SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES UNITED STATES SENATE ACTION ON PAYMENTS TO UNITED NATIONS
Press Release
SG/SM/6262
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES UNITED STATES SENATE ACTION ON PAYMENTS TO UNITED NATIONS
19970618 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General has been informed of the Senate action approving the authorization bill regarding United States payments to the United Nations.
When the Secretary-General visited President Clinton in January, the President reiterated the importance of the United Nations to United States foreign policy. On that occasion, he mentioned that if the United States was to play a constructive leadership role in the United Nations, he was conscious that it would have to pay its way.
The Secretary-General thanks President Clinton and his Administration for their strong and sustained efforts to deliver on that promise.
The Secretary-General feels that the Senate action does not give us everything we deserve. The bill comes with some difficult benchmarks; but given where we started, we have to recognize that progress has been made.
The Secretary-General notes with appreciation that the Senate has, for the first time in many years, held a full and serious debate on the United Nations and the United States role in it. He welcomes the bipartisan support for the United Nations which was manifested is the debate and hopes it will continue.
The United States Administration is aware that it will need to engage the rest of the membership on the issue of benchmarks. The Secretary-General notes that this process has already begun.
The Secretary-General looks forward to putting this issue behind us so that we can focus on what the United Nations is here to do.
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