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France said to urge US not to pull out of UNESCO
France is attempting to persuade the US not to withdraw from the Paris-based United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), diplomatic sources said Monday.
The moves followed unconfirmed reports the State Department had recommended to President Reagan that the US withdraw from UNESCO in 1985 unless the UN body curtails what Washington sees as an anti-Western bias and budget mismanagement. The US provides one quarter of UNESCO's funds and could severely limit its programs by withdrawing.
The diplomatic sources said the French view was that US withdrawal would bring into question the international aspect of the body.