New York, 14 May 2020.During the discussion, in a virtual session, of agenda item 137 entitled: "Improving the financial situation of the United Nations", of the UN Fifth Committee, Cuba pointed out that when Member States fulfill their payment obligations with all of the organization's budgets, the latter has the tools to fulfill its mandate and strengthen the support it provides to the international community, particularly amid this global emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Second Secretary, Yaima De Armas Bonchang, reminded that while developing countries are paying their assessments, despite the current situation they are facing due to the pandemic, the U.S. government insists in withholding its contribution to the UN, as well as to other organizations of the United Nations system, namely, the WHO.
The United States currently owes the regular budget a little over $1.1 billion, 71 percent of the overall debt of Member States to that budget, out of which over $486 million corresponds to arrears. In relation to Peacekeeping Operations, the US debt amounts to just over $1.332 billion, 62 per cent of the overall debt of Member States in this budget category, and they owe over $255 million to closed operations.
The official stressed that despite tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of the intensified U.S. blockade, Cuba is making every possible effort to continue to honor its financial commitments, as evidenced by its full payment to the United Nations regular budget.
De Armas Bonchang called on all nations to support the Organization on the basis of multilateralism, international cooperation and from a non-politicized approach; and not to hold the organization hostage of unilateral approaches that respond to individual agendas.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations