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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 15 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 1

Written Answers. - UN Arrears.

Peter Barry

Ceist:

131 Mr. Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount currently owing by the UN to this country for peacekeeping duties; and if he will make a statement on this debt, if any. [18495/96]

As of 30 September, 1996, the amount owing to Ireland by the UN arising from our participation in peacekeeping operations was IR£12,416,162. Most of these arrears are owed in respect of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon — UNIFIL — a peacekeeping operation to which we provide a troop battalion as our major commitment of personnel to the maintenance of international peace and security under the UN Charter.

The total deficit is accounted for as follows:

£

UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

10,147,906

UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)

1,156,256

UN Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM)

1,046,000

Miscellaneous/Transport Costs

0,066,000

In the last six-month period, the UN repaid arrears totalling some IR£3,034,334. However, since our commitment to UN peacekeeping operations, and therefore our costs, are ongoing, there has been no actual reduction in the total amount of arrears owing.
It is a matter of serious concern that these substantial arrears are still outstanding. On 26 September, I raised these concerns with the Secretary-General of the UN, Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, at our meeting in New York during UNGA ministerial week. I reiterated our view that every effort should be made by the UN secretariat to reduce the amount of arrears owing to troop-contributing countries such as Ireland, particularly with regard to outstanding claims for death and disability, contingent-owned equipment and letters of assist.
It is clear, however, that the problem of substantial arrears owing to Ireland and other troop-contributing countries is a direct result of the unprecedented financial crisis which the UN is currently experiencing and not due to any unwillingness on the part of the UN secretariat to clear them. This crisis has been caused by the failure of many member states, and in particular the US, to pay their assessed contributions to the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets in full and on time. This has led to a situation in which the Secretary General has been forced to delay normal reimbursements to troop contributors in order to deal with the serious cash flow problem facing the UN system. Ireland, along with our EU partners, is firm in the demand that all member states of the UN must honour promptly and in full their financial obligations to the organisation under the UN Charter.
Whilst appreciating the difficulties caused by the financial crisis within the UN, Ireland and our EU partners are nevertheless resolved to maintain pressure on the UN to honour its obligation to make an early and full settlement of arrears owing. We will continue to do so at every opportunity. We hope that efforts to resolve the financial crisis will lead to a reduction and eventual clearance of debts owing to Ireland and other troop-contributing countries.
Barr
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