Shashwat Mishra, Mumbai Uncensored, 14th January 2022 :
Countries including Iran, Antigua and Barbuda, Congo, Guinea, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, Venezuela and Sudan, have lost their right to vote at the United Nations due to unpaid dues. The said information was communicated by Antonio Guterres on Tuesday. Iran has to pay over $18 million to regain its voting right. In January, 2021 too Iran had lost its vote over the issue of unpaid dues, after excessive rounds of negotiations the country got back its voting right in June last year. Iranian Foreign minister said, the country is committed to “full and timely payment of membership dues,” and the country is unable to pay its dues, “due to the oppressive and illegal U.S. sanctions”.
When does a country loose its voting right?
According to the UN charter, a country loose its right to vote at the United Nations (UN), if the member country’s arrears either equal or exceed the amount which should have been paid by the member country in the preceding two years. If the dues which are outstanding, “due to conditions beyond the control of the member,” the member may still be allowed to vote.
