United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared on Thursday that the billions of dollars owed by the United States to the world body are non-negotiable, pushing back against reports that Washington had attached conditions to releasing the funds.
Assessed Contributions Are Obligations
Speaking to reporters, Guterres emphasized that assessed contributions are an obligation of member states and are non-negotiable. This statement came after the development newswire Devex reported that two diplomatic notes from the US called for nine quick-hit reforms as a condition for releasing more funds.
US Demands for Reforms
According to Devex, the US-demanded reforms included overhauling the UN pension system, ending long-distance business-class travel for some senior and all mid-level professionals, additional cuts to senior UN ranks, and a 10 percent reduction in long-running and ineffective peacekeeping missions. The notes also demanded blocking China from channeling tens of millions of dollars annually to a discretionary fund in the secretary-general's office, aimed at countering Chinese influence.
Guterres, who has been leading reform efforts under pressure from member states, especially the US, said the UN would do its best to make the organization effective and cost-effective. However, he stressed that these two issues are separate.
UN Financial Crisis
The US mission to the United Nations has not commented on the reports. The US has repeatedly stated it will continue pressuring the UN to reform, following its withdrawal from dozens of UN bodies this year and cutting millions of dollars in funding last year. In January, Guterres warned that the UN faced imminent financial collapse due to unpaid fees, most of which are owed by the United States. The UN said in February that the US had paid about $160 million of the more than $4 billion it owes.
