PARIS, Oct. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture Organization (UNESCO) adopted Thursday to the great displeasure of the United States a convention aiming at protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions.

    Out of 154 countries represented at the two-yearly General Conference of UNESCO, 148 voted the text seen by most of UNESCO's 191 member states as an important tool to protect local languages,arts and culture against English-speaking globalisation and US "cultural imperialism".

    Only the United States and Israel voted against it and four countries abstained.

    For the United States, which has submitted 20 amendments to thetext, the resolution could be used by governments to suppress freedom of expression and the interchange of ideas.

    Launched and ardently promoted by France and Canada, the convention affirms the sovereign right of nations to "protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions." Enditem