UN’s Ban Ki-Moon questioned on “deadbeat” comment on United States arrears of over 1 billion

Speaking at a monthly briefing with reporters this morning, United Nations Secretary-General (SG) Ban Ki-Moon acknowledged that he referred to the United States as a “deadbeat” donor during a meeting yesterday with members of Congress. A Republican on the House Foreign Relations Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was clearly irked telling reporters later that the United States contributes “a whole lot of taxpaper dollars to the UN and doesn’t deserve to be called a deadbeat.”

“My point was simply that the United Nations needs the full support of the United States, ” Ban Ki-moon responded at the press conference today. “The United States is our largest contributor, and it is hard to follow up with few funds for growing peacekeeping missions and other activities.”

The Obama Administration has agreed to pay 22% of the U.N.’s bill,  but is currently over $1.3 billion in arrears. Some say these funds will go towards boosting climate change initiatives –a campaign that Ki-moon as been pitching consistently. When prompted by TRNS on the timing of this request considering the economic meltdown in the US, Ki Moon added “When members pay their dues, it is a case where all peacekeeping operations are very important.  The U.S. must pay in all these areas. I discussed this in Sharm el Sheikh with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton as Gaza reconstruction is one of our key concerns.”

He also said about his meeting with Obama, “it was an extremely encouraging meeting in substance and in spirit. A strong signal of the new administration’s commitment to the course of the United Nations”. He underscored how he and Obama strongly agreed on climate change and hoped to boost global commitments to energy, green investment and environmental conservation. On the economic crisis “the world’s poorest and most vulnerable cannot be left behind,” Ki-moon said.

Also highlighted were the SG’s grave concerns about Sudan and the expulsion of over 13 NGO’s working to improve peace and provide humanitarian aid to the people. “We urge all parties in Darfur and the government of Sudan to fulfill their responsibility and ensure the safety of all aid workers.” He added there should be a reasonable and credible implementation of the judiciary process in regards to Rome Statute’s Article 16.  The ICC (International Criminal Court) has put out a full warrant on President Al-Bashir’s immediate arrest.

On Haiti, the SG visited the country with former US President Bill Clinton. He added that Haiti has suffered much due to natural disasters. “President Obama told me, even with relatively small investments, I expect the Haitian government to develop a prioritized plan and to lift itself from darkness into light.”

On Afghanistan, the security situation continues to deteriorate. “With elections coming, I welcome a fresh focus from the United States administration on a military solution–but there must also be a political solution.”  On the Middle East, donors at the Sharm el Sheikh Gaza reconstruction meeting made heavy commitments that should begin rebuilding the devastated region immediately. “The United States and the United Nations are thinking very much in the same way on building peace and stability in this region.”