Diplomatic privileges

[mawilson 2,133]

US owes £1.5 million, Nigeria £700 thousand and Sudan £545 thousand.

And how much do these countries owe the US in unpaid parking tickets and property taxes?

[Yodrak 7]

Quite a sum. Makes me wonder how much, if anything, Liz's diplomats owe to Washington DC, NYC, and other US cities?

Yodrak

US owes £1.5 million, Nigeria £700 thousand and Sudan £545 thousand.

.....

[SteveLaura 0]

The $3 million is specifically for the London congestion charge. If you add in the unpaid parking fines, the total will be undoubtably higher.

The issue, to me, regarding the $3 million is that the US Embassy are saying that they are exempt; the mayor disagrees.

Edited June 25, 2007 by SteveLaura

[Saddle Bronc 124]

The $3 million is specifically for the London congestion charge. If you add in the unpaid parking fines, the total will be undoubtably higher.

The issue, to me, regarding the $3 million is that the US Embassy are saying that they are exempt; the mayor disagrees.

Hey, I'm with the US embassy on this one; Livingston can consider that US (but not other countries) should be exempt till the fines accumulate to the amount given to UK by US under Marshall Plan.

[SteveLaura 0]

Hey, maybe we can start a process of everyone paying off all debts. Maybe the US would like to get the ball rolling with the $1.3 billion it still owes the UN.

[mawilson 2,133]

Hey, maybe we can start a process of everyone paying off all debts. Maybe the US would like to get the ball rolling with the $1.3 billion it still owes the UN.

Are you sure you want to do that? Because other countries would end up paying a lot more than the US.

[mawilson 2,133]

As for the "billion dollar debt" to the UN, no such debt exists. The US gave billions of dollars to the UN

in military and other assistance, none of which has been credited against this alleged "debt."

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Hey, maybe we can start a process of everyone paying off all debts. Maybe the US would like to get the ball rolling with the $1.3 billion it still owes the UN.

Better approach would be for the US to leave the UN (and give no further support to that junk organisation--EVER). As US makes up more than 40% of the budget, let the UN collapse as the deadweight it actually is!

And, as Mark pointed out, "owing" an organisation which is supported only by tax revenues is absolutely nonsensical!

As for the "billion dollar debt" to the UN, no such debt exists. The US gave billions of dollars to the UN in military and other assistance, none of which has been credited against this alleged "debt."

Edited June 25, 2007 by CherryXS

[SteveLaura 0]

If you are a member of an organisation that is funded through (for want of a better word) 'subs' and you're not paying those subs, then, yeah, I'd say it's owed.

The figure I've read is 22%, not 40%.

But, yeah, maybe that's what the US has in mind anyway - get out completely.

Edit: gotta leave the office for a bit - and just when it was getting interesting...

Edited June 25, 2007 by SteveLaura

[Saddle Bronc 124]

If you want to take costs, the US has absorbed in mil (and other) aid to UN far more than it "owes" the UN.

Let it (UN) collect any costs from the bribes taken by Ghali and Annan and families for "Oil For Food" from Iraq!

[Mags 112]

The $3 million is specifically for the London congestion charge. If you add in the unpaid parking fines, the total will be undoubtably higher.

The issue, to me, regarding the $3 million is that the US Embassy are saying that they are exempt; the mayor disagrees.

Hey, I'm with the US embassy on this one; Livingston can consider that US (but not other countries) should be exempt till the fines accumulate to the amount given to UK by US under Marshall Plan.

But then, if you start letting one embassy off, you have to let them all off. I think ALL foreign embassies should have to pay like the rest of the London dwellers.

It is completely irrelevant what is given with other concerns and charities, plans etc.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

But then, if you start letting one embassy off, you have to let them all off. I think ALL foreign embassies should have to pay like the rest of the London dwellers.

Eh, I specifically stated the reason. The US gave $$several billion (at 2007 prices) under Marshall Plan for rebuilding UK after WW2. I don't see that the other nations made such large voluntary contributions.

As far as the "involuntary contributions" (aka colonial rule) of other nations, that's way out of the glister here anyway.