Japan plans to cut contribution to UN

Japan plans to cut its financial contribution to the United Nations, though that does not mean Tokyo is distancing itself diplomatically from the world body, officials said on Thursday.
A Foreign Ministry official said Japan will cut its contribution in 2006, when the UN next reviews the share each member country pays as dues.
"We are aiming for an amount less than we pay now," the official said.
Japan will pay $280 million, or 19.5 percent of the total dues, in 2004, a close second behind the United States, which is to contribute 22 percent.