PRESS RELEASE: Citizens for Global Solutions Calls for Quick Agreement on Bill to Fund International Organizations

For Release May 19, 2009

Citizens for Global Solutions Calls for Quick Agreement on Bill to Fund International Organizations

Washington, DC - Citizens for Global Solutions announces its support for the Foreign Authorizations Bill (HR 2410) that will authorize U.S. funding for several international organizations and thereby improve the effectiveness and image of the United States in the world. This measure is sponsored by Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Howard Berman (D-CA).. Citizens for Global Solutions appreciates Congressman Berman's commitment to making the U.S. a more responsible global citizen.

"Congressman Berman's bill is a great step forward. It corrects past deficiencies and looks towards a future with dramatically improved U.S. capacities to partner with other nations to address global problems," said Don Kraus, CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions. "It deserves rapid approval."

The bill will: 1) authorize payment of dues the U.S. owes to the United Nations and other international organizations; 2) direct the U.S. to end its practice of paying U.N. bills one year late; 3) reauthorize and expand payments to Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI); 4) pay assessments the U.S. owes for international peacekeeping operations; 5) increase U.S. funding for logistical support for international peacekeeping; 6) develop plans to prevent genocide and other atrocities against civilians; 7) and improve the training and career paths of foreign service officers who represent the U.S. at international organizations.

The provision to make arrangements to end the U.S. practice of paying our U.N. bills one year late is supported by both conservative and progressive leaders. "Great nations honor their commitments," said Kraus. "These are payments that are not in dispute and support programs that the U.S. approves. This is money we've agreed to pay to programs that we like, but we've simply been paying our bills late, and that's caused problems for a number of U.N. humanitarian and aid agencies. Not knowing when U.S. funds will be paid, they can't work efficiently or plan ahead. In the current global economic crisis, it's important to make each dollar go as far as possible. It's time to end this practice."

The bill will also accelerate funding to a variety of international organizations including the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, NATO, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization of the American States (OAS), all of which help to make the world more secure for future generations.

The measure will fund the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), which helps train and equip peacekeepers, particularly in Africa. By working with other countries, the United States can find more effective solutions to problems that are too large for the U.S. to solve alone.

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Citizens for Global Solutions is a grassroots organization which envisions a future in which nations work together to abolish war, protect our rights and freedoms, and solve the problems facing humanity that no nation can solve alone. This vision requires effective democratic global institutions that will apply the rule of law while respecting the diversity and autonomy of national and local communities.

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