"Springtime for France and Liberty, Winter for Qatar and Iran."

"Now is not a time for democracies to abandon UNESCO.  Their departure will leave a vacuum rapidly filled by the enemies of freedom."

Paris, 13 October 2017

In his congratulations to UNESCO Director-General elect, Audrey Azoulay, the Centre's Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, viewed "the thirty votes for her as a hopeful turning point from UNESCO appeasement..."

"Nevertheless", he continued, "twenty-eight states were still ready to cover-up a candidate personally indifferent and even endorsing antisemitism."

The Centre argued that "a vote for Qatar was, in reality, an acceptance of its ally Iran - the greatest public executioner, officially stoning woman, financier of proxy terrorism, declaring its genocidal intent."

"We wish farewell and future success to departing Director-General Irina Bokova and look forward to working with her successor, Audrey Azoulay.  Her mandate will, we hope, be suffused with the pristine values of UNESCO and, above all, the World Heritage Committee."

"Now is not a time for democracies to abandon UNESCO.  Their departure will leave a vacuum rapidly filled by the enemies of freedom." "For the moment, UNESCO is saved from a Qatarstrophe that success must now be defended," argued Samuels.