In Congress, UN chief calls US 'deadbeat' donor

By JOHN HEILPRIN

Associated Press

March 12, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A day after his White House meeting with President Barack Obama, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon raised congressional hackles by calling the United States a "deadbeat" donor to the world body.

Ban's criticism Wednesday of the U.N.'s single biggest backer irked some members of the House Foreign Relations Committee. They were generally supportive of his leadership but voiced concern about U.N. efforts in areas from Sudan to Somalia.

"He used the word 'deadbeat' when it came to characterizing the United States. I take great umbrage (over) that," Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the panel's senior Republican, said after an hour-long, closed-door meeting. "We certainly contribute a whole lot of U.S. taxpayer dollars to that organization. We do not deserve such a phrase."

Interviewed after the session, Ban said he had wanted to draw attention to the fact that the U.S. agrees to pay 22 percent of the U.N.'s $4.86 billion operating budget, but is perennially late with its dues -- and now is about $1 billion behind on its payments.

That figure is "soon to be $1.6 billion," Ban emphasized. Asked if he'd used the word "deadbeat" during the meeting, he replied, "Yes, I did -- I did," then laughed mischievously.

Mark Kornblau, spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, said: "The U.S. is the largest contributor to the United Nations and while we are behind in some of our payments, those are not the words we would have chosen to encourage Congress to address this problem."

Apparently concerned about his choice of words, Ban an issued a statement Wednesday night saying the U.S. "generously supports the work of the U.N., both in assessed and voluntary contributions" and that he "enjoys an excellent working relationship with the United States and appreciates the many ways that it supports the United Nations."

Earlier Wednesday, Ban also urged Congress to adopt climate change legislation to boost chances for his top goal this year: clinching a global climate deal. The hope is for accord at a U.N.-sponsored conference in Copenhagen in December.

"I believe for the United States it's a necessity. It will have a very politically important impact on the ongoing negotiation," he said. "We need the U.S. leadership at this time. (The) whole world is looking at U.S. leadership."

Ban generally got a "very respectful" reception from the House committee, said Rep. Bill Delahunt, D-Mass., who chairs a subcommittee that oversees U.S. participation in the United Nations.

"Clearly they have an interest in the United States meeting its responsibility. In terms of peacekeeping, we're about $670 million behind, and I think the argument is well-stated," Delahunt said.

He noted America backs U.N. peacekeeping operations -- and said it loses credibility if it doesn't provide financial support. "And at the same time, we have to recognize that there are no American troops involved in the 17 different venues where there are peacekeeping operations," Delahunt said.

Ban also met with Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who heads a House global warming panel, and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the Senate Foreign Relations chairman, and other of the committees' members.

"Around the world, the United Nations is underfunded and overtasked," Kerry said, standing beside Ban and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. Kerry said they talked about the need for the U.S. to meet its financial obligations to the U.N. and to adopt climate legislation this year to make cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

"I think there will be a very clear vision for all the participants in Copenhagen about what's happening in the United States, and where we're headed," Kerry predicted.

During an Oval Office session Tuesday, Obama pledged to work to help bring peace to Darfur and called it "not acceptable" that Sudan's president has been kicking out humanitarian aid workers from the region of western Sudan. President Omar al-Bashir was charged in an International Criminal Court arrest warrant with war crimes and crimes against humanity for targeting civilians.

Ban told Obama his support for climate legislation is "encouraging", but said 2009 is a "make-or-break" year for the U.N. and its member countries on global warming, Darfur and other prominent conflicts.