U.N. System Funding: Congressional Issues Page: 8 of 18
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of a conference center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the Second Decade to Combat Racism
and Racial Discrimination, and for implementation of General Assembly Resolution 3379
(XXX) (racism equals Zionism). In addition, the Administration withheld the U.S.
proportionate share of funds for the Preparatory Commission for the Law of the Sea and
funds relating to taxes paid by U.S. citizens employed by the United Nations.
In addition, beginning in 1993, the United States recognized a lower peacekeeping
assessment level than applied by the United Nations, and since October 1, 1995, was limited
by U.S. law (sec. 404 of P.L.103-236) to a 25% peacekeeping assessment level. Section 402
of P.L.107-228 (signed into law on September 30, 2002) raised the 25% cap on U.S.
peacekeeping assessments allowing payment of U.S. current peacekeeping assessments in
full. The only current U.S. withholding for the U.N. regular budget is for programs
benefitting the PLO.
Arrearages
Under Article 19 of the U.N. Charter, countries with arrears totaling more than the
member's assessments for the two preceding years lose their vote in the U.N. General
Assembly. As of February 14, 2003, 19 countries were in that status.
According to the United Nations, despite recent U.S. arrears payments, the United
States (as of December 31, 2002), still owed assessed contributions of $738 million (190
million for the U.N. regular budget, $12 million for International Tribunals, and $535 million
for peacekeeping). The U.S. government, however, because of U.S. statutory and policy
withholdings, estimated that U.S. outstanding contributions are lower than the U.N. figures.
Of the total $738 million, the United States expects to pay about $73 million ($24 million
for the U.N. regular budget and $49 million for peacekeeping) from FY2003 appropriations.
The other $665 million is considered by the United States as "contested arrears" or not
payable for U.S. statutory or policy reasons ($166 million for the regular budget, $487
million for peacekeeping, and $12 million for the tribunals).
U.N. Arrears in Recent Legislation
P.L. 106-113 incorporated the Helms-Biden agreement and authorized appropriations
for payment of U.S. arrears to international organizations provided certain conditions were
met and certified by the Secretary of State. The agreement authorized payment of $819
million ($100 million of FY1998 funds, $475 million of FY1999 funds, and $244 millionof FY2000 funds), and authorized $107 million owed by the United Nations to the United
States for peacekeeping to be forgiven provided the United Nations applied it to reduce U.S.
arrears.
P.L. 106-113 required that State Department certification for release of FY1998 funds
include stipulations that neither the United Nations nor any U.N. affiliated agency has
required the United States to violate the Constitution or cede sovereignty, taxed U.S.
nationals, created a standing army, charged the United States interest on arrears, borrowed
externally, or exercised authority or control over any U.S. national park, wildlife preserve,
monument or property. In December 1999 the certification was made and $100 million was
paid to the United Nations.CRS-5
05-27-03
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Bite, Vita. U.N. System Funding: Congressional Issues, report, May 27, 2003; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs5070/m1/8/: accessed June 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.