    [United States Government Manual]
    [May 30, 1997]
    [Pages 737-746]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 737]]

    SELECTED MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATIONS

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    MULTILATERAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES
    PARTICIPATES

    Explanatory note: The United States participates in the organizations
    named below in accordance with the provisions of treaties, other
    international agreements, congressional legislation, or executive
    arrangements. In some cases, no financial contribution is involved.

        Various commissions, councils, or committees subsidiary to the
    organizations listed here are not named separately on this list. These
    include the international bodies for narcotics control, which are
    subsidiary to the United Nations.

    I. United Nations, Specialized Agencies, and
    International Atomic Energy Agency

    Food and Agricultural Organization
    International Atomic Energy Agency
    International Civil Aviation Organization
    International Labor Organization
    International Maritime Organization
    International Telecommunication Union
    United Nations
    Universal Postal Union
    World Health Organization
    World Intellectual Property Organization
    World Meteorological Organization

    II. Peacekeeping

    United Nations Angola Verification Mission III
    United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (Golan Heights)
    United Nations Force in Cyprus
    United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
    United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission
    United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
    United Nations Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina
    United Nations Mission in Haiti
    United Nations Mission to Prevlaka
    United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan
    United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
    United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
    United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia
    United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (Macedonia)
    United Nations Transitional Authority in Eastern Slavonia
    United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (Middle East)

    III. Inter-American Organizations

    Inter-American Indian Institute
    Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
    Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
    Organization of American States
    Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
    Pan American Institute of Geography and History
    Postal Union of the Americas and Spain and Portugal

    [[Page 738]]

    IV. Regional Organizations

    Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
    Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic and Social Development in Asia and
        the Pacific
    North Atlantic Assembly
    North Atlantic Treaty Organization
    Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
    South Pacific Commission

    V. Other International Organizations

    Bureau of International Expositions
    Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
    Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)
    Fund for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
    Hague Conference on Private International Law
    International Agency for Research on Cancer
    International Bureau of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
    International Bureau for the Publication of Customs Tariffs
    International Bureau of Weights and Measures
    International Center for the Study of the Preservation and the
        Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)
    International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
    International Copper Study Group
    International Cotton Advisory Committee
    International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES)
    International Council of Scientific Unions and Its Associated Unions
        (20)
    International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
    International Hydrographic Organization
    International Institute for Cotton
    International Institute for the Unification of Private Law
    International Lead and Zinc Study Group
    International Natural Rubber Organization
    International North Pacific Fisheries Commission
    International Office of Epizootics
    International Office of Vine and Wine
    International Organization for Legal Metrology
    International Rubber Study Group
    International Seed Testing Association
    International Tropical Timber Organization
    International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
        (IUNC)
    International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV)
    International Whaling Commission
    International Wheat Council
    Interparliamentary Union
    North Atlantic Ice Patrol
    North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization
    Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons
    Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses
    Permanent International Association of Road Congresses
    United Nations Compensation Commission
    World Trade Organization (WTO)/General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
        (GATT)

    VI. Special Voluntary Programs

    Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program
    Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
    Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
        and Flora (CITES)
    International Atomic Energy Agency Technical Assistance and Cooperation
        Fund
    International Atomic Energy Agency Voluntary Programs
    International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Aviation Security Fund
    International Contributions for Scientific, Educational, and Cultural
        Activities
    International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
    International Organization for Migration (IOM)
    Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization
    Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund
    Organization of American States Fund for Strengthening Democracy
    Organization of American States Special Cultural Fund
    Organization of American States Special Development Assistance Fund

    [[Page 739]]

    Organization of American States Special Multilateral Fund (Education and
        Science)
    Organization of American States Special Projects Fund (Mar del Plata)
    Pan American Health Organization Special Health Promotion Funds
    United Nations Afghanistan Emergency Trust Fund
    United Nations Center for Human Settlements (Habitat) (UNCHS)
    United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
    United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
    United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
    United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
    United Nations/Food and Agricultural Organization World Food Program
        (WFP)
    United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control (UNFDAC)
    United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Program (UNHCR)
    United Nations Population Fund
    United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
    United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
    World Health Organization Special Programs
    World Meteorological Organization Special Fund for Climate Activities
    World Meteorological Organization Voluntary Cooperation Program

    African Development Bank

    Headquarters: 01 B.P. 1387, Abidjan 01, Cote d'Ivoire

    President: Omar Kabbaj

    The African Development Bank (AFDB) was established in 1963 and, by
    charter amendment, opened its membership to non-African countries in
    1982. Its mandate is to contribute to the economic development and
    social progress of its regional members. Bank members total 77,
    including 53 African countries and 24 nonregional countries. Ownership
    of the Bank, by charter, is two-thirds African and one-third
    nonregional.
        The African Development Fund (AFDF), the concessional lending
    affiliate, was established in 1973 to complement AFDB operations by
    providing concessional financing for high-priority development projects
    in the poorest African countries. The Fund's membership consists of 25
    member countries and AFDB, which represents its African members and is
    allocated half of the votes.

    Asian Development Bank

    Headquarters: 6 ADB Avenue, 1501 Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.
    Phone, 632-711-3851

    President: Mitsuo Sato

    The Asian Development Bank commenced operations on December 19, 1966. It
    now has 56 member countries--40 from Asia and 16 from outside the
    region.
        The purpose of the Bank is to foster sustainable economic
    development, poverty alleviation, and cooperation among its developing
    member countries in the Asia/Pacific region.

    For further information, contact the Asian Development Bank, P.O. Box
    789, 1099 Manila, Philippines. E-mail, www@mail.asiandevbank.org.
    Internet, http://www.asiandevbank.org/.

    Inter-American Defense Board

    2600 Sixteenth Street NW., Washington, DC 20441. Phone, 202-939-6600

    Chairman: Maj. Gen. John C. Thompson, USA

    The Inter-American Defense Board is the oldest permanently constituted,
    international military organization in the world. It was founded by
    Resolution XXXIX of the Meeting of Foreign Ministers at Rio de Janeiro
    in January 1942. Senior army, navy, and air force officers from 25
    member nations staff the various agencies of the Board. Its four major
    agencies are: the Council of Delegates, the decisionmaking body; the
    International Staff; the Inter-American Defense College; and the
    Secretariat, which provides administrative and logistical support.
        The Board studies and recommends to member governments measures
    necessary for close military collaboration in preparation for the
    collective self-

    [[Page 740]]

    defense of the American Continents. It also acts as a technical military
    adviser for the Organization of American States, and is involved in
    projects such as disaster relief planning and demining programs in
    Central America.
        The College prepares senior military officers and civilian
    functionaries for positions in their respective governments.

    Inter-American Development Bank

    Headquarters: 1300 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20577. Phone,
    202-623-1000

    President: Enrique V. Iglesias

    The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was established in 1959 to
    help accelerate economic and social development in Latin America and the
    Caribbean. It is based in Washington, DC.
        The Bank has 28 member countries in the Western Hemisphere and 18
    outside of the region.

    International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

    Headquarters: 1818 H Street NW., Washington, DC 20433. Phone, 202-477-
    1234

    President: James D. Wolfensohn

    The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), also
    known as the World Bank, officially came into existence on December 27,
    1945.
        The Bank's purpose is to promote economic, social, and environmental
    progress in developing nations by raising productivity so that their
    people may live better and fuller lives. It does this by lending funds
    at market-determined interest rates, providing advice, and serving as a
    catalyst to stimulate outside investments. Its resources come primarily
    from funds raised in the world capital markets, its retained earnings,
    and repayments on its loans.

    International Development Association  The International Development
    Association (IDA) came into existence on September 24, 1960, as an
    affiliate of IBRD. The Association's resources consist of subscriptions
    and supplementary resources in the form of general replenishments,
    mostly from its more industrialized and developed members; special
    contributions by its richer members; repayments on earlier credits; and
    transfers from IBRD's net earnings.
        The Association promotes economic development, increases
    productivity, and raises the standard of living in the least developed
    areas of the world. It does this by financing their developmental
    requirements on concessionary terms, which are more flexible and bear
    less heavily on the balance of payments than those of conventional
    loans, thereby furthering the objectives of IBRD and supplementing its
    activities.

    International Finance Corporation

    Headquarters: 1850 ``I'' Street NW., Washington, DC 20433. Phone, 202-
    477-1234

    President: James D. Wolfensohn
    Executive Vice President: Jannik Lindbaek

    The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an affiliate of the World
    Bank, was established in July 1956, to promote productive private
    enterprise in developing member countries.
        The Corporation pursues its objective principally through direct
    debt and equity investments in projects that establish new businesses or
    expand, modify, or diversify existing businesses. It also encourages
    cofinancing by other investors and lenders. For every dollar of
    financing approved by IFC for its own account, other investors and
    lenders provide almost six dollars.
        Additionally, advisory services and technical assistance are
    provided by IFC to developing member countries in areas such as capital
    market development, privatization, corporate restructuring, and foreign
    investment.

    International Monetary Fund

    700 Nineteenth Street NW., Washington, DC 20431. Phone, 202-623-7000

    Managing Director and Chairman of the
    Executive Board: Michel Camdessus

    [[Page 741]]

    The Final Act of the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference,
    signed at Bretton Woods, NH, on July 22, 1944, set forth the original
    Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The
    Agreement became effective on December 27, 1945, when the President,
    authorized by the Bretton Woods Agreements Act (22 U.S.C. 286) accepted
    membership for the United States in IMF, the Agreement having thus been
    accepted by countries whose combined financial commitments (quotas)
    equaled approximately 80 percent of IMF's total commitments. The
    inaugural meeting of the Board of Governors was held in March 1946, and
    the first meeting of the Executive Directors was held May 6, 1946.
        On May 31, 1968, the Board of Governors approved an amendment to the
    Articles of Agreement for the establishment of a facility based on
    Special Drawing Rights (SDR) in IMF and for modification of certain IMF
    rules and practices. The amendment became effective on July 28, 1969,
    and the Special Drawing Account became operative on August 6, 1969.
    United States acceptance of the amendment and participation in the
    Special Drawing Account were authorized by the Special Drawing Rights
    Act (22 U.S.C. 286 et seq.).
        On April 30, 1976, the Board of Governors approved a second
    amendment to the Articles of Agreement, which entered into force on
    April 1, 1978. This amendment gave members the right to adopt exchange
    arrangements of their choice while placing certain obligations on them
    regarding their exchange rate policies, over which IMF was to exercise
    firm surveillance. The official price of gold was abolished and the SDR
    account was promoted as the principal reserve asset of the international
    monetary system. United States acceptance of this amendment was
    authorized by the Bretton Woods Agreements Act Amendments (22 U.S.C.
    286e-5).
        On June 28, 1990, the Board of Governors approved a third amendment
    to the Articles of Agreement, which became effective on November 11,
    1992. Under this amendment, a member's voting rights and certain related
    rights may be suspended by a 70-percent majority of the executive board
    if the member, having been declared ineligible to use the general
    resources of the Fund, persists in its failure to fulfill any of its
    obligations under the Articles.
        As of April 30, 1997, IMF had 181 member countries. Total quotas
    were SDR 145 billion (equivalent to approximately $200 billion).
        The purposes of IMF are to promote international monetary
    cooperation through a permanent institution that provides the machinery
    for consultation and collaboration on international monetary problems;
    to facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade;
    to promote exchange stability; to assist in the establishment of a
    multilateral system of payments for current transactions between
    members; and to give confidence to members by making IMF resources
    temporarily available to them under adequate safeguards.
        In accordance with these purposes, IMF seeks to shorten the duration
    and lessen the degree of imbalance in the international balances of
    payments of members. It provides financial assistance to aid its members
    in handling balance-of-payment difficulties through a variety of
    facilities that are designed to address specific problems. These lending
    mechanisms include stand-by and extended arrangements, as well as
    separate facilities to provide compensatory and contingency financing to
    countries suffering temporary declines in their export earnings, to
    support structural adjustment programs in the poorest countries, and to
    promote systemic transformation in the formerly centrally planned
    economies during their transitions to market economies.

    For further information, contact the Chief, Public Affairs Division,
    External Relations Department, International Monetary Fund, 700
    Nineteenth Street NW., Washington, DC 20431. Phone, 202-623-7300.

    [[Page 742]]

    International Organization for Migration

    Headquarters: 17 Route des Morillons, Grand-Saconnex, Geneva. Mailing
    address, P.O. Box 71, CH-1211, Geneva 19, Switzerland. Phone, 011-41-22-
    717-9111. Fax, 011-41-22-798-6150.

    Director General: James N. Purcell, Jr.

    Deputy Director General: Narcisa L. Escaler

    Washington Office: Suite 1110, 1750 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20006.
    Phone, 202-862-1826. Fax, 202-862-1879. E-mail,
    mission@washington.iom.ch
    Chief of Mission: Hans-Petter Boe

    New York Office: Suite 1610, 122 E. 42d Street, New York, NY 10168.
    Phone, 212-681-7000. Fax, 212-867-5887. E-mail, mission@newyork.iom.ch
    Chief of Mission: Andrew Bruce

    The International Organization for Migration (IOM), formerly the
    Intergovernmental Committee for Migration, was created in 1951 at an
    international migration conference in Brussels sponsored by the United
    States and Belgium. It was formed outside the U.N. system in order to
    provide assistance, including health screening and transportation, to
    refugees as well as to persons not under the protection of the U.N. High
    Commissioner for Refugees, and to be concerned with international
    migration issues in general such as the links between migration and
    development.
        As a technical, nonpolitical organization committed to the statement
    that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society, IOM has
    four strategic objectives:
        --to cooperate with its partners in the international community to
    assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration;
        --to advance understanding of migration issues;
        --to encourage social and economic development through migration;
    and
        --to work toward effective respect of the human dignity and well-
    being of migrants.
         The Organization plans and carries out refugee migration schemes,
    programs for returning migrants, and emergency relief activities at the
    request of its member states and in cooperation with other international
    organizations, especially U.N. agencies. In addition, it publishes
    surveys and sponsors conferences on migration trends and issues.
        In the United States, IOM carries out certain activities for the
    U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, facilitates sponsor prepayment for
    other U.S.-bound immigrants, and operates a limited number of return
    migration programs. In addition to Washington, DC, and New York, IOM has
    offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.
        The Organization comprises 107 states (59 members and 48 observers).
    They meet once a year in Geneva as the Council, to consider global
    migration issues and the Organization's work, direction, and budget.
    Mandatory assessed contributions from member states finance IOM's
    administrative budget, whereas its operational budget is funded through
    voluntary contributions. Member states elect the Director General and
    the Deputy Director General, whose regular terms are 5 years. Several
    international governmental and nongovernmental organizations are invited
    to observe and address the IOM Council.
        The Organization has observer status at U.N. agencies, the
    Organization of American States, and other organizations.

    Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

    Headquarters: 1818 H Street NW., Washington, DC 20433. Phone, 202-477-
    1234

    President: James D. Wolfensohn
    Executive Vice President: Akira Iida

    The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), an affiliate of the
    World Bank, was formally constituted in April 1988.
        Its basic purpose is to facilitate the flow of foreign private
    investment for productive purposes to developing member countries by
    offering long-term

    [[Page 743]]

    political risk insurance in the areas of expropriation, currency
    transfer, and war and civil disturbance; and by providing advisory and
    consultative services. The Agency cooperates with national investment
    insurance schemes, such as OPIC, and with private insurers.

    Organization of American States

    General Secretariat: 1889 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20006. Phone,
    202-458-3000. Fax, 202-458-3967

    Secretary General: Cesar Gaviria
    Assistant Secretary General: Christopher Thomas
    Executive Secretary for Integral Development: Leonel Zuniga, Acting
    Assistant Secretary for Management: James Harding
    Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs: Enrique Lagos

    The Organization of American States (OAS) is a regional,
    intergovernmental organization whose primary purposes are to strengthen
    the peace and security of the continent; to promote and consolidate
    representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of
    nonintervention; to prevent possible causes of difficulties and to
    conciliate disputes that may arise among the member states; to provide
    for common action by those states in the event of aggression; to seek
    the solution of political, juridical, and economic problems that may
    arise among them; to promote, by cooperative action, their economic,
    social, and cultural development; and to achieve an effective limitation
    of conventional weapons that will make it possible to devote the largest
    amount of resources to the economic and social development of the member
    states.
        With roots dating from 1890, the first OAS Charter was signed in
    1948. Two subsequent protocols of amendment, Buenos Aires 1967 and
    Cartagena de Indias 1985, gave it its present form. One additional
    protocol of amendment, Washington 1992, is currently in the ratification
    process. The Protocol of Washington will incorporate provisions for the
    protection of democratically constituted governments and will include
    among the essential purposes of the Organization the eradication of
    extreme poverty, which constitutes an obstacle to the full democratic
    development of the peoples of the hemisphere. A fourth protocol of
    amendment, the Protocol of Managua 1993 which entered into force on
    January 29, 1996, established the Inter-American Council for Integral
    Development (CIDI), which replaces the Inter-American Councils for
    Economic and Social Affairs and Education, Science and Culture.
        The Organization's member states are Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda,
    Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada,
    Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican
    Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
    Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts
    and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad
    and Tobago, the United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The
    present Government of Cuba is excluded from participation by a decision
    of the Eighth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in
    1962. Thirty-seven non-American countries, as well as the Holy See and
    the European Union, are permanent observers.
        The principal organs of the OAS are:
        --the General Assembly, which is normally composed of the foreign
    ministers of the member states and meets at least once a year to decide
    the general action and policy of the Organization;
        --the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which
    meets on call to consider urgent matters of common interest or threats
    to the peace and security of the hemisphere;
        --the Permanent Council, which meets twice a month at OAS
    headquarters;
        --the Inter-American Council for Integral Development;
        --the Inter-American Juridical Committee;
        --the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; and

    [[Page 744]]

        --the General Secretariat, which is the central and permanent organ,
    headquartered in Washington, DC.
        The Organization has six specialized organizations that handle
    technical matters of common interest to the American States. It also
    holds specialized conferences on specific technical matters.

    For further information, contact the Director, Department of Public
    Information, Organization of American States, Seventeenth Street and
    Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20006. Phone, 202-458-3760. Fax,
    202-458-6421.

    United Nations

    United Nations, New York, NY 10017. Phone, 212-963-1234

    Secretary-General: Kofi A. Annan

    United Nations Office at Geneva: Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10,
    Switzerland

    Director-General: Antoine Blanca

    United Nations Office at Vienna: Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box
    500, A-1400, Vienna, Austria

    Director-General: Giorgio Giacomelli

    Washington, DC, Office: U.N. Information Centre, Suite 400, 1775 K
    Street NW., Washington, DC 20006. Phone, 202-331-8670. Fax, 202-331-9191

    Director: Joe Sills

    The United Nations is an international organization that was set up in
    accordance with the Charter \1\ drafted by governments represented at
    the Conference on International Organization meeting at San Francisco.
    The Charter was signed on June 26, 1945, and came into force on October
    24, 1945, when the required number of ratifications and accessions had
    been made by the signatories. Amendments increasing membership of the
    Security Council and the Economic and Social Council came into effect on
    August 31, 1965.
        \1\ Charter of the United Nations, together with the Statute of the
    International Court of Justice (Department of State Publication No.
    2353, International Organization and Conference Series III, 21), June
    26, 1945. Available for sale from the Superintendent of Documents,
    Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Phone, 202-512-1800.
        The United Nations now consists of 185 member states, of which 51
    are founding members.
        The purposes of the United Nations set out in the Charter are: to
    maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations
    among nations; to achieve international cooperation in solving
    international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian
    character and in promoting respect for human rights; and to be a center
    for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common
    ends.

        The principal organs of the United Nations are:

    General Assembly  All states that are members of the United Nations are
    members of the General Assembly. Its functions are to consider and
    discuss any matter within the scope of the Charter of the United Nations
    and to make recommendations to the members of the United Nations and
    other organs. It approves the budget of the organization, the expenses
    of which are borne by the members as apportioned by the General
    Assembly.
        The General Assembly may call the attention of the Security Council
    to situations likely to endanger international peace and security, may
    initiate studies, and may receive and consider reports from other organs
    of the United Nations. Under the ``Uniting for Peace'' resolution
    adopted by the General Assembly in November 1950, if the Security
    Council fails to act on an apparent threat to or breach of the peace or
    act of aggression because of lack of unanimity of its five permanent
    members, the Assembly itself may take up the matter within 24 hours--in
    emergency special session--and recommend collective measures, including,
    in case of a breach of the peace or act of aggression, use of armed
    force when necessary to maintain or restore international peace and
    security.
        The General Assembly has held to date 50 regular sessions, 18
    special sessions, and 11 emergency special

    [[Page 745]]

    sessions. It normally meets in regular annual session in September.

    Security Council  The Security Council consists of 15 members, of which
    5--the People's Republic of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom,
    and the United States of America--are permanent members and are elected
    each year. The 10 nonpermanent members are elected for 2-year terms by
    the General Assembly. The primary responsibility of the Security Council
    is to act on behalf of the members of the United Nations in maintenance
    of international peace and security. Measures that may be employed by
    the Security Council are outlined in the Charter.
        The Security Council, together with the General Assembly, also
    elects the judges of the International Court of Justice and makes a
    recommendation to the General Assembly on the appointment of the
    Secretary General of the organization.
        The Security Council first met in London on January 17, 1946, and is
    so organized as to be able to function continuously.

    Economic and Social Council  This organ is responsible, under the
    authority of the General Assembly, for the economic and social programs
    of the United Nations. Its functions include making or initiating
    studies, reports, and recommendations on international economic, social,
    cultural, educational, health, and related matters; promoting respect
    for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all;
    calling international conferences and preparing draft conventions for
    submission to the General Assembly on matters within its competence;
    negotiating agreements with the specialized agencies and defining their
    relationship with the United Nations; coordinating the activities of the
    specialized agencies; and consulting with nongovernmental organizations
    concerned with matters within its competence. The Council consists of 54
    members of the United Nations elected by the General Assembly for 3-year
    terms; 18 are elected each year.
        The Council usually holds two regular sessions a year. It has also
    held a number of special sessions.

    Trusteeship Council  The Trusteeship Council was initially established
    to consist of any member states that administered trust territories,
    permanent members of the Security Council that did not administer trust
    territories, and enough other nonadministering countries elected by the
    General Assembly for 3-year terms to ensure that membership would be
    equally divided between administering and nonadministering members.
    Under authority of the General Assembly, the Council considered reports
    from members administering trust territories, examined petitions from
    trust territory inhabitants, and provided for periodic inspection visits
    to trust territories.
        With the independence of Palau, the last remaining U.N. trust
    territory, the Trusteeship Council formally suspended operations after
    nearly half a century. The council will henceforth meet only on an
    extraordinary basis, as the need may arise.

    International Court of Justice  The International Court of Justice is
    the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It has its seat at
    The Hague, The Netherlands. All members of the United Nations are ipso
    facto parties to the Statute of the Court. Nonmembers of the United
    Nations may become parties to the Statute of the Court on conditions
    prescribed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security
    Council.
        The jurisdiction of the Court comprises all cases that the parties
    refer to it and all matters specially provided for in the Charter of the
    United Nations or in treaties and conventions in force.
        The Court consists of 15 judges known as ``members'' of the Court.
    They are elected for 9-year terms by the General Assembly and the
    Security Council, voting independently, and may be reelected.

    Secretariat   The Secretariat consists of a Secretary-General and ``such
    staff as the Organization may require.'' The Secretary-General, who is
    appointed by the General Assembly on the

    [[Page 746]]

    recommendation of the Security Council, is the chief administrative
    officer of the United Nations. He acts in that capacity for the General
    Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the
    Trusteeship Council. Under the Charter, the Secretary-General ``may
    bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter that in his
    opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and
    security.''