960404

Ghali asks Japan

to help out of

financial crisis

TOKYO: Visiting UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has asked Japan to help the world body out of its financial crisis, foreign ministry officials said Thursday.

During a meeting with former foreign minister Koji Kakizawa on Wednesday, the UN chief said he would appreciate an initiative by Japan to persuade the United States, the largest funds contributor, to pay one billion dollars in arrears.

The United Nations has a total of three billion dollars owed to it by members which are hampering reforms of the organisation, he said. Kakizawa said he recognised the importance of "fiscal reforms" in the organisation and said he would discuss the problem with US Congress members later this week when he visits the United States. Earlier Wednesday, during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, Boutros-Ghali said he expected Japan to play a "financial as well as political" role in reforming the world organisation.

Hashimoto replied: "We are not sure whether we can fully meet such expectations, but we would like to do our best."

Last year, Japan was the second largest contributor to the United Nations, providing the world body with 13.95 percent of its financing, after the United States which contributed 25 percent of funding.

The UN chief arrived here Tuesday from Seoul. During his five-day visit. The UN chief is to have an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace before leaving Japan for New York on Saturday.-AFP