UN staff 'owe $18m parking fines'

Ban Ki-Moon is doing his bit to counter congestion in New York by walking

The new UN secretary general has appealed to his diplomats to obey local laws, after it was revealed they owed New York City $18m in parking fines.

The New York Daily News said more than 150,000 fines, accrued by staff from the UN building in New York before November 2002, remained outstanding.

On that date, New York agreed to provide allocated parking spaces as long as diplomats paid new fines.

While that system seems to be working, a huge amount of money is still owed.

The New York Daily News, citing the city's finance department, says the number of tickets issued against diplomats has decreased 94% since the agreement.

The number of unpaid tickets has also fallen dramatically - from 153,356 before November 2002, to 1,465 tickets since then.

Not all New Yorkers were convinced that officials driving cars with distinctive diplomatic plates were cleaning up their act.

Delivery man Carlos Tavera: "I see them park wherever they want and I never see them get in trouble for it. I see them park wherever. I'm talking about hydrants, no-standing zones, everywhere."

Egypt tops list

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reminded his staff of their responsibilities.

"It is important for diplomatic officials who enjoy diplomatic immunities and privileges to abide by and comply with all necessary regulations in force in the countries where one is working," he said.

The biggest debtor is Egypt, owing some $1.9m (£1m), followed by Kuwait, with nearly $1.3m.

UN associate spokesman Farhan Haq said Ban Ki-moon was serious about the issue.

He said Mr Ban had been walking to work from the hotel where he is staying while his residence is renovated, rather than adding to New York's traffic congestion.

"So maybe some people can follow his example," Mr Haq told the Associated Press.