Secretary-General's press encounter on return to his office following press conference on sustainable energy, UNHQ, 1 November 2011
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Q: Do you think Washington can find a way around this [UNESCO] financing business?
SG: I hope they will. I hope they will. I have discussed this matter with Secretary Clinton and all senior government officials.
Q: As a follow up to this question, do you think this is political intimidation, political punishment and a way of intimidating the United Nations? Why the United States, [inaudible] UNESCO take its positions regarding the Palestinians?
SG: I don’t think the United States Government intends or intended to do that. But as I understand it, even President Obama, he doesn’t have any room, because Congress has adopted this law, a long time ago – 1990 and 1994 – so we have to realise all this situation. I don’t think it is a policy of the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government supports the Middle East peace process, the U.S. Government supports Palestine, and I understand they support all this socio-economic and educational support for the Palestinian people. It is not their policy as I understand it.
Document Sources: Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI)
Country: United States of America
Subject: Assistance, Education and culture, PLO/Palestine, Statehood-related
Publication Date: 01/11/2011