19 Oct 2012

UN / FINANCES

UN Under-Secretary-General for Management Yukio Takasu told reporters today that UN member states owe 2.8 billion US dollars in unpaid assessments to the Organization's budget, with the United States the biggest debtor. UNTV

Posted at: October 19, 2012 3:56 pm

Duration: 01:42

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / FINANCES
TRT: 1.42
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 19 OCTOBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.	Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

19 OCTOBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2.	Med shot, dais
3.	Med shot, journalists
4.	SOUNDBITE (English) Yukio Takasu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Management:
"We need to be more efficient stewards of resources entrusted to us from Member States. As you know the UN doesn't have its own power to generate income, compared to many other countries. We cannot tax people directly. The UN depends upon payment from Member States. There are of course some income generating activities, like selling postage stamps and other things, but very, very small. Basically, depending on how much Member States will pay, how soon, determines the operation of the UN."
5.	Med shot, journalists
6.	SOUNDBITE (English) Yukio Takasu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Management:
"In total, at the end of, at this moment, the unpaid assessment amounts to 2.8 billion dollars, and of course part of this is peacekeeping contributions. So, therefore the situation requires very careful monitoring but at the same time I can say that we are in a fairly solid position and I am very pleased with this."
7.	Med shot, journalists
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Yukio Takasu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Management:
"The largest amount is due by the United States, 744 million, but since then we have indications that they intend to pay. So, we haven't received it, but it's on the way. So I hope it will be reduced. The next is Mexico, 42 million."
9.	Wide shot, over the shoulder view of journalists
10.	Wide shot, dais

STORYLINE:

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Management Yukio Takasu told reporters today (19 October) that UN member states owe 2.8 billion US dollars in unpaid assessments to the Organization's budget, with the United States the biggest debtor.

At a press conference at UN Headquarters, Takasu also said the Organization needed to be "more efficient stewards of resources entrusted to us from Member States."

He noted that the UN "doesn't have its own power to generate income" through taxes and depends "on how much Member States will pay, how soon" to conduct its operations.

The Under-Secretary-General divided the unpaid assessments into four areas: regular budget, peacekeeping, international tribunals and the Capital Master Plan to renovate the UN complex, totalling 2.8 billion US dollars.

He said "the situation requires very careful monitoring" but that overall the Organization's finances "are in a fairly solid position."

Takasu said the United Nations' largest contributor, the United States, is also its biggest debtor.

The US owes 744 million US dollars in unpaid assessments, but the Under-Secretary-General said there are "indications that they intend to pay" and expressed hope that the total amount will be reduced.

The second largest debtor is Mexico, owing a total of 42 million US dollars.