The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has approved $3.231 billion for the international organisation’s 2021 budget, despite opposition from the United States (US) and Israel.
168 nations voted in favour of the financial plan last week, while Washington and Tel Aviv voted against it. US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said that the country had taken such a stance due to the provisions in the proposal that would allocate funds to an event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 2001 UN conference on racism in Durban, South Africa. Both, the US and Israel had walked out of the summit at the time due to its harsh criticism of Israel, which included a draft document equating Zionism with racism.
“The budget reflects an accommodation that extends a shameful legacy of hate, anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias,” Amb. Craft said in a statement explaining the vote. “The United States rejects this effort and called for this vote to make clear that we stand by our principles, stand up for what is right, and never accept consensus for consensus’s sake,” she added.
This is not the first time that issue has come up. In 2007, the US had similarly voted against the consensus approval of the UN budget due to its objections over funding for a follow-up to the Durban summit. This time, however, the US also complained about the lack of support from other member states for its decision to impose sanctions on Iran after President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is an enemy of peace and security, not only in the world but to its own citizens and will employ the UN’s inaction to extend its violent influence, fuel additional discord, and inflict even more terror on vulnerable communities across the region. Decisions taken in this budget, by this body, have real-world consequences,” Amb. Craft said, adding that the US’ decision was clear and that it did not need a “cheering section to validate its moral compass”. However, she affirmed Washington’s commitment to the UN, saying that its contributions to the organisation—which include 25% of peacekeeping expenditures and approximately $9 billion a year in humanitarian operations—would remain unchanged.
The Trump administration has repeatedly clashed with the UN and its organisations over the coronavirus pandemic and the Security Council’s handling of Iran. President-elect Biden’s incoming government is expected to take a more cooperation-focused approach to both issues, however efforts to repair and re-join the Iran deal will be extremely complicated due to Trump’s relentless aggression towards Tehran, and its retaliatory measures in return. In fact, Iran on Monday announced that it had resumed 20% uranium enrichment, which is a major breach of the 2015 deal. Per the terms of the agreement, it is allowed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67%.
This draws into question whether Tehran was being earnest in its recent comments that it would swiftly abide by its obligations under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if President-elect Joe Biden lifted the current crippling sanctions on the country.
UN General Assembly Approves 2021 Budget Despite US and Israeli Opposition
Washington and Tel Aviv objected to provisions in the proposal that would allocate funds to an event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 2001 UN conference on racism in Durban, South Africa.
January 5, 2021
US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft SOURCE: TASOS KATOPODIS/GETTY IMAGES via VOX