US is $1 billion behind on its payments to UN

In Congress, UN chief calls US 'deadbeat' donor
By JOHN HEILPRIN – excerpt from AP report 11 March 2009:

Interviewed after the session, Ban said he had wanted to draw attention to the fact that the U.S. agrees to pay 22 percent of the U.N.'s $4.86 billion operating budget, but is perennially late with its dues — and now is about $1 billion behind on its payments.

That figure is "soon to be $1.6 billion," Ban emphasized. Asked if he'd used the word 'deadbeat' during the meeting, he replied, "Yes, I did — I did," then laughed mischievously.

Ha! Good for him. I cannot imagine the previous UN chief Kofi Annan being so bold. The US is notorious at not paying the UN on time, causing many difficulties and problems.