TMCnet News
LEAD: Japan proposes setting minimum dues for Security Council members+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, March 10_(Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING INFO) The Japanese Foreign Ministry said Friday it has proposed that permanent U.N. Security Council members each contribute at least 3 percent or 5 percent of the budget to the United Nations. Of the five countries comprising the key council, China and Russia would be affected by the Japanese proposal as Beijing currently contributes 2.1 percent and Moscow 1.1 percent. Japan, a nonpermanent member, accounts for 19.5 percent of the budget. It is second-largest contributor to the United Nations in terms of general assessments behind the United States, another permanent member, which provides 22 percent. A ministry official said the proposals to set a ceiling reflects Japan's stance that permanent Security Council members' contributions must be commensurate with their "status and responsibility" in the world body. Under the current calculation method, all U.N. members pay at least 0.001 percent. Although Japan called for permanent members to pay in a way that is commensurate to their status and responsibility in 2000, when deliberations on the calculation method was last held, it is the first time Japan has proposed an exact figure, the official said. The two remaining Security Council members, Britain and France, cover 6.1 percent and 6.0 percent, respectively. |