The United States paid the United Nations $135 million yesterday, reducing its longstanding debt for peacekeeping operations, the Earth Times reports. But according to UN accounting, it remains the UN's biggest debtor, owing more than $1.5 billion in arrears. Washington disputes the amount.

On 31 May, the UN reported that it is owed $2.9 billion, two-thirds of which is US debt. Japan, the second most highly assessed nation, owes a reported $164.2 million for the regular budget, $16.6 million for war crimes tribunals in the Balkans and Africa, and $114.5 for peacekeeping. Germany, France, Italy and Russia are also in arrears.

The UN says that cash flow problems resulting from members' nonpayment force them to borrow from peacekeeping funds, leading to regular budgetary shortfalls and a deficit of $800 million needed to reimburse more than 72 nations that have provided troops and equipment for peacekeeping operations. Although critics of the UN have alleged waste and corruption as causes of the UN's massive debt, its budget has been trimmed by more than $100 million and 1,000 staff positions have been cut since Kofi Annan became secretary-general more than three years ago (Michael Littlejohns, Earth Times, 13 Jul).