United Nations steps back from 'financial brink'

Fiscal challenges still loom for world body

March 23, 2000
Web posted at: 5:51 p.m. EST (2251 GMT)

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The United Nations took a "step back from the financial brink" in 1999, according to Joseph Connor, the organization's under-secretary-general for management.

At the end of 1999, 126 of the 188 U.N. member states had paid their dues for that year -- and all earlier years -- in full, Connor reported in a written statement. He noted nine more members paid in full last year compared with 1998, and 51 more had paid in full than in 1994.

According to Connor, regular U.N. budget cash was $111 million in 1999, the highest in five years. Peacekeeping and tribunal cash amounted to $982 million, also the highest amount in five years.

"After many years of negative regular budget cash, as low as a negative $197 million in 1996, the positive cash balance at the end of 1999, $111 million, was a welcome change, not only in amount but in direction," Connor said in the statement.

The world organization would now be better able to satisfy demands being made on it, Connor said, adding that the improved financial situation was largely due to increased payments from the United States.

Unpaid assessments at the end of 1999 stood at about $1.76 billion, less than the more than $2 billion that was owed at the end of 1998.

Connor calls 2000 a "year of financial challenge" and warns that the world body could reverse the progress it has made if its "operational grasp exceeds it financial reach."

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