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UNITED NATIONS - The UN General Assembly has approved a top-to-bottom renovation of its landmark Manhattan headquarters building that is expected to take seven years to complete at a cost of US$1.9 billion ($2.8 billion).
The UN compound is one of New York's most popular tourist destinations. The main building is a 39-storey aluminium, glass and marble tower that houses the UN secretariat and is considered an outstanding example of modern architecture.
But after 54 years, its roof leaks, it is riddled with asbestos and it lacks fire detectors, a sprinkler system or other emergency safety devices.
Renovation was first envisioned in 2002, and the project was seen at that time as costing about US$1 billion.
But the price tag has since soared, due mainly to construction delays, improvements focused on security, and a failed campaign to convince the New York state legislature to approve a new office building to provide temporary space for staff during the work.
Because of the New York lawmakers' opposition, planners decided they could make do with much less temporary space by stretching out the renovations and doing them just 10 stories at a time.
The project is to be financed by increases in the dues paid by all UN member nations on a sliding scale. The resolution gives governments a choice of paying their share all at once or in five yearly instalments beginning in 2007.
That will put the poorest nations' share at a little under US$2 million each. The United States, the world's biggest economy which picks up the tab for 22 per cent of the regular UN budget, will pay more than US$400 million.
The 192-nation UN assembly adopted a resolution approving the renovation plan by consensus near the end of a marathon session concluding its business for 2006 that began on Friday afternoon local time and stretched into the early morning hours of Saturday.
- REUTERS
