<p>"As you are already aware by this time, this step could have potential implications for funding provided by some member states," Xinhua quoted Ban as saying Monday during a press conference held to mark the day when the world population reached 7 billion-mark. <br /><br />"This is a decision by the member states. But as the secretary-general of the United Nations, I have to draw out to the members of the United Nations system this fact," he added. <br /><br />The Unesco Monday voted to admit Palestine, even as the discussion continues in the UN Security Council about admitting Palestine as a member state of the UN as a whole.<br /><br />With this, the Unesco turned the first UN agency to have admitted Palestine as a member. <br />Palestine won admission with 107 countries voting in its favour, 14 in against and 52 abstained.<br /><br />The US and Israel have voiced opposition to the Unesco's move. <br />On Monday, the US announced its decision to stop its financial contributions to Unesco in response to their decision to admit Palestine before completion of bilateral negotiations between Israel and Palestine.<br /><br />"It is (up to) member states to ensure that the United Nations system as a whole (has) a consistent political and financial support," said Ban. "As such, we will need to work on practical solutions to preserve Unesco's financial resources."</p>
<p>"As you are already aware by this time, this step could have potential implications for funding provided by some member states," Xinhua quoted Ban as saying Monday during a press conference held to mark the day when the world population reached 7 billion-mark. <br /><br />"This is a decision by the member states. But as the secretary-general of the United Nations, I have to draw out to the members of the United Nations system this fact," he added. <br /><br />The Unesco Monday voted to admit Palestine, even as the discussion continues in the UN Security Council about admitting Palestine as a member state of the UN as a whole.<br /><br />With this, the Unesco turned the first UN agency to have admitted Palestine as a member. <br />Palestine won admission with 107 countries voting in its favour, 14 in against and 52 abstained.<br /><br />The US and Israel have voiced opposition to the Unesco's move. <br />On Monday, the US announced its decision to stop its financial contributions to Unesco in response to their decision to admit Palestine before completion of bilateral negotiations between Israel and Palestine.<br /><br />"It is (up to) member states to ensure that the United Nations system as a whole (has) a consistent political and financial support," said Ban. "As such, we will need to work on practical solutions to preserve Unesco's financial resources."</p>