U.S. negotiates 'historic' $285 million cut to UN budget - Yoni Hersch and Israel Hayom Staff

by Yoni Hersch and Israel Hayom Staff

Move follows U.S. envoy to U.N. Nikki Haley's warning General Assembly vote condemning U.S. recognition of Jerusalem would "be remembered"

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley

Photo: AP

The United States Mission to the United Nations on Monday announced it had negotiated a $285 million reduction in the world body's 2018-2019 budget. According to the mission, the U.S. "reduced the U.N.'s bloated management and support functions, bolstered support for key U.S. priorities and instilled more discipline and accountability throughout the U.N. system.

In a statement, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said, "The inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known. We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked. This historic reduction in spending – in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable U.N. – is a big step in the right direction. While we are pleased with the results of this year's budget negotiations, you can be sure we'll continue to look at ways to increase the UN's efficiency while protecting our interests."

Many had questioned whether the U.S. would in fact follow through with threats to cut U.S. funding to countries that voted to call its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital "null and void." Monday's announcement, however, appears to show the U.S. means business.

In an address to the General Assembly ahead of Thursday's vote, Haley had warned, "The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for an attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation. We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world's largest contribution to the United Nations"

She said, "America will put our embassy in Jerusalem. That is what the American people want us to do, and it is the right thing to do. No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that. But this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the U.N. and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the U.N. And this vote will be remembered."

Yoni Hersch and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/12/26/u-s-negotiates-historic-285-million-cut-to-un-budget/

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