UN General Assembly approves $5.53 billion budget for 2014-2015December 28, 2013 - 11:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United Nations General Assembly on Friday approved a $5.53 billion UN budget for 2014-2015, down 1 percent from the total spending during the previous two years, according to Reuters. The new biennial budget includes a 2 percent staffing cut, or some 221 posts, and a one year freeze in staff compensation. The so-called core UN budget that was adopted does not include peacekeeping, currently running at over $7 billion a year and approved in separate negotiations, or the costs of several major UN agencies funded by voluntary contributions from member states. As in past years, the biennial budget negotiations were marked by a tussle between poor countries seeking to raise UN development spending and major developed countries, which are the biggest budget contributors, trying to rein in the figures as they struggle to reduce expenditures in their own national budgets. Fiji's UN Ambassador Peter Thomson, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 developing nations, said the 2014-2015 budget "represents the best that we as member states can muster at this time of continuing austerity in the world economy." He said the G77 bloc supported the budget "with deep concern that budgetary austerity may negatively effect the development pillar of the work of the United Nations." Critics of the United Nations, especially in the United States, have long charged that it is a bloated and sometimes corrupt bureaucracy that wastes taxpayers' money. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Joe Torsella, who focuses on UN management and reform at the U.S. mission, said the 2014-2015 budget marked a "new commitment to real fiscal discipline at the United Nations at a tough time for hardworking families around the world." "Our shared goal should be to ensure that the United Nations can maximize the results that it delivers with the amount of resources that member states are collectively able to provide," Torsella said. The United States, which pays 22 percent of the UN budget, is the biggest financial contributor to the United Nations. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |