Euphoric United Nations officials yesterday welcomed a $1 billion gift from the media magnate, Mr Ted Turner, as a boost to the morale of the world body, which is frequently under attack by Washington politicians. "It is a wonderful gesture, and I hope it is a sign of things to come," the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, said. "It shows his belief in the organisation and international co-operation, and I hope it will inspire the governments to pay what they owe."
Seeking to shame the United States by example, Mr Turner announced he was donating $1 billion in stock over the next 10 years because Washington still owes $1.5 billion for dues and peacekeeping ventures.
"It's a billion-dollar day at the UN," a spokesman, Mr Fred Eckhard, said. "The morale boost given to the organisation exceeds the financial value of Ted Turner's gift."
Mr Turner, founder of Cable News Network, is now vice-chairman of Time Warner Inc.
The $100 million a year Mr Turner intends to contribute to the UN is more than what all but seven out of 185 governments - the US, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Russia - will pay this year for regular dues and peacekeeping expenses.
He challenged Mr Bill Gates, the leader of the software giant, Microsoft, and Mr Warren Buffet, the Wall Street financier, to do likewise, saying: "I am putting every rich person in the world on notice. We are going to get the UN the money it needs. The world is awash with money."
Mr Turner said he was worth $2.2 billion on December 31st but the value of his Time Warner stock had increased since, so he was now worth $3.2 billion. "I'm only giving up nine months' earnings. It's not that big a deal."
He said, "I'm no poorer than I was nine months ago, and the world is a lot better off. I've still got 2 billion left. And maybe I can make some more and give some more away later."