NEW YORK, June 28: The United States could lose vote in the United Nations general assembly unless it comes up with between $211 million and $241 million more than it expects to pay this year, The New York Times reported today quoting American government estimates. The loss of vote could come in January. In the past, China, France and Russia kept their vote in the general assembly after they refused to pay some assessments. But chronic indebtedness of the United States is so resented by its allies as well as others that showdown is possible unless Washington pays up the minimum amount needed to keep the vote.Twenty seven members were unable to vote as of May 11 last. Article 19 of the charter says that a member nation will have no general assembly vote if the amount it owes exceeds its contributions for the previous two years. But the assembly could allow a member to vote if it considers failure to pay as beyond its control.
The warning about possibility of losing vote came in a new study by thegeneral accounting office on UN's financial problems and the arrears owed by the United States. The study was requested by members of the Congress, some of whom have expressed scepticism about how much United States owes to the United Nations. United Nations' undersecretary for management Joseph Connor was quoted in The Times as saying the study is important for what it says.
"And what it says is that the regular budget deficit is growing, that peacekeeping cash is declining, that total resources available to the organisation are diminishing," he said. Connor said the UN kept afloat by raiding its peacekeeping budget, postponing payments to troop contributors and commercial suppliers and resorting to other financially imprudent measures. The report barely touches on the influence that the US has lost at the UN by not paying the bills.
Its power, The Times notes, has not eroded in the Security Council which is more important than the general assembly. As of June 15, the United Nations saidWashington owes about $1.5 billion. But the US says it owes $1 billion.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
