Posted on 09/15/2005 3:10:14 PM PDT by Petey139
UNITED NATIONS - Japan, which currently funds about 20 percent of the U.N. budget of $1.2 billion, said Thursday it wants to open talks next year on paying less — a move that could spur a drawn-out battle with fellow member states.
As the second-largest contributor to the annual U.N. budget behind the United States, Japan has said for some time that its influence in the world body doesn't match what it pays. Those complaints have increased since its recent efforts to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council stalled.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Yoshinori Katori denied that the push to lower Japan's dues was connected with Tokyo's bid for a permanent seat. However, top Japanese officials have said recently that there will be strong domestic pressure to cut U.N. financing if it doesn't get a seat.
"We want to realize from the Japanese point of view a more equitable and balanced way of burden-sharing," Katori said. "This question we will pursue irrespective of the discussion of permanent seat of the Security Council."
Japan now pays a little less than 20 percent of the U.N. general budget — an amount larger than the combined payments of four of five permanent Security Council members — Britain, France, Russia and China. The United States pays about 22 percent.
Renegotiating Japan's contribution to the U.N. won't be easy. Dues are assessed according to a complex mathematical formula chiefly based on national income, and other nations could bridle at Tokyo's effort to pay less.
Katori said Japan had no plans to negotiate the issue during the three-day summit of world leaders that ends Friday.
What wouldn't these commies do to avoid more problems.
Who does? End it. Dont mend it.
We should join Japan in requesting a reduction in dues.
I agree, The U.N. is quite useless.
No nation should pay more than any other nation. The fact that the United States and Japan pay more then 4/9 of the cost of the UN's operating budget only empowers the states run by pissant dictators like the Tent of Saud to be irresponsible.
Japanese usually aren't that blunt, but they tend to see things the way they really are.
A large percentage of what the UN does is a complete waste.
Time to cut their budget and shut down some of the useless committees.
If the petty world leader wantabies don't like having their budget cut, then they should find a way to fund it without relying on the success of others to fund their attempts to pull them down.
Japan * ping * (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)
interesting
How in heck did JAPAN end up being the second largest contributor to the UN budget???
Before reading this article, if you'd asked most people who paid the most after the US, of course, they'd probably say: UK, or Russia, or China, or even the frelling French...
but for all those PERMANENT SECURITY COUNCIL veto-holding nations to pay less for UN upkeep than Japan.... wow is that corrupt body screwed up or what....
I don't understand this sentance, maybe it is just me, but for some reason it isn't clear to me. Could you please expand on it?
It would be MUCH cheaper for everyone....Move the UN to Paris!!!Now!
They haven't been able to obtain a permanent seat on the Security Council yet the pays dues second only the the US? That is a full blown crock. I agree with them 100%.
I got news for you Japan, even when/if you get the seat on the security council, it won't be worth it.
*******Renegotiating Japan's contribution to the U.N. won't be easy.*******
Sure it will be easy , Just tell them to accept what you offer or suck off. Its easy to say I no longer belong to the UN--- KMA.
Well many people would blame China for this, So I'd wouldn't be suprised if all of a sudden the Chicoms where to pay more to keep the people quiet.
*** "A large percentage of what the UN does is a complete waste" ***
100% of what the UN does is a complete waste. Why send appeasers, I mean peacekeepers, into places like Rwanda to witness genocide.
If you would like an enjoyable laugh, watch 'Shake Hands With the Devil' by Romeo Dallaire (Canadian in charge of UN mission in Rwanda). Great footage of the French and Belgian planes leaving as soon as things got hot. Whooda-thunkit?? It really puts things into perspective on just how useless the UN really is.
No.
1. Cut around the UN HQ's foundation.
2. Attach chains from HQ building to series of chinook helicopters.
3. Lift off.
4. Fly across Atlantic.
5. Drop the building ON Paris.
Thats how I would go about moving the UN to France
Brilliant! why didn't I think of that?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.