British Council To Divert Funds To "Muslim Countries"
The British Council, a government-sponsored organization for the promotion of cultural ties abroad, plans to slash its European operations to focus on "spreading cultural values in the Middle East and Asia," it was reported Monday.
The Times newspaper said the Council was due to close half of its public offices in Europe by March next year.
It would divert 7.5 million pounds (14.7 million dollars) - nearly a third of its public money spent in Europe - to countries stretching east from Saudi Arabia to Kazakhstan. Martin Davidson, director general designate of the British Council, said it was "time to tackle the new challenges the world faces."
These included "building trust with the Islamic states and China," Davidson told the Press Association.
The council would scrap "traditional arts activities" in Europe, such as orchestral tours and artistic commissions, in favour of projects "designed to prevent Muslim youths from being indoctrinated by extremists sympathetic to al-Qaeda," the Times said.
The changes would mark the most sweeping transformation since the creation of the council in 1934, it added.
"We share a common set of values with our European partners and by working with them we can have a greater impact within Europe and beyond," Davidson said.
The Council is an independent body financed with an annual grant of 186 million pounds from the Foreign Office, and around 300 million pounds earned through providing English language classes and examinations.
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1) British Council To Divert Funds To "Muslim Countries"
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