BERLIN (AP) 鈥 U.N. Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres told countries that the world body's peacekeeping operation is 鈥渙nly as strong as member states鈥 commitment to it鈥 as he pleaded with them Tuesday to pay their share.
The United Nations' peackeeping department currently leads 11 operations, in countries including Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Lebanon, Cyprus and Kosovo. The budget for nine of those operations during the fiscal year that ends on June 30 totals $5.6 billion, 8.2% lower than a year earlier. Each of the U.N.'s 193 member countries is legally obliged to pay its share toward peacekeeping.
Guterres argued that, with a budget 鈥渞epresenting a tiny fraction of global military spending 鈥 around one half of one per cent 鈥 U.N. Peacekeeping remains one of the most effective and cost-effective tools to build international peace and security.鈥
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 only as strong as member states鈥 commitment to it,鈥 he added at the opening of a two-day, German-hosted conference of ministers to discuss the future of peacekeeping. 鈥淯nfortunately, peacekeeping operations have been facing serious liquidity problems. It is absolutely essential that all member states respect their financial obligations, paying their contributions in full and on time.鈥
Guterres didn't offer details of the problems, but acknowledged that "these are tough times for the financing of our work across the board."
More broadly, the U.N. has been scrambling to respond to , the United States, under President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that his country, like many others, 鈥渋s prepared to pledge additional resources鈥 for peacekeeping. But he said there should also be an effort to make missions 鈥渕ore efficient and more focused鈥 through clearer mandates, cutting back on bureaucracy and avoiding duplication.
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This version corrects the figure in the second paragraph to billion instead of million.
