UN FUNDING ISSUES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89G01321R000800230004-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 12, 2012
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: September 7, 1988
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/12: CIA-RDP89G01321R000800230004-6
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03I/FSIC/CMP
7 September 1988
TALKINa DCI
SUBJECT: LIsiFunding Issues
BACKGR11\D CN LN FL1\DING PROBLEM
The UN faces a severe financial crisis and will not be able to meet its
bills this fall, according to Secretary General Perez de Cuellar. Latest
figures--through 30 June?show a shortfall of $429 million (excluding
peacekeeping costs), largely because the United States has withheld $215
million in dues for the 1988 LN program budget. Congress is withholding these
funds until the UN:
o Reforms its management procedures--progress has been slaw at best;
o Compels the Soviets to penmenently assign its nationals to the UN?
which it has announced it will do but has yet to implement;
o Allows major donors such as the United States more input into the LN
budget process--a move resisted by the IN's Third World majority.
We understand that the 5ttc. TIPTIArtmipnt ic considering a recommendation for
full funding for FY 90.
.NEW ROLE FCR THE LN?
Peacekeeping Operations in Disputed Areas
The U'4 will also need more money to conduct its expanded and separately
funded peacekeeping duties. Two new observer missions?in Afghanistan and on
the Iran-Iraq border?were recently added to five ongoing operations. These
seven operations now involve a total of about 11,000 LN troops from 37
countries and will add at least $83 million in expenses.
Several other peacekeeping operations may be created in the near future:
o In Namibia and Western Sahara within the next year;
o In Cambodia, where the LN has volunteered to supervise the withdrawal
of Vietnamese troops; and possibly in Central America to verify
kmplementation of the 1987 Peace Plan.
Meeting these additional demands will be difficult and costly.
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o The Namibian operation, according to a 1982 estimate, will cost
initially at least $625 million and require 7,500 personnel; Cambodia
will absorb another $25-50 million per year.
o Personnel levels are already stretched. Experienced observers
initially were drawn from the LN Truce Supervision Organization
(UNTSO) in Jerusalem; and must be replaced.
o Communications and transportation support is inadequate. Canada has
temporarily provided a signal battalion to fill communications
shortages in the newly formed LN Iran-Iraq Military Cbserver Group.
Who Pays?
The major donors pay most of the expenses for LN peacekeeping missions.
For the existing UN force in southern Lebanon, for example, six countries
underwrite 76 percent of the cost: the United States 31 percent, the USSR 12
percent, Japan 11 percent, West Germany 8 percent, France 8 percent, and
Britain 6 percent. Only West Germany and France, however, are paid up.
The State Department announced last month that the United States will
follow a two-track policy on LN funding. We will agree to pay our
contribution to new peacekeeping operations while continuing to withhold our
dues to the LN program budget pending further reforms.
LIN VOTING REGTID
The United Nations has, since the late 1960s emphasized general anti-
Western themes and rhetoric and avoided criticisn of the USSR. The
correlation that exists between the Third World and Soviet voting, however,
appears due to opportunistic Soviet support for the UN's Thir77brld majority
rather than Sovidlrecttor in examining African voting patterns, for
elampie, we Mee that the Third World was equally unsupportive on issues
considered crucial by either superpower (see figure 1).
o TokAfrican prior itis on development4 South Airica and
Israel/Palestine conflicted with L5 policies,
o The Third World has also been reluctant to support such Soviet
priorities as Moscow's Comprehensive System of International Peace
and Security Initiative--a proposal which would increase Soviet
propaganda and espionage opportunities in the UN.
o L5 tactics to temper sharp, anti-Western rhetoric in the LINmay be
paying off. Last year there was only one explicit negative reference
to the United States in a IN General Assembly resolution, versus 15
the year before and over 25 in 1985.
SOVIET PCT ICNS AND CB= I VES IN THE LN
To improve its image, gain propaganda value and open doors for more
Soviet personnel, Nbscow is paying its LN dues this year ahead of schedule,
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agreed to pay arrearages and offered to allow Soviet nationals to accept
penmenent assignments in the LINL Moscow hopes this will:
o Gain support for its proposals to enhance the UN's capacity to handle
international crisis, field peacekeeping forces to help resolve
conflicts, and verify compliance with diplomatic settlements of
disputes; which Nbscow expects will produce more LN jobs for the
Soviets;
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UNITED NATIONS BLOCS: VOTING PATTERNS ON
ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE UNITED STATES DEBATED
IN THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1983 - 1987
OPPOSITION SCORES:
Percent of votes
cast supporting
resolutions opposed
by the United States
or against resolutions
favored by the United
States.
100
90
80
70
80
50
40
30
20
10
0
UNITED NATIONS BLOCS: VOTING PATTERNS ON ISSUES
OF IMPORTANCE TO THE USSR DEBATED IN THE
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1983 - 1987
OPPOSITION SCORES:
Percent of votes cast
supporting resolutions
opposed by the USSR
or against resolutions
favored by the USSR.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/12: CIA-RDP89G01321R000800230004-6