO / PALESTINIAN MEMBERSHIP

The UN cultural agency board today voted in favor of recommending a Palestinian state be given UNESCO membership. UNESCO

Posted at: October 5, 2011 6:39 pm

Duration: 01:30

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: UNESCO / PALESTINIAN MEMBERSHIP 
TRT: 01:30
SOURCE: UNESCO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 5 OCTOBER 2011, PARIS, FRANCE

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, meeting
2. Med shot, President of the Executive Council
3. Cutaway, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) United States Representative: 
"The United States of America takes the floor to express our strong opposition to this resolution. Given that the United Nations Security Council is reviewing the Palestinian application we believe it's inappropriate for a UN specialized agency to also take up the same matter."
5. Various shots, members voting
6. SOUNDUP (English) Secretary:
"The number of members present and voting: 58. Yes: 40. No: 4. Abstention: 40." 
7. SOUNDUP (English) President of the Executive Council:
"Decision has been adopted." 
8. Various shots, delegates cheering

STORYLINE:

The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted today (5 Oct) on a recommendation to admit Palestine to the Organization.

From the 58 member-states on the Board, the recommendation was passed by a vote of 40 in favor to four against, with 14 abstentions.

Expressing the United States (US) "strong opposition" to the resolution, US Representative David Killion said "given that the United Nations Security Council is reviewing the Palestinian application we believe it's inappropriate for a UN specialized agency to also take up the same matter."
 
Palestine's request for membership will now be considered at the next session of the General Conference (October 26-November 10) where a two-thirds majority vote is required for membership to be granted. Decisions for admission are taken by the General Conference and the Executive Board which are UNESCO's governing bodies.