US Still Owes WHO Membership Dues, Says Agency Chief

The World Health Organization (WHO) finds itself in a peculiar standoff with the United States, as Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that Washington has yet to settle its outstanding membership dues. This financial delinquency is a critical hurdle, as the US's departure from the organization is contingent upon clearing these debts – a condition self-imposed by the US upon its entry.

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Čo sa týka nedoplatkov USA, odstúpenie USA je podmienené dvoma vecami. Prvou je oznámenie rok vopred, ktoré je skutočne splnené. A druhou je zaplatenie nedoplatkov, takže dúfame, že to urobia, zatiaľ sme však nič nedostali.

Tedros expressed a hopeful outlook that the US will eventually remit the owed funds, emphasizing that this payment is the prerequisite for their exit. The US, under the previous administration, initiated its withdrawal process, which requires a one-year notice period and the full settlement of financial obligations. While the notice period has passed, the dues remain unpaid, amounting to approximately $260 million for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. The WHO is awaiting these payments, though Tedros noted that the issue transcends mere finances.

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Problémom je, že zdravotná bezpečnosť potrebuje univerzálnosť a USA svojím stiahnutím (z WHO) vystavujú riziku samy seba i zvyšok sveta. Takže je to rovnaká situácia, v ktorej prehrávajú všetci.

From the WHO's perspective, the US's withdrawal poses a significant risk to global health security. Tedros stressed that universal health security requires broad participation, and the US's absence jeopardizes not only the US itself but also the rest of the world. He indicated that the WHO's focus is not solely on the money but on encouraging the US to reconsider its decision, highlighting that global cooperation and solidarity are the most effective responses to health challenges. The organization hopes to engage the US in a dialogue to understand and reassess the situation, underscoring that a world without robust international collaboration is a world that loses on all fronts.

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Takže sa nezameriavame na peniaze. Zameriavame sa na to, aby sme pomohli USA pochopiť a prehodnotiť situáciu. Najlepšou reakciou je globálna spolupráca a solidarita.