UNESCO: Cultural or Political

In 2011 Palestine became a full member of UNESCO, after being refused as a member of the United Nations. Direct after this, the United States stopped their membership of UNESCO, by which the organisation lost a large part of its funds and thus its power. This raises some questions. Is UNESCO a cultural organ or a political instrument?

First Andrew Mann, Counselor for Political Affairs and Deputy Chief in Mission at the USA Embassy in The Hague will enlighten us on the American side of this problem. Then Yvonne Donders, chair of the Dutch Organisation for the United Nations (NVVN) and a member of the National UNESCO Committee, will go into the European side of this problem.