Payment Being Pursued Using Frozen Oil Export Funds in Korea
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The United Nations has suspended Iran's voting rights at the General Assembly due to unpaid contributions.
According to AFP, on the 18th (local time), UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres informed the President of the General Assembly in a letter that the voting rights of seven countries, including Iran, Niger, Libya, the Central African Republic, Congo, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe, have been suspended in accordance with the UN Charter due to unpaid contributions.
AP reported that, in addition to these countries, ten other countries including Somalia, Comoros, and S?o Tom? and Pr?ncipe will also have their voting rights suspended.
The UN stipulates that if a member state's arrears equal or exceed the contributions for the previous two years, their voting rights at the General Assembly will be restricted.
To restore its voting rights, Iran must pay at least $16.25 million (approximately 18 billion KRW) to the UN.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Said Hatibzadeh proposed to the South Korean government and the UN a plan to use about $7 billion in oil export proceeds frozen in South Korea due to US sanctions to pay the UN contributions. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that it is reviewing Iran's request.
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