November 12, 2001: The United States makes another payment of $475 million towards its peacekeeping arrears. This payment is $107 million less than the $582 million that the US pledged to release towards its peacekeeping arrears in October of 2001. The US asserts that this is the amount owed to the US by the UN, for troop and equipment contributions. Washington continues to owe nearly $800 million for peacekeeping, $265 million for the regular budget, and $14.6 million for the international criminal tribunals.
October 17, 2001: At a meeting of the Fifth Committee, many delegates express cautious optimism about the UN's improved financial situation. However, some diplomats, such as Cheong Ming Foong of Singapore, question whether the recent payments truly solve the UN's cash-flow problem. Bagher Asadi, speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77," expresses concern over late and irregular reimbursements to the troop contributing countries, noting that this places a financial strain on the developing countries.
October 15, 2001: The US decision to release previously withheld dues, along with a better payment record of other members, brings financial stability closer for the UN. In a press briefing , Under Secretary-General for Management Joseph Connor states that "the United Nations has funds in excess of current requirements." Member states were expected to contribute more to the UN than in any prior year, with an aggregate $4.716 billion in projected payments compared to $2.893 billion last year, the increase due to larger peacekeeping operations. As Connor points out, though, the UN's financial situation is still tenuous, due to the fact that the organization has "no reserves, no capital, and no borrowing capacity."
October 12, 2001: A long-awaited US payment of $625 million arrives at the UN. While this includes peacekeeping payments of $571 million and $23 million for the International Criminal Tribunals, the US still owes nearly $1.3 billion for peacekeeping and $265 million for the regular budget for 2001. A second payment of $582 million for peacekeeping arrears is scheduled to arrive before December 31 and the US expresses its intention to pay the full amount of the 2001 regular budget assessment.
October 6, 2001:In a gesture towards anti-terrorism coalition-building, President Bush signs a Senate bill authorizes the payment of US back dues, and cites his desire for the money to facilitate a "close bond" between the US and the UN.
September 25, 2001: To aid the President's diplomatic efforts, Republican House leader Tom DeLay drops his opposition to a payment of US back dues to the UN.
September 19, 2001: The new US Permanent Representative, John Negroponte, joins Kofi Annan in welcoming American media mogul Ted Turner. Turner presents the US with a check for over $31 million to help cover US dues to the UN. Last fall, Turner's pledge to donate funds was helped complete a deal to reduce US dues.
August 22, 2001: Jessie Helms' announced departure from the US Senate may bode well for the UN, as he has been one of the staunchest anti-UN Republicans. Despite promise by the US to pay its UN dues after winning payment reduction, the US now owes the UN the highest debt ever.
August 19, 2001: In direct response to proposed legislation in the US House of Representatives UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan calls on the US to allow payment of UN arrears, and "continue to pay its dues in full and on time, without conditions, as every member state is expected to do."
August 16, 2001: Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives threaten to hold UN arrears hostage once again, unless the bill releasing overdue payments is accompanied by a measure to exempt US military personnel from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
August 16, 2001: The UN projects a cash deficit of $75 million by the end of the month, as numerous countries have failed to pay their regular budgetary assessments. Of the 189 member countries, 86 have paid partially or not at all. The deficit may force the UN to dip into peacekeeping funds in order to pay day-to-day salaries and bills. The biggest debtor is the United States, which owes $463 million in current and previous dues to the UN's regular budget, or 64% of the total.
