Annan: U.S. Withholding Dues Is Bad Idea
By NICK WADHAMS
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 9, 2005; 10:52 PM
UNITED NATIONS -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday criticized proposed legislation before the U.S. House of Representatives that would link reforms of the world body to payment of U.S. dues.
Annan said he hoped the bill, introduced Tuesday by Illinois Republican Henry Hyde, won't become law. He repeated his oft-stated view that withholding dues from the United Nations would be counterproductive.
We are going through reforms and the U.S. has a natural leadership role and I hope it will work with other Member States to reform and strengthen the Organization, Annan told reporters. I don't think holding back on contributions sends the right message.
Annan discussed the bill during a phone call with President Bush on Thursday morning, he told dozens of U.N. ambassadors at a breakfast later in the morning. Annan told the ambassadors that Bush had reiterated the U.S. position that it opposes the idea of withholding dues.
On Wednesday, a GOP-controlled House committee approved Hyde's bill, which would withhold one-half of U.S. dues to the United Nations unless it made specific changes.
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, told a news conference the legislation will be taken up by the full House next week. Currently there is no similar legislation before the Senate, and the U.S. administration's opposition means the bill's chances are unclear.
The U.S. is the biggest financial contributor to the United Nations, paying about 22 percent of the annual $2 billion general budget. That does not include money for peacekeeping, most international tribunals, or programs like the U.N. Development Program and UNICEF, which are funded separately.
© 2005 The Associated Press