Turkey has doubled its contribution to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) amid the financial crisis it faces with the United States (US) and Israel not paying their membership fees, Turkish National Education Minister Nabi Avci said in Paris on Sunday.

While in Paris to attend the 37th UNESCO General Assembly meeting, Avci also partook in the commemoration ceremony at the Turkish Embassy marking the 75th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

During the press conference after the ceremony, Avci noted that four Turkish programs had been accepted into UNESCO's memorial programs.

He added Turkey was among the countries contributing to UNESCO for it to overcome its funding crisis.

Avci also stressed that significant progress had been made in Turkey's candidacy for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee elections to be held on November 19.

AA