Tehran (IRNA): UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova announced that she is halting all cooperation with the authorities of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, UN Information Center in Tehran said on March 3.

UNESCO has been involved in a range of activities in Libya, notably in the areas of science, culture and communication. Many of these activities have been funded under a partnership agreement with the Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations, signed in 2001. This partnership has now been terminated.

The Director-General’s decision follows the United Nations Security Council resolution 1970, adopted unanimously on 26 February, which deplored “the gross and systematic violation of human rights” in Libya, and the decision by the UN General Assembly on March 1 to suspend Libya from the UN Human Rights Council.

“With the tragic turn of events in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya – the serious violations of human rights and recent statements made at the highest level of the Libyan Government inciting further violence against the civilian population – I have decided to halt all activities and cooperation with the Libyan authorities,” Irina Bokova said in Paris.

The Director-general said she would resume cooperation with Libya as soon as the rights of the Libyan people are fully respected.