UNITED NATIONS Two republican senators visited the United Nations to tell ambassadors that Congress will insist on a cut in U.S. payments to the world body regardless of who wins the contested presidential election.
John Warner of Virginia, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Gordon Smith of Oregon, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, argued that UN members should reduce U.S. dues immediately so funds could be released to pay part of the arrears Washington owes.
"I am confident that the next administration will adhere to the law as written today," Warner told reporters on Tuesday.
"We are here at a time when there is a perceived uncertainty in the passing of power in the United States," Smith said. "We are here as a statement to say there is actual constitutional certainty, and it does cross party lines." The two were invited by the U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to present their views to a cross-section of UN ambassadors, who also let them know the depth of opposition to giving Washington, which owes some $1.8 billion, a break on payments.
At issue is congressional legislation approved last year that would pay $926 million for regular dues and peacekeeping expenses in addition to other arrears.
But that is conditional on the 189-member General Assembly's cutting the U.S. share of the administrative budget to 22 percent from 25 percent and of the peacekeeping budget to 25 percent from 30 percent.
Months of Lobbying Holbrooke has lobbied UN members for months to agree to the reductions before the end of the year so the next installment of the arrears, some $582 million, can be paid.
The U.S. debt of $1.8 billion is for present and past payments.
Some of it stems from deductions Washington made in lowering its share unilaterally.
The two senators met ambassadors from Japan, Britain, France, India, Pakistan, Bahrain, Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, South Korea, Guatemala and Australia.
(Reuter)