Ukraine Loses UN General Assembly Vote

Ukraine is listed with 52 countries deprived of votes at the UN General Assembly, the UN Press Secretary reports. In keeping with Article 19 of the UN Charter, a member country loses its vote if the arrears on its membership dues exceeds those paid over two preceding years. Ihor Hrushko, head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry press service, told The Day that Ukraine owes the United Nations $15 million, adding that this amount was partially inherited from the Soviet Union; in 1992, the United Nations determined Ukraine’s contribution proceeding from its previous economic indices. At the time the amount was ten times larger than that paid by China. All told, Ukraine has paid the UN $115 million during the years of independence. At present, the Cabinet is working on the issue, Mr. Hrushko assured but could not say what the deadline would be. Considering today’s economic condition, Kyiv will insist on lowering Ukraine’s contribution to the world body. According to Madha Soni, Press Secretary of the UN Office in Ukraine, to regain its vote Ukraine must pay $15 million before the next session scheduled for next fall. Incidentally, seven other debtors, among them Tajikistan and Georgia, still have their votes, as victims of civil wars or natural catastrophes. The UN’s heaviest debtor, the USA, was spared this scandalous lot by paying most of its debt before the New Year.