U.N. Chief Asks Peacekeeping Fund

UNITED NATIONS — Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar on Monday asked governments, corporations and the rich to contribute $1 billion to a new fund for future U.N. peacekeeping operations.

He also plans to ask the General Assembly for authority to start charging countries interest at prevailing rates on unpaid U.N. dues. The United States is by far the deepest in arrears of the 51 countries owing money to the United Nations--$496 million.

The United Nations is currently owed $979 million by member states and may need help to pay December salaries, administrative costs and other expenses of its 5,000 staffers.

The U.N. chief has proposed founding a U.N. Peace Endowment Fund, which he hopes will reach $1 billion. This would be funded by a combination of assessed contributions from member states and voluntary contributions from nations, corporations and wealthy individuals to finance start-up costs of new peacekeeping missions.