Russia halts annual contribution to UN Economic Commission for Europe for 2024

Russia will not pay its contribution to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) for 2024.

The corresponding order from the Russian government has been published on the official website of legal information, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

According to the document, the decision not to make the annual payment was proposed by the Russian Foreign Ministry and coordinated with the Ministry of Finance. The Foreign Ministry is required to inform the UNECE's secretariat about the decision. 

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It was established in 1947 with the goal of aiding the rapid reconstruction of war-torn countries on the continent and fostering economic cooperation among them.

Currently, the UNECE consists of seven committees: on environmental policy, inland transport, sustainable energy, trade, timber, housing and land management, and economic cooperation and integration, as well as the Conference of European Statisticians. 

The commission is made up of 56 member states, including not only European countries but also the US, Canada, Asian countries and the Middle Eastern countries. Russia has been a member of the UNECE since its founding. The commission holds sessions twice a year, with its secretariat based in Geneva. The secretariat primarily consists of lawyers, engineers, statisticians, and IT experts.

By Naila Huseynova