UNESCO halts cooperation with Libya

UNESCO halts cooperation with Libya

2011-03-03 21:36:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Thursday announced that it's halting cooperation with Libyan authorities.

"With the tragic turn of events in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya - the serious violations of human rights and recent statements made at the highest level of the Libyan Government inciting further violence against the civilian population – I have decided to halt all activities and cooperation with the Libyan authorities," director-general Irina Bokova said.

UNESCO had a partnership agreement with the Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations, which funded a range of activities in the areas of science, culture and communication. The partnership has now been terminated and cooperation with Libya will resume as soon as the rights of the Libyan people are fully respected, according to the statement.


The Paris-based organization made the decision after the UN General Assembly suspended Libya from the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday.

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