U.S. Pays U.N. 135 Million U.S. Dollars, Still Owes Over 1.5 MillionThe United States has reduced its debt to the United Nations by some 135 million U.S. dollars, but still owes more than 1.5 million dollars, a U.N. spokeswoman said Wednesday.The 135-million-dollar payment went to reduce arrears to a number of U.N. peacekeeping operations, 30 percent of whose costs are assessed against the United States according to the universally accepted principle of "the capacity to pay." But Washington still owes some 1.16 million dollars for peacekeeping and about 460 million in arrears to the regular budget, for which the U.S. assessment is 25 percent. The United States is often under fire at the United Nations for its reluctance to pay its back dues full, on time and without conditions. However, Washington is seeking a review by the General Assembly of the scale of assessment. |
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