UNESCO vote on Palestine: What UN chief says

With the United States snapping finances to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation following a vote on Palestinian membership, United Nations chief Ban Ki Moon has said member states will have to look for "practical solutions" to preserve the Paris-based agency's financial resources as the vote could have implications.

"This step could have potential implications for funding provided by some member states. This is a decision by the member states," Ban said at a press conference at United Nations, in response to a question on Palestine becoming a UNESCO member and the US cutting aid to the cultural agency.

He said while it is up to the UN member states to ensure that the "United Nations system as a whole (has) a consistent political and financial support, as such, we will need to work on practical solutions to preserve UNESCO's financial resources".

He emphasised the "urgency" of a negotiated solution to the Middle East peace process.

"The two-state solution is long overdue. We will all need to work harder for its realisation," he added.

The US has announced it will stop financial contributions to UNESCO after the UN body voted to admit Palestine as its full member, which the Obama administration termed as regrettable and premature.