The United Nations assesses financial contributions by member states every three years and Japan's share was set at 19.5 per cent for 2004-2006 late last year, just behind 22 per cent for the top contributor the United States.

"We believe contribution ratios should be fairer and more-balanced when the assessments are reviewed next time in late 2006 for 2007-2009 ... We aim at a lower ratio," he said.

The review is made by 191 member states, he said. "It is not something that Japan forces upon other states or something that others force upon Japan," he said.

The official said the government was "aware of the strong notion among people" that Japan, bidding for a permanent seat in the Security Council for many years, has not been given its due despite its huge financial contribution.

With the exception of the United States, the other permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia -- contribute less than 10 percent of the UN budget each.

In New York, UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe said the world body had not got any official word from Tokyo while noting Japan was "a vital contributor to the United Nations."

"It is the second-largest contributor and also gives indispensable voluntary contributions to humanitarian programmes. We hope that this will continue," she said. "The world looks to Japan for leadership on this matter."

In a draft budget for next fiscal year starting in April 2004, Tokyo earmarked 37 billion yen (US$345.8 million) for its contribution to the UN budget, up 4.3 billion yen from the initial budget for this fiscal year.

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