December 23, 2003: The General Assembly adopts a $3.16 billion budget for 2004-2005, reflecting a real growth of a mere 0.5% from 2003-2004. However, Member States contend that the budget reflects a continued effort towards reforming the UN, including the reform of the budgetary cycle as well as entrusting the Secretary General with wider power for redeploying staff on an experimental basis.
December 18, 2003: The Fifth Committee recommends an appropriation of $235.32 million for the International Tribunal for Rwanda and $298.23 million for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, falling below the requests of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The Committee also recommends against increasing the current level of funding for consultants and experts to the tribunals.
November 21, 2003: According to Under Secretary General for Management Catherine Bertini, unpaid contributions by member states for international tribunals topped $117 million as of September 30, 2003. The General Assembly noted Bertini's "concern," urging Member States to "make payments on time, in full and without conditions."
November 20, 2003: Under Secretary General for Management Catherine Bertini gives an update on UN Member States payments. At the end of October 2003, dues owed by Member States for peacekeeping missions were $1,188 million in arrears. Bertini adds that the UN Regular Budget would end the year with a deficit of $12 million.
October 30, 2003: The Fifth Committee reviews the proposed UN budget for 2004-2005. The draft envisions a budget of $3.058 billion, a 0.5% increase real growth of the budget. However, several delegates argue that the nominal vs real increase in resources amounts to 5.8% or $150 million.
August 11, 2003: Secretary General Kofi Annan expects that the Bush administration will back a $1.2 billion interest-free loan financing the renovation of the UN headquarters in New York. However, the plan must still pass through the US congress, "where there is no shortage of people who would punish the organization for real and imagined sins," including its lack of support for the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.
July 23, 2003: The US House of Representatives approves the FY2004 appropriations bill that includes funds for the UN and UN specialized agencies. The bill includes $71.4 million in dues to rejoin UNESCO after a 19-year hiatus, as well as $550.2 million in payments to the UN Peacekeeping Operation budget - a decrease of $119 million from FY2003.
