Sunday, September 18 2005 11:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Sending a strong message to China against its programme of coercive abortion and expressing concern over the structure of United Nations (UN) Population Fund programmes, the United States (US) has put restrictions on release of USD 34 million to the UN agency.

Maintaining that the assistance would be provided in accordance with the US law only, State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said the UN Population Fund would not receive USD 34 million earmarked by the Congress, as Kemp-Kasten Amendment was applicable again for the year 2005 after 2002.

"Since that time (2002), we have continuously called on China to end its programme of coercive abortion. We have also repeatedly urged China and the UN Population Fund to restructure the organisation's programmes. However, since no key changes have taken place, these restrictions are being applied again," he said in a statement.

According to McCormack, the US had been urging China to put an end to its coercive abortion programme after restricting funding under the Kemp-Kasten Amendment in 2002.

However emphasising the importance for sustained effort in improving health of women and children he said, the US had been the largest donor for the cause and would continue to do so.

"We provide over USD 1.8 billion this year toward this goal through the USAID Child Survival and Health Programmes Fund, approximately USD 440 million of which is for reproductive health and family planning," he said.

McCormack also clarified that US was prepared to consider funding the UN Population Fund in future if its programme in China was restructured in a way consistent with US law or if China ended its programme of coercive abortion.