Reform proposals and an ongoing financial crisis were the dominant issues facing the UN General Assembly as it opened its 52nd session Tuesday.
The United States is an estimated $900 million to $1.5 billion in arrears to the UN and is using the debt to pressure the organization to adopt reforms. The Clinton administration has offered to pay about $900 million if reforms are made, but many member nations consider the proposal inadequate.
In other business, among the most controversial issues the assembly faces are proposals to enlarge the 15-member Security Council, which developing countries say is undemocratic because of the veto power of the five permanent members: the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.
The U.S. has proposed adding five new permanent members — Japan, Germany and three developing nations. Italy opposes any change that would freeze it out of permanent membership.
