Washington, D.C. (Feb. 15, 2011) — Timothy E. Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation, today praised the Obama Administration for keeping the United States’ global interests a national priority. The President has crafted a budget for 2012 that would pay our dues to the UN on time and in full, ensuring that taxpayer dollars will have the highest possible impact in protecting U.S. interests in places like Iraq and Haiti.
Smart, effective involvement with the UN ensures the U.S. is able to represent its interests in multilateral discussions on issues that matter to Americans. The President’s proposal reflects the views of the American people: 63% of Americans said in a 2010 poll that they support paying UN dues on time and in full.
“Paying our UN dues is the best way for the U.S. to protect its interests and help create a better world for everyone,” said Wirth. “The U.S.-UN partnership results in peacekeeping operations that increase global stability and foster democratization, like in Sudan. Peacekeeping operations are also a smart investment, providing security in some of the world’s most dangerous places at a fraction of what it would cost the U.S. to send its own troops. Additionally, participation in the UN gives the U.S. a platform for exercising a strong leadership role on human rights.”
Peter Yeo, Executive Director of the UN Foundation’s sister organization, the Better World Campaign, added, “This budget reiterates our leadership role in the world. Paying our dues without drama or delay has made it easier to implement the recommendations of the Gingrich-Mitchell Task Force on the UN. U.S. engagement at the UN paved the way for the toughest ever sanctions ever on Iran. This budget recognizes that the U.S. commitment to the UN must stay strong.”
About the Better World Campaign
The Better World Campaign works to foster a strong relationship between the U.S. and the UN to promote core American interests and build a more secure, prosperous, and healthy world. The Better World Campaign engages policymakers, the media, and the American public alike to increase awareness of the critical role played by the UN in world affairs and the importance of constructive U.S.-UN relations.
About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. We build and implement public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems and work to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. Through our campaigns and partnerships, we connect people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The campaigns we conduct reduce child mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future, secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation to improve health outcomes.
Media Contact:
info_bwc@unfoundation.org
