Egypt pushes for fair approach in footing UN bill

Egypt has urged that the UN costs should be shared by the Organization's member states on the basis of their economic capabilities .

"Out of this, the developing countries should not be asked to pay shares beyond their abilities," said Ahmed Abul Gheit, Egypt's Chief Permanent Delegate to the UN.

He was commenting in current heated debate inside the World Organization on countries' shares of its budget for the coming two years and their contribution to peacekeeping operations.

The debate is triggered by a US bid to cut its overall contribution to the UN from 25 percent to 22 percent. "Settling the issue should be sought through asking other wealthy countries to incur the reduction in the US contribution to the peacekeeping operations, which are now constituting the biggest burden," added Abul Gheit.

He put the annual UN budget at 1.25 billion, apart from 2.5 billion in costs of peacekeeping stints.

Abul-Gheit warned against the difficult problem which the UN has faced during the current session. The problem revolved around reaching a compromise among UN member states to respond to the American bill concerning reducing US quota in UN budget expenses from 25% to 22%.