US pulls funding for UN counterterrorism office headed by Russian
The United States cut a planned $2 million pledge for the United Nations Counterterrorism Office on Wednesday and downgraded its presence at a conference on the issue, the latest move by the Trump administration to wield its funding to push for reform of the world body.
The funding cut was made over a decision by the UN counterterrorism chief, a former Russian diplomat with more than 30 years service, to close part of an inaugural conference to nongovernmental interest groups, a US official speaking on condition of anonymity said.
When asked if the decision had anything to do with counterterrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov being Russian, the US official said "it matters" and that Voronkov had come under "tremendous pressure by his home country" on the conference.
