Guyana has registered concerns about the financial health of the United Nations amid reports that 70 states owed the organization US$661 million in outstanding dues.

In addition, the UN said the total amount outstanding for peacekeeping operations at the end of October is US$2.5 billion, pointing out that such a situation has a "negative impact on the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations."

Guyana said it was worried about the "fragility of the overall situation" during the Fifth Committee’s debate on the financial situation of the UN Friday.

Troy Torrington, Guyana’s First Secretary to the UN, told the Committee, which deals with administrative and budgetary matters, that while Guyana is "heartened to know that unpaid assessments for the regular budget is down," it is troubled by "the possibility of borrowing from reserve accounts by the end of the year."

He said Guyana was aware of the delicate balance on financing peacekeeping operations and hoped the last period of this year could be faced without major problems.

At the same time, Torrington said Guyana is pleased about the relatively healthy financial positions of the International Tribunals for Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia, pledging comments on the Capital Master Plan at a future date.

"The financial health of the organization is crucial to accomplishing its mandates," he said, noting that Guyana and the Rio Group "continue to try to fulfill their obligations on time, in spite of the relatively heavy burden on their national budgets."

"Problems in fully achieving the goal are not caused by a lack of interest or understanding, but result instead from the need to prioritize revenues in order to address urgent social demands," he said.

The Guyanese diplomat expressed appreciation for countries that have paid all assessments due, adding that other countries of the region have paid, and would pay, in forthcoming days.

During the session, various UN-member states focused attention on the cash-flow situation of the organization at the end of the current year; the rate of unpaid assessed contributions to both the regular and peacekeeping budgets; and debt owed to states, which have donated troops and equipment to peacekeeping operations.

The number of states which paid their regular budget assessments in full at October 31, has dropped to 122 from 130 over the same time last year, the UN said.