US not challenged over UNESCO board seat

The United States has succeeded in its bid to remain on UNESCO’s executive board, the only way to wield American power at the world’s cultural and scientific agency now that the US government is no longer funding it.

The victory follows a US diplomatic charm offensive aimed at fending off resistance to its re-election. Following a special visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry to Paris-based UNESCO, Switzerland withdrew its candidacy and a Monday morning deadline expired for others to throw their hats into the ring — paving the way for the American re-election.

The US bid to remain on the board was expected to run into resistance after it stopped paying its dues following the body’s decision to admit Palestine in 2011. US law prohibits contributions to international organizations that recognize Palestinian statehood.

UNESCO diplomat Michael Worbs told The Associated Press that no other country submitted a candidate to challenge the US seat. That means there are six candidates for the six board seats assigned to Western Europe and North America — making Wednesday’s vote on the re-election at the agency’s biennial general conference a formality.

— AP