The American Institute of Architects has declared its support for UNESCO after the US announced it is pulling out of the organisation, and encouraged President Donald Trump's administration to preserve initiatives that "reinforce the value and importance of architecture and design".
The AIA released a statement yesterday highlighting the importance of UNESCO, following the US Department of State announcement last week that it would be withdrawing from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), due to "the need for fundamental reform in the organisation".
After leaving, the US will act as a non-member observer state that contributes "views, perspectives and expertise" to UNESCO's key issues. The AIA emphasised the need for continued protection of world heritage sites listed by UNESCO, and urged Trump's government to pursue other cultural programmes.
"The American Institute of Architects has long supported the cultural mission of UNESCO, and especially its World Heritage Sites programme, which seeks to identify and preserve buildings and places of exceptional importance to humankind," said AIA president Thomas Vonier in the statement.
"We hope and expect that the United States will continue to work with global stakeholders to protect such sites."

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The statem...