James Baker criticizes U.S. decision to halt funding for UNESCO

Former U.S. State Secretary James Baker on Wednesday criticized the U.S. decision to halt funding for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), calling it "disappointing." "I am really saddened and disappointed by that because I think it is very important for the U.S. to continue support the United Nations," Baker, the U.S. State Secretary under Republican President George H. W. Bush, told Xinhua on the sidelines of a forum marking the 20th anniversary of the Madrid Mideast peace talks. The U.S. government announced on Monday it has halted making financial contributions to UNESCO after the latter admitted the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) as a full member. But he said that on the other hand, admission to the UNESCO is not going to bring peace to the Palestinians, noting that "the only way you are going to get there is by negotiating." Meanwhile, in a speech at Wednesday's forum, Baker predicted no breakthrough on the Middle East peace process before the U.S. presidential elections next year, probably because the candidates will carefully avoid angering the powerful Jewish voters and donors in the country. "In my view, there is no chance of a breakthrough in the Arab-Israeli peace process in the coming year and frankly that may not be all bad because the last thing we need now is another failure," he said. Baker also criticized the current Israeli government for failing to sustain the negotiation to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "lead forward for peace." Under U.S. brokerage, direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians resumed in Washington in September last year. But only weeks later, negotiation collapsed due to Israel's refusal to renew moratorium on West Bank settlement construction.