PARIS, Oct 17: Over 150 of the 191 member states of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted on Monday to approve a convention to protect cultural diversity, with the United States and Israel among the few dissenting voices.

UNESCO’s culture commission passed a resolution to adopt a 40-page text reaffirming the “sovereign right of countries” to pursue policies aimed at “protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions on their territory” and in international trade, with 151 votes in favour.

Most of UNESCO’s members see it as an important tool for protecting local languages, arts and culture against English-speaking globalisation and US “cultural imperialism”.

However it is strongly opposed by the United States, which argues that the text is vaguely defined and could be used by governments to suppress freedom of expression and the interchange of ideas.

“We are extremely disappointed by the decision that has just been taken,” US envoy Louise Oliver said as the resolution was greeted with loud applause.

Israel also voted against adopting the convention, while Australia and the Pacific island state Kiribati abstained.

The United States had submitted 20 amendments to the text, which would have emptied the convention of much of its substance.

In a press conference before the vote, Oliver denounced the text as “vague and contradictory”. She warned the convention could “very easily be misused”, saying it prompted “serious worries”.

Supporters of the convention say that once ratified it would have legal weight in negotiations at the World Trade Organisation over such issues as cinema, publishing and the Internet.

Following Monday’s resolution by the 191-member commission, the adoption of the text in a plenary session of some 2,000 delegates on Thursday is assured.—AFP