[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, [email protected]. 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, [email protected] 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, [email protected] 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.''