NEW YORK, May 23: The United States' Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson has admitted that hostility towards foreign diplomats in New York is rising sharply following row over unpaid parking tickets by them.

``In New York, we're seeing an alarming upswing in angry confrontations, a little bit verbal abuse and an atmosphere of growing hostility towards diplomats and their families. As a direct consequence, there's even been retaliation against American diplomats living abroad,'' he said.

Richardson was addressing several business and civil leaders yesterday at a breakfast meeting .

In several countries, parking privileges of American diplomats have been reduced because of the row. Russia is now making American pay tickets and restriction have been imposed in Belarus and Brazil.

The trouble started when New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani threatened to consfiscate licence plates of cars and take other punitive action against diplomats who fail to pay the fines for tickets issued to them for traffic offences.

Initially, the State Department appeared to be with his effort to bring some discipline in the most indisciplined group in the city. But it backtracked after severe criticism from diplomats, leaving the mayor holding the baby.

However, the harsh political statements did the damage with traffic police coming down heavily on diplomats and people generally seeing them as breakers of law.

Richardson said that five million dollars in unpaid tickets should not overshadow the benefits of having the United Nations in the city with diplomats and their families spending 3.3 billion dollars per year.

besides, the United Nations provides 30,000 jobs and brings four hundred thousand tourists to the city.

``It's part of the reason why two thousand five hundred international firms are located in New York. It's part of the reason why twenty per cent of all foreign investment in the United States is right here in New York,'' he said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.