The new leadership of the Soviet Union is just as adamant as the Khrushchev regime was in refusing to contribute “a single kopeck” to the United Nations Emergency Force stationed in the Gaza area and to the United Nations peace-keeping operations in the Congo, Secretary-General U Thant learned here today from Nikilai T. Fedorenko, Moscow’s permanent representative.
The USSR has consistently refused to pay anything toward the operation and upkeep of UNEF since that force was established in 1956 to guard against Egyptian incursions against Israel on the Gaza Strip border and Sharm el-Sheikh, overlooking the Gulf of Akaba. Similarly, Moscow has refused to pay for the UN expenses in the Congo. It owes the United Nations $52,600,000 on both those accounts.
In a conference with Mr. Thant, Mr. Fedorenko reiterated his Government’s refusal to make any payment on those accounts which, according to Moscow, were voted “illegally” by the General Assembly. The United States has indicated that, unless the USSR pays up, it should be denied a vote in the next Assembly. Meanwhile, postponement of the opening of the Assembly, scheduled for November 10, is still being discussed. At the same time, it was revealed that behind-the-scenes agreement has been reached on election of the Sudanese Ambassador, A. H. Adeel, as president of the forthcoming Assembly.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.