The United Nations said Friday that seven countries are so far behind in paying their dues that they are losing their voting privileges in the 193-member General Assembly, including Lebanon, a statement that sparked a war of words between the Lebanese foreign and finance ministries.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that three other countries — Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe and Somalia — are also in arrears but the assembly decided in October that they can retain their vote until September.
He said the other countries that are losing their vote are Central African Republic, Gambia, Lesotho, Tonga and Yemen.
Lebanon is grappling with its worst economic and financial crisis in decades and has seen increased electricity cuts. Protesters took to the streets in October over proposed new taxes but are now calling for an end to the rule of the political elite that has run the country since the 1975-90 civil war ended.
The Lebanese foreign ministry "regretted" on Saturday UN’s decision, saying it risked damaging the country’s "reputation."
It hoped that the issue would be resolved "as quickly as possible."
The ministry also published a document dated August 7 claiming that it had contributed its share in the UN budget for 2019.
The finance ministry later said Lebanon's arrears would be paid on Monday.
The foreign ministry argued that it had "performed all of its duties and completed all transactions within the deadline."
The finance ministry hit back saying it did not receive any request to make the payment.
