UNESCO's new Chief today brushed aside the United States' decision to walk out of the UN cultural body, saying the organisation had survived long periods without Washington before. <br/><br/>Former French Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay, elected on Friday to head UNESCO, said the US is not the beginning and end of the agency. <br/><br/>The US and Israel both announced their pullout last month, accusing UNESCO of anti-Israel bias. Mr. Azoulay, who is due to be sworn in today, said Washington's decision is not a complete surprise, bearing in mind the United States' current position on multilateralism".<br/><br/>US President Donald Trump has already dismayed European partners by pulling out of the Paris climate change agreement and leaving the fate of the hard-fought Iran nuclear deal in<br/>the hands of Congress.