NEW YORK, 6 November 2008: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Member States to meet their financial obligations to the United Nations for 2008 in full and on time, warning of possible cash shortfalls if assessed contributions are not paid up in the remaining two months of this year.
– The financial position of the UN remains fragile, Mr. Ban writes in his latest report to the General Assembly, which reviews the world body’s financial situation as at 24 October.
Funding for the UN budget, which is approved on a biennium basis, is derived from contributions from Member States. Their assessments are assessed based on a number of factors, including per capita incomes. The UN’s regular budget for the biennium 2008-2009 is nearly 4,2 billion US dollar.
In addition to the regular budget, Member States are assessed for the costs of the UN international tribunals, peacekeeping, and the five-year, 1.9 billion US dollar renovation of the Organization’s New York Headquarters, known as the Capital Master Plan (CMP).
– The financial indicators for 2008 are mixed, says the Secretary-General, referring to the four main factors that determine the UN’s financial strength – assessments issued; unpaid assessed contributions; available cash resources; and the UN’s outstanding debt to Member States.
– The position of the regular budget is uncertain given the current and projected cash situation, and the final outcome for 2008 will depend on action to be taken in the next few months by a few Member States.
As of 24 October, 133 Member States had paid their assessments to the UN regular budget in full, seven more than on 31 October last year.
The total amount outstanding for peacekeeping operations at 24 October is over 2.9 billion US dollar, approximately 198 million US dollar higher than at the end of 2007, but 575 million US dollar below the level at 31 October last year.
As with the regular budget, the 2.9 billion US dollar in unpaid assessments is “highly concentrated,” according to the report, with over half of the total, 62 per cent, from just two Member States, and another 21 per cent from four others.
Cash balances at the end of 2008 are projected to be higher than at the end of 2007 for the tribunals and the CMP, but lower for the regular budget and peacekeeping operations. – Further borrowing may be required from reserve accounts for the regular budget, says Mr. Ban.
They are Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, the Philippines, Moldova, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
General Assembly approves nearly 4.2 billion US dollarUN budget despite US opposition
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