§ 37. Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made to ensure that all member states pay their share of their dues to the UN. [12380]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe UN Secretary-General informs member states regularly of the organisation's cash flow situation and reminds them of the need to fulfill their financial obligations. Despite this, at the end of 1995, less than half the UN membership had paid in full to the UN regular budget.
The EU has recently tabled in New York a comprehensive package of proposals, including a revised system of assessments and measures to tighten the penalties for late/non-payment. The aim of this proposal, based on an Anglo-French initiative, is to put the UN back on to a sound financial footing.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the creation of a common United Nations peacekeeping military doctrine; and if he will make a statement. [13947]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorWe support a common UN peacekeeping doctrine and have encouraged the UN to develop one. We expect the UN to publish its own short general guidelines for peacekeeping soon. MOD and FCO experts have briefed the UN on "Wider Peacekeeping", the British Army's revised peacekeeping doctrine, and have stayed in touch with UN experts. We are pleased that "Wider Peacekeeping" has been well received and circulated within the UN, and believe that it has already made a valuable contribution to international debate.