An international conference in opposition to the increasing politicization of specialized organizations such as UNESCO the World Health Organization and the International Labor Office will convene here next month with the participation of Nobel Prize winners, labor leaders, writers, philosophers and top stars of the entertainment world.
The one-day conference, Oct. 2, will call on the international organizations to “stick to their task” instead of dealing with political issues and adopting anti-Israel resolutions. Among those due to attend are Nobel Laureates Isidor Rabi, of the U.S.; Raymond Aron and Prof. Henri Baruk, of France; Prof. Werner Forssmann, of West Germany; Eugene Ionesco; and American theatrical celebrities Elizabeth Taylor and Sammy Davis Jr.
The conference will take place a few weeks before UNESCO’s general conference which is due to open in Nairobi, Kenya Oct. 26 with the participation of 140 countries. That conference, the equivalent of the UN General Assembly, meets only once every two years. It will have to decide whether Israel, excluded de facto for the past two years from all UNESCO activities, will be permitted to Join a regional group.
Israel has already asked to Join the 35-state European regional group which includes two non-European countries: the United States and Canada. UNESCO’s charter on this subject is vague. It says that countries can join regional groups on the basis of “a broad consensus.” The East European countries interpret this as meaning “at least 30 countries out of 35.” The U.S. delegation says majority vote only is needed.
ISRAEL’S CHANCES ASSESSED
Diplomatic sources here say Israel can count on the positive vote of only 14 countries with five more, France, Finland, Monaco, Italy and Greece, likely to vote in favor. Some of these countries, such as France and Italy link their vote in Israel’s favor with demands for Israeli concessions on such delicate subjects as the archaeological diggings in Jerusalem and the organization of education in the occupied territories. The UNESCO resolution of Sept. 1974, describes Jerusalem as an occupied territory and as such forbids major changes of its architectural and historic sites.
The U.S. still owes close to $50 million in outstanding annual dues. UNESCO sources say the U.S. delegation has made it clear that America will pay its back dues only if Israel is satisfied with the Nairobi solution. If no compromise is found, the U.S. might be denied its voting rights.
In order to preserve a favorable climate, the UNESCO Director General has decided to shelve the “racism” item from the conference’s agenda. This issue will be examined by a body of experts only next year. UNESCO sources hope that thanks to this arrangement, a compromise can be found on other outstanding issues
The organizers of the international conference, due to meet here next month, believe that neither the UNESCO Secretariate nor certain member countries would have actively sought a compromise solution without the intervention of world public opinion. The organizers, headed by a committee led by Prof. Andre Lwoff and Aron, also feel that their action can help influence a trend against politicization in other organizations and prevent the victimization of Israel.
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