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Harris Letter to US Amb. Daniel Spiegel
from Robert Harris (CONGO) and Horace
Perera (WFUNA)on the United Nations Financial Crisis
Geneva, 29 October 1996HE Mr. Daniel L. Spiegel
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of the United States of America
Route de Pregny 11
1292 Chambesy
SwitzerlandDear Mr. Ambassador
This letter expresses views shared by the representatives of a number of non-governmental organisations who met in Geneva on United Nations Day.
There is widespread concern among non-governmental organisations over the ongoing non-payment of dues to the United Nations. While quite a number of States are behind in the payment of their dues, as well as in the payment of contributions to peacekeeping operations, the unfavourable record of the United States arouses special concern, both because of the amounts involved and therefore the crippling effect of their non-payment, and because of the negative example which is set.
We note that the United States has announced steps to pay at least some of the outstanding dues and contributions. We hope that these payments will now be made in an expeditious fashion. Most importantly, we believe that the time has come for the United States to establish conditions for the exercise of positive leadership at the United Nations, not only by settling all outstanding dues and contributions, but also by taking a clear and unequivocal decision to establish a new record of full on-time payment in the future.
During last week, the week of United Nations Day, representatives of non-governmental organisations gathered at the UN Headquarters in New York and in cities throughout the United States and other countries to express the concerns described above. In Geneva, we would be glad of you would meet during the coming days with a delegation of NGO representatives to discuss these concerns.
Yours truly,
(signed)
Robert Harris
President
Conference of NGOs(signed)
L. H. Horace Perera
Secretary General
World Federation of United Nations Associations
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