U.N. Forces Need More Money, Nordic Ministers Warn
The United Nations’ peacekeeping forces, which were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year, need more money, Nordic defense ministers say.
After a meeting Monday night, the ministers from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland called for all U.N. member states to accept the financial responsibility for the peacekeeping troops.
“It is extremely important for the troops’ credibility that the U.N. funds the majority of costs,” Finnish Defense Minister Ole Norrback said.
U.N. Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar said last week that less than half of the 159 member states had fully paid their U.N. contributions. Peacekeeping arrears were estimated at $365.1 million.
The Nordic ministers said the financial problems will have to be resolved before new operations such as a force in Namibia (South-West Africa) could be established.
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