UNITED NATIONS (TIP): The UN management chief says member states owe the world body about USD 3.5 billion for its regular operating budget and far-flung peacekeeping operations.

Yukio Takasu told reporters after briefing the General Assembly’s budget committee on Thursday that “as a whole the financial situation of the United Nations is very sound and generally good except the regular budget.”

Unpaid assessments for the regular budget total just over USD 950 million, including about USD 800 million owed by the United States, USD 77 million by Brazil and USD 28 million by Venezuela, he said.

Member states owe about USD 2.6 billion to the separate peacekeeping budget, Takasu said.

France owes USD 356 million, the United States USD 337 million and Italy around USD 250 million, he said.