PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNA/USA

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNA/USA

Americans overwhelmingly supported the United Nations and the job it was doing, John C. Whitehead, Chairman of the Board of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA/USA), told a Headquarters press conference this morning.

Introducing the findings of an August poll of public opinion in the United States towards the United Nations, Mr. Whitehead said American attitudes towards the United Nations were favourable "across the board". Sixty per cent of the American public believed the United Nations was doing a "very good job", and 72 per cent viewed it as a "very important" organization, according to the findings of a national telephone survey conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide for UNA/USA. More than half said they approve of how Secretary-General Kofi Annan was doing his job.

Although the United States was on the brink of losing its right to vote in the General Assembly because of non-payment of dues, a majority of Americans, when voting, would take into account their Congressman's position on paying United Nations dues.

John Kennedy, Senior Vice-President of Wirthlin Worldwide, said 1,000 Americans were interviewed for the poll which was conducted from 21 to 25 August. The data showed that the United Nations had become part of the fabric of American life and that Americans believed it affects the country's position in the world, as well as world security. They also believed that the United States should pay its dues without pre-conditions.

Jeffrey Laurenti, Executive Director of Policy Studies at UNA/USA, said the surveys showed conclusively that members of the United States Congress who expressed hostility toward the United Nations were not reflecting the views of their constituents. Clearly, Congressmen were out of sync with their constituency when they attempted to delay paying dues and otherwise hobbled the United Nations. The fact that 72 per cent believed membership in the United Nations was very important for the United States -- up from 54 per cent just two years ago -- was a significant measure of increased American support for the Organization. Three-out-of-four Americans believed loss of voting rights in the General Assembly would be an embarrassment and nearly 40 per cent said it would severely affect America's ability to do business with other countries at the United Nations.

Relating to the percentage of the United Nations budget paid by the United States, sixty per cent of those who believed the current method of determining assessments was fair, still thought the United States share should be reduced. Nonetheless, a majority of Americans rejected conditions being attached to payment of dues -- even on the so-called "red button" issues, such as cutting the United Nations bureaucracy or lowering United States dues.

Over 80 per cent rejected the notion of linking United States payments to abortion concerns.

Responding to questions, Mr. Whitehead said that the poll showed that there would be a political penalty if the United States did not pay its United Nations contributions.

Mr. Kennedy said polls showed that 52 per cent of conservative Republicans and 58 per cent of "born-again Christians" believed the United Nations was doing a good job.

Alvin Adams, President of UNA-USA, said Americans were increasingly aware that their daily lives were affected by the world at large -- in terms of exports and jobs; environmental and developmental issues -- and that all those factors have had international and national dimensions. That awareness was reflected in the polling results.

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