Bob Dole: “Mr. President, there are many problems in the U.N. system but today's front page story in the Washington Times is…”

“Mr. President, there are many problems in the U.N. system but today's front page story in the Washington Times is another outrageous example of the lack of accountability in the United Nations. More than $9 million in overdue debts have been accumulated by foreign diplomats and foreign missions in New York. Bills for landlords, hospitals, banks, stores, and restaurants all go unpaid while the diplomats hide behind the U.N. blue flag. The U.N. Secretary General issued a report recognizing the problem was serious. For example, some missions have not paid rent for 2 years; property owners were in danger of losing properties but diplomatic tenants cannot be evicted. The Secretary General, however, refused to name names. Instead, he suggested a working group to study the problem. I think we all know how to solve the problem. Don't form yet another layer of bloated bureaucracy--just get the bills paid. This second-degree amendment offered by Senator Helms is very simple. It withholds $20 million--roughly double the amount owed by deadbeat diplomats--until the Secretary of State certifies two things: First, the identities to the deadbeat diplomats by name; and second, that the U.N.…”