The United States is now a full member Unescoafter completing the last procedures for their reintegration into this UN organization, announced its director general, Audrey Azoulet.

“The return of the USA to Unesco is essential: it has officially become a member of our organization again,” Azoulay said in her announcement, calling it a “victory” for Unesco.

At the end of June, almost 90% of Unesco member countries were in favor of the US rejoining the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Training Organization, from which they withdrew during the presidency of Donald Trump. Washington would then have to formally accept the Unesco charter, which it did on Monday, according to a UN diplomat. Thus, as of today, the USA becomes the 194th member of Unesco.

On Sunday the Azule she spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who promised her that Washington would actively support the organization’s actions on education in Africa, protection of cultural heritage in Ukraine, freedom of the press and Holocaust remembrance.

The US and Israel withdrew from Unesco in October 2017, denouncing the organization’s “continued anti-Israel positions”. Only ten countries disagreed in June on the return of the US. Among them were Iran, Syria, China, North Korea and above all Russia, which deliberately delayed the consultations, as it could not reverse the final outcome.

The USA had also left in 1984, during the presidency Ronald Reagan, arguing that Unesco is “useless” and citing “irregularities” in its budget. They returned in October 2003.

The second return is a relief for the organization, given that US contributions covered 22% of its budget. Washington has pledged to pay all its arrears, which amount to $619 million, more than Unesco’s annual budget of $534 million.