Background
One of the ABA’s primary goals is to advance the rule of law in
the world. In furtherance of that goal, the ABA strongly supports
adequate funding for international organizations that promote democratization
and the development of the rule of law - in particular, the ABA
supports the prompt payment of the United States’ obligations to
the United Nations for its general assessments and peacekeeping
expenses.
During the 106th Congress, legislation was enacted to authorize
the repayment of U.S. arrears owed to the United Nations. The measure,
commonly referred to as the Helms-Biden agreement, authorizes $926
million over three years - the payment of $819 million of debt the
U.S. owes the U.N. and the forgiveness of $107 million the U.N.
owes the U.S. The payment plan authorizes the release of the arrears
in three stages upon certification that certain reforms have been
enacted by the U.N. and requires the U.N. to accept the $926 million
package as full repayment for the approximately $1.56 billion it
has assessed in U.S. arrears. The first payment of $100 million
was made in the fall of 2000.
On December 23, 2000, the U.N. General Assembly approved an agreement
to revise the scales of assessment for the U.N. regular and peacekeeping
budgets -- a requirement for the release of the second of the three
payments under Helms-Biden. The agreement lowers the U.S. assessment
rate for the regular budget from 25 percent to 22 percent, and for
the peacekeeping budget, from nearly 31 percent to 26 percent over
the next several years. On February 7, 2001, the Senate passed S.
248, a bill that made the required changes to allow the release
of the second payment of $582 million. The House passed S. 248 in
September 2001. The president signed the bill into law (P.L. No.
107-46) on October 5, 2001.
Current Status
H.R. 1646, the 2002-2003 State Department Authorization bill, passed
the House on September 25, 2002, and the Senate on September 26,
2002. This legislation authorizes the release of the final $244
million payment due under the Helms-Biden agreement and released
an additional $78 million to cover a shortfall in recent peacekeeping
payments. It also raises the cap on U.S. contributions to UN peacekeeping
missions, authorizes the U.S. to pay its dues on time for the first
time in almost 20 years, and authorizes funds that will allow the
U.S. to rejoin the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO). President Bush signed this legislation on September 30,
2002 (P.L. 107-228).
ABA Policy
The ABA supports Congressional appropriation of funds for the full
and prompt payment of arrears owed by the U.S. to the United Nations
for general and peacekeeping assessments, and opposes linking the
payment of arrears to any actions by the UN or its bodies. In addition,
the ABA supports funding for organizations and programs that assist
in the establishment of rule of law abroad, including the United
Nations Development Program, and International Monetary Fund and
the World Bank Group.
Key Points
- Payment of U.N. Assessments
Payment of assessed contributions to the United Nations is
a legal obligation owed by all member states under Article 17
of the U.N. Charter. It is inconsistent with that legal obligation
to condition payment of U.S. assessments on either reform or
reorganization at the United Nations, or to link payment to
restrictions on funding for specific programs.
Failure to pay our financial obligations damages U.S. political
credibility and marginalizes U.S. influence on the very reforms
it seeks to implement at the U.N. If we fail to pay our assessed
contributions, we do grave damage to our ability to insist that
other countries abide by their international agreements, undermine
our leadership role in strengthening human rights and erode
the nation’s commitment to expanding the rule of law in the
world.
- United Nations Development Program
UNDP delivers high-quality, high-impact assistance to developing
countries to strengthen legal institutions, promote sustainable
democratic development and provide an environment conducive
to the adoption of a free market economy.
U.S. security interests are served by UNDP governance programs.
Countries with effective governance structures are less likely
to experience internal conflicts that create pressure for international
intervention. In addition, U.S. economic interests benefit when
developing countries improve their institutions of governance.
UNDP assists countries in establishing stable and transparent
legal systems needed to encourage private sector investment
and promote trade in goods and services.
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Last Updated: November 12, 2002
Background · Current
Status · ABA Policy · Key
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