Statement by Stephen Lieberman, Minister Counselor for UN Management and Reform, on the UN Financial Situation, Before the Fifth Committee, October 20, 2011

Stephen Lieberman, Minister Counselor for UN Management and Reform

New York, NY

October 20, 2011

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would like to join other delegations in thanking Under Secretary General Angela Kane for her presentation last week and join in welcoming the new Assistant Secretary General and Controller Ms. Maria Casar. The United States Government takes its international obligations very seriously and the Obama Administration has made great effort to pay our bills on time and in full.

It is well known that the amount reflected by the Secretary-General as owed by the United States is distorted because of differences in U.S. and UN fiscal years. Perhaps it is less widely known that as the largest contributor to the United Nations, the United States contributed over $7.5 billion in 2010 in assessed and voluntary contributions across the United Nations system. Since January 2011, we have paid over $2 billion in peacekeeping operations and international tribunal assessments and we expect to pay our 2011 regular budget assessment in full in the next few months. To suggest that the United States is not meeting our financial obligations to the United Nations is both wrong and patently absurd.

The United States remains committed to the United Nations and its vital role in the world to maintaining peace and security, providing development and humanitarian assistance and promoting human rights.

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