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CONTENTS

Acronyms and Short Forms.....................................................................................v

Prologue...................................................................................................................1

1. Political and Security Affairs

Regional Issues...................................................................................................5

Near East.....................................................................................................5

Arab-Israeli Situation............................................................................5

Iran .......................................................................................................6

Iraq .......................................................................................................9

Lebanon ...............................................................................................13

 UN Security Council Resolution 1559..............................................13

 UN International Independent Investigation 

 Commission .................................................................................14

 UN Interim Force in Lebanon ..........................................................16

UN Truce Supervision Organization ...................................................18

UN Disengagement Observer Force ...................................................19

South Asia..................................................................................................20

Afghanistan..........................................................................................20

India/Pakistan ......................................................................................22

Nepal.............................................................................23

Africa .........................................................................................................24

Burundi................................................................................................24

Chad.............................................................................25

Central African Republic.....................................................................26

Cote d’Ivoire........................................................................................28

Democratic Republic of the Congo......................................................32

Ethiopia/Eritrea....................................................................................35

Guinea-Bissau......................................................................................38

Liberia .................................................................................................39

Sierra Leone.........................................................................................41

Somalia................................................................................................42

Sudan...................................................................................................44

Western Sahara ....................................................................................46

East Asia and the Pacific............................................................................49

Burma (Myanmar) ...............................................................................49

East Timor ...........................................................................................50

D.P.R.K./North Korea .........................................................................52

Europe and Eurasia ....................................................................................54

Cyprus .................................................................................................54

Georgia ................................................................................................55

The former Yugoslavia: UN Interim Administration Mission in 

 Kosovo ..............................................................................................57

Western Hemisphere ..................................................................................58

Haiti.....................................................................................................58

Disarmament Issues..........................................................................................60

1540 Committee.........................................................................................60

Conference on Disarmament .....................................................................61

UN Disarmament Commission .................................................................62

Peacekeeping Issues.........................................................................................63

Peacekeeping Financing.............................................................................63

Peacekeeping Reform ................................................................................63
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Sexual Exploitation and Abuse ..................................................................64

UN Police...................................................................................................66

Special Issues...................................................................................................66

Children in Armed Conflict .......................................................................66

Non-Self-Governing Territories.................................................................67

Oil For Food...............................................................................................68

Peacebuilding Commission........................................................................68

Sanctions....................................................................................................69

Security Council Membership....................................................................72

Security Council Thematic Debates...........................................................73

Terrorism ...................................................................................................78

2. Economic and Social Affairs

Economic and Development Issues..................................................................81

Development Bodies and Programs...........................................................81

Commission on Sustainable Development .........................................81

Global Compact Leaders Summit........................................................81

Regional Economic Commissions ......................................................82

UN Children’s Fund ...........................................................................84

UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development..........85

UN Conference and Trade and Development .....................................86

UN Development Program .................................................................87

UN Human Settlements Program ........................................................88

Environment...............................................................................................90

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change .....................................90

UN Convention to Combat Desertification .........................................90

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change ..........................91

UN Environment Program ..................................................................92

 Population..................................................................................................93

UN Commission on Population and Development .............................93

UN Population Fund ...........................................................................94

Social Issues.....................................................................................................95

Commission for Social Development ........................................................95

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities..............................95

UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and 

 UN Office on Drugs and Crime .............................................................97

Commission on Narcotic Drugs ..........................................................98

International Narcotics Control Board ..............................................100

Human Rights.................................................................................................100

Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations....................................100

Democracy Caucus ..................................................................................101

Holocaust Remembrance .........................................................................102

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights...............................104

Status of Women......................................................................................104

UN Democracy Fund ...............................................................................106

UN Human Rights Council......................................................................106

UNGA Third Committee .........................................................................107

Humanitarian Affairs......................................................................................108

Disaster and Humanitarian Relief Activities............................................108

UN High Commissioner for Refugees ....................................................110

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near

 East .......................................................................................................113

World Food Program ..............................................................................114
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3. Specialized Agencies and Other Bodies

Food and Agriculture Organization ...............................................................117

International Atomic Energy Agency ............................................................119

D.P.R.K./North Korea..............................................................................119

Iran...........................................................................................................121

Promotion of the Benefits of Nuclear Energy ..........................................122

Assurance of Supply of Nuclear Fuel ......................................................123

Safeguards................................................................................................124

Nuclear Security and Safety ....................................................................124

20/20 Initiative.........................................................................................126

International Civil Aviation Organization .....................................................126

International Health Organizations.................................................................128

International Agency for Research on Cancer .........................................128

Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS ............................................................128

Pan American Health Organization .........................................................130

World Health Organization .....................................................................131

International Labor Organization ..................................................................134

International Maritime Organization .............................................................135

International Telecommunication Union .......................................................137

UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization .................................138

UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation .....................140

Universal Postal Union ..................................................................................141

World Intellectual Property Organization ......................................................143

World Meteorological Organization ..............................................................145

4. Legal Developments

Host Country Relations..................................................................................149

International Court of Justice ........................................................................150

International Criminal Court .........................................................................150

International Law Commission .....................................................................151

International Rule of Law...............................................................................153

Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations...............................154

War Crimes Tribunals....................................................................................155

Cambodia Khmer Rouge Tribunal ...........................................................155

International Criminal Tribunal Rwanda .................................................157

International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia .....................158

Special Court for Sierra Leone.................................................................158

5. Reform of the UN System

Management Reform and Mandate Review....................................................161

Administration of Justice ..........................................................................161

Ethical Conduct and Integrity ...................................................................162

Independent Audit Advisory Committee .................................................163

Mandate Review .......................................................................................164

Office of Internal Oversight Services ......................................................164

Procurement..............................................................................................166

Staff Contract Reform and Harmonization of Conditions of Service........166

UN Transparency and Accountability Initiative ......................................167

Security Council Reform................................................................................167

6. Administration and Budget

Audit Reports.................................................................................................171

Committee for Program and Coordination ....................................................171

International Civil Service Commission ........................................................172

Joint Inspection Unit .....................................................................................174
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Scale of Assessments .....................................................................................176

UN Budget .....................................................................................................176

UN Capital Master Plan .................................................................................177

UN Financial Situation...................................................................................178

UN Joint Staff Pension Board ........................................................................179

Appendices

1. General Assembly Address by President George Bush .............................181

2. Principal UN Organs.................................................................................187

Index ....................................................................................................................197
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Selected Acronyms and Short 

Forms

ACABQ Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary

Questions

AMIS African Union Mission in Sudan 

AMISOM African Union Mission to Somalia

ANBP Afghan New Beginnings Program

ANDS Afghan National Development Strategy

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations

AU African Union 

AUPSC African Union Peace and Security Council

BINUB UN Integrated Office in Burundi

BONUCA UN Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic

CAC UN Convention Against Corruption

CAR Central African Republic

CCIT Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism

CD Conference on Disarmament

CIS Commonwealth of Independent States 

CND UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

CSD Commission on Sustainable Development

CSocD Commission for Social Development

CST Committee on Science and Technology

CSTD Commission on Science and Technology for Development

CPC Committee for Program and Coordination

CPD UN Commission on Population and Development

CSD UN Commission on Sustainable Development

CSW UN Commission on the Status of Women

CTC Counter-Terrorism Committee

CTED Counter-terrorism Executive Directorate

DDR Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration

DFI Development Fund for Iraq

DPKO UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations

D.P.R.K. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)

D.R.C. Democratic Republic of the Congo

ECE Economic Commission for Europe
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ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the 

Caribbean

ECOSOC Economic and Social Council

ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States

EOP Explanation of Position

ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

EU European Union

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization

FCCC UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

FMCT Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty

FY Fiscal Year

G-77 Group of 77 (developing countries)

G-8 Group of 8 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 

Russia, United Kingdom, United States)

GRULAC Latin America and Caribbean Group

HRC Human Rights Council

IAAC Independent Audit Advisory Committee 

IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization

ICC International Criminal Court

ICI International Compact with Iraq

ICJ International Court of Justice

ICSC International Civil Service Commission

ICTR International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

ICTY International Criminal Tribunal for the former 

Yugoslavia

IDP Internally Displaced Persons

IGWG Intergovernmental Working Group

ILO International Labor Organization

IMO International Maritime Organization

INCB International Narcotics Control Board

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IRFFI International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq

ITU International Telecommunication Union

JUSCANZ Japan/U.S./Canada/Australia/New Zealand

LOFTA Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan
Selected Acronyms and Short Forms

vii

MINURCAT UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad

MINURSO UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

MINUSTAH UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti

MNF-I Multinational Force - Iraq

MONUC UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of 

the Congo

NAM Non-Aligned Movement

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NGO Non-governmental organization

NPT Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

OAS Organization of American States

OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

OHCHR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

World Organization for Animal Health

OIOS UN Office of Internal Oversight Services

OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

PGA President of the General Assembly

PAHO Pan American Health Organization

PBC Peacebuilding Commission 

PKO UN Peacekeeping Operation

PRST UN Security Council Presidential Statement

PRT Provincial Reconstruction Team

SRSG Special Representative of the Secretary-General

SPM Special Political Missions

SSR Security Sector Reform

SYG UN Secretary-General

UN-HABITAT UN Human Settlements Program

UNAIDS Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS

UNAMA UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

UNAMI UN Assistance Mission in Iraq

UNAMID African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur

UNAMSIL UN Mission in Sierra Leone

UNCAC UN Convention against Corruption

UNCCD UN Convention to Combat Desertification

UNCED UN Conference on Environment and Development

UNCTAD UN Conference on Trade and Development
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UNDC UN Disarmament Commission

UNDC UN Democracy Caucus

UNDEF UN Democracy Fund

UNDG UN Development Group

UNDOF UN Disengagement Observer Force

UNDP UN Development Program

UNEP UN Environment Program

UNESCO UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

UNFCCC UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

UNFICYP UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

UNFPA UN Population Fund

UNGA UN General Assembly

UNHCR UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNICEF UN Children’s Fund

UNIFIL UN Interim Force in Lebanon

UNIIIC UN International Independent Investigation Commission

UNIOSIL UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone

UNMEE UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea

UNMIK UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo

UNMIL UN Mission in Liberia

UNMIN UN Mission in Nepal

UNMIS UN Mission in Sudan

UNMIT UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste

UNMOGIP UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan

UNMOVIC UN Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission

UNOCI UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire

UNODC UN Office on Drugs and Crime

UNOGBIS UN Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau

UNOMIG UN Observer Mission in Georgia

UNRWA UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in 

the Near East

UNSCEAR UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic

Radiation

UNTAI UN Transparency and Accountability Initiative

UNTOC UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

UNTSO UN Truce Supervision Organization
Selected Acronyms and Short Forms

ix

UPU Universal Postal Union

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

WEOG Western European and Others Group

WFP World Food Program

WHO World Health Organization

WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization

WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction

WMO World Meteorological Organization
1

Prologue

This report is submitted pursuant to the ―United Nations Participation 

Act of 1945‖ (Public Law 79-264). Section 4 of this law provides, in part, 

that:

―The President shall from time to time as occasion may require, but 

not less than once each year, make reports to the Congress of the 

activities of the United Nations and of the participation of the United 

States therein.‖

In July 2003, the President delegated to the Secretary of State the 

authority to transmit this report to Congress.

The United States Participation in the United Nations report is a 

survey of the activities of the U.S. Government in the United Nations and its 

agencies, as well as the activities of the United Nations and those agencies 

themselves. More specifically, this report seeks to assess UN achievements 

during 2007, the effectiveness of U.S. participation in the United Nations, and 

whether U.S. goals were advanced or thwarted.

The United States is committed to the founding ideals of the United 

Nations. Addressing the UN General Assembly in 2007, President Bush said:

―With the commitment and courage of this chamber, we can build a 

world where people are free to speak, assemble, and worship as they 

wish; a world where children in every nation grow up healthy, get a 

decent education, and look to the future with hope; a world where 

opportunity crosses every border. America will lead toward this 

vision where all are created equal, and free to pursue their dreams. 

This is the founding conviction of my country. It is the promise that 

established this body. And with our determination, it can be the 

future of our world.‖

The United States believes that the United Nations should be a place 

where diverse countries and cultures of the world work together for freedom, 

democracy, peace, human rights, and prosperity for all people. In 2007, the 

United Nations continued to face many challenges in living up to those 

founding principles. 

This report treats thematically UN activities that most significantly 

affected U.S. interests. It is divided into six Parts:

Part 1, on Political and Security Affairs, focuses on activities 

undertaken by the United Nations to maintain international peace and security. 

Under the UN Charter, the primary responsibility for this task lies in the 

Security Council, which is empowered to take various actions to maintain 

international peace and security, such as adopting resolutions authorizing 

peacekeeping and special political missions or employing coercive measures, 

including sanctions. The activities of the UN General Assembly and other UN 

bodies are also described. This chapter also covers security-related thematic 

issues, such as disarmament and international terrorism.
United States Participation in the United Nations – 2007

2

In 2007, the United States continued to push in the Security Council 

for a resolution of the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, and to end obstruction by the 

Government of Sudan against the deployment of a robust UN peacekeeping

force in Darfur. In July, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 

1769 authorizing the deployment of a hybrid United Nations-African Union

peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) with the protection of civilians at 

the core of its mandate. The Resolution called for a phased transition of 

authority from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to UNAMID, 

which took place December 31, 2007. By that date, UNAMID had yet to 

deploy the bulk of its forces and did not have commitments from troopcontributing countries for certain key assets, such as helicopters and transport 

units. In Chad, the European Union force and the UN Mission in the Central 

African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) began deploying in 2007 to help 

provide security for refugees from Darfur.

The United States also continued to push for nuclear disarmament in 

2007. Regarding Iran, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 

1747 to impose additional Chapter VII sanctions. Resolution 1747 built upon 

Resolutions 1696 and 1737 by extending the asset freeze and travel restrictions 

to individuals and entities. It also prohibited Iran’s export of arms and called 

upon the international community not to enter into new commitments for 

grants, financial assistance, or concessional loans with the Government of 

Iran, except for humanitarian and developmental purposes. In November, the 

Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that 

Iran continued not to meet its international commitments. Regarding the 

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.) in 2007, the United States

led disablement activities, which progressed although the D.P.R.K. did not 

provide a declaration of its nuclear program by December 31, 2007.

The United States remained committed to peace in the Near East. 

The United States stood by its vision for the creation of the new state of 

Palestine to live harmoniously next to the state of Israel. The Security Council 

adopted press statements expressing grave concern at the breakdown of the 

Mecca Accord ceasefire and renewed fighting in Gaza in May. In December, 

the Council welcomed the international donor’s conference for a Palestinian

state. In the General Assembly and other UN bodies, the United States

continued to speak forcefully to ensure that Israel was not excluded nor 

isolated at UN meetings, with Israeli interests given fair consideration.

The United States also continued its active support of Iraq. Security 

Council actions included the adoption of Resolutions 1770 and 1790, which 

extended the mandates of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and 

Multinational Force in Iraq (and certain arrangements for the Development 

Fund for Iraq), respectively. In addition, with respect to Lebanon, the Security 

Council adopted Resolution 1757, which decided that the provisions of the 

agreement to establish a Special Tribunal for Lebanon to prosecute those 

responsible for the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri

and others would enter into force on June 10, unless the Government of 
Prologue

3

Lebanon provided notification that the legal requirements for entry into force 

had been complied with; it did not. The United States donated $5 million to 

help the start up costs of the Tribunal’s operations. In 2007, the Security 

Council also adopted Resolution 1773, which commended the positive role of 

the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in critically improving the 

security situation.

Part 2, on Economic and Social Affairs, assesses the work of the 

General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and various subsidiary 

bodies and commissions on issues that involve economic development, the 

status of women, humanitarian aid, and crime prevention and control.

The UN Human Rights Council held three regular sessions, one 

special session, and also met informally throughout 2007. Despite the 

Council’s successful special session on Burma, its performance during the 

year was extremely disappointing. The Council pushed through, despite a lack 

of consensus, a resolution establishing its flawed institutional procedures and 

agenda; continued its unbalanced treatment of Israel, including by establishing 

a permanent agenda item on the situation in Palestine; eliminated the Cuba and 

Belarus human rights special rapporteurs; took only very weak measures on 

Sudan; and took no action on the D.P.R.K., Iran, Cuba, or Belarus. Violence 

in Zimbabwe in March 2007 resulted in a statement by some Council members 

and observers (including the United States) but no resolution. The United 

States supported the Council’s special session on Burma and helped to ensure 

the technical cooperation mandates for Liberia, Haiti, and Burundi were 

renewed in the Council’s September session. 

Part 3, on Specialized Agencies, describes the activities of a host of 

agencies, from the Food and Agriculture Organization to the World Health 

Organization, and assesses how they served U.S. interests.

Part 4, on Legal Developments, highlights the work of the judicial 

bodies, such as the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia

and Rwanda, and the International Court of Justice Part 5, on Reform of the 

UN System, describes progress on reform of the United Nations and of the 

main UN bodies.

The United States and other member states supported the UN’s 

focused efforts on improving management practices. Delegates worked to 

modernize the UN Secretariat; strengthen oversight, ethics, and accountability

systems; and review UN program mandates. For example, the General 

Assembly appointed the first members of the Independent Audit Advisory 

Committee and passed a resolution to create a new two-tier formal system for 

adjudicating grievances. In addition, the United States launched a systemwide UN Transparency and Accountability Initiative which seeks to apply 

reforms already adopted for the UN Secretariat to UN funds, programs, and 

specialized agencies so that all UN entities are held to the same standards. 

In addition, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented proposals for 

restructuring the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). The 

General Assembly passed a resolution approving the proposal with some 
United States Participation in the United Nations – 2007

4

modifications. The restructuring created the Department of Field Support for 

administrative and logistic support, with DPKO responsible for military, 

police, and stabilization planning. 

Part 6, on Administration and Budget provides an overview of the 

current UN financial situation and resource management issues. The UN 

General Assembly adopted a $4.2 billion biennium budget in December –

against U.S. opposition due largely to the piecemeal approach to budgeting 

being used by the UN and the unrestrained growth a potential 25% increase 

would represent. This budget for the 2008-2009 biennium is slightly below 

the final budget for the previous biennium, but the General Assembly deferred 

to the resumed session of 2008 proposals that, if approved, could increase the 

budget substantially, perhaps by an additional $1 billion.

Finally, the report’s appendices include the President’s 2007 speech 

to the UN General Assembly and information about the principal organs of the 

United Nations and their membership.

Questions about this report may be directed to the Bureau of 

International Organization Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
5

Part 1

Political and Security Affairs

Regional Issues

Near East

Arab-Israeli Situation

During 2007, the United States actively pursued President Bush’s 

vision of a two-state solution of Israel and Palestine living side by side in 

peace and security. The United States continued to work in partnership with 

the other members of the Quartet (the United Nations, European Union, and 

Russia) to achieve progress on the Quartet’s Performance-Based Roadmap to a 

Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 

(―Roadmap‖).

In May, the breakdown of the Mecca Accord ceasefire between 

Hamas and Fatah led to renewed fighting in Gaza and the deaths of more than 

50 Palestinians. At the same time, hundreds of rocket and mortar attacks by 

Hamas and other terrorist groups from the Gaza Strip into Israel caused two 

civilian deaths and dozens of injuries. On May 30, the Security Council 

adopted a press statement (SC/9028) expressing grave concern at the 

breakdown of the ceasefire and the resulting increase in violence. The 

members welcomed the efforts of Palestinian President Abbas to establish a 

ceasefire, urged all parties to support his call for an immediate end to the 

violence, and expressed appreciation for the support of the Government of 

Egypt. The Quartet principals, meeting in Berlin on May 30, welcomed the 

Council’s press statement. They expressed concern over the factional 

violence, called on all Palestinians to respect the ceasefire, and condemned the 

continued firing of Qassam rockets into Israel by Hamas and other terrorist 

groups. Fighting continued in June, resulting in Hamas gaining control of 

Gaza and President Abbas dissolving the unity government and declaring a 

state of emergency on June 14.

On December 21, the Security Council adopted a press statement

(SC/9216) welcoming the international donors’ conference for the Palestinian

state held in Paris on December 17. The statement applauded the conference 

as a strong international signal of support to the Palestinian people and the 

Palestinian Authority, constituting ―an important step in a broader process 

aiming at the realization of the vision of two States living side by side in peace

and security.‖ Council members urged a rapid disbursement of pledges and 

called on all states and international organizations in a position to do so to 

assist in the development of the Palestinian economy, to maximize the 

resources available to the Palestinian Authority, and to contribute to 

Palestinian institution-building in preparation for statehood.

The 62nd General Assembly’s regular session in the fall of 2007 voted 

on 19 resolutions concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and related issues, 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

6

down from the 23 adopted in 2006. The United States opposed many of these 

resolutions because they addressed final status issues that the Israelis and 

Palestinians must decide through negotiations; advocated activities or 

language incompatible with basic principles of the Middle East peace process; 

or expended resources that could be used in more productive ways to improve 

the lives of the Palestinian people.

On December 17, both the United States and Israel joined consensus 

on a General Assembly resolution on assistance to the Palestinian people, but, 

in a subsequent explanation of its position, Israel's representative noted with 

regret that the resolution made only passing reference to the Annapolis

conference and that it failed to note the responsibility of Hamas for the 

grievous humanitarian situation in Gaza. On December 19, the General 

Assembly adopted an Israeli-sponsored resolution on ―Agricultural

Technology for Development,‖ underlining the need for member states to 

make their knowledge and know-how in the fields of agricultural technology 

and innovation accessible to developing countries. The resolution passed with 

147 countries, including the United States, voting in favor and no objections. 

Thirty countries, including many in the Arab Group, abstained, but they made 

no effort to block the resolution. 

During the 62nd General Assembly, the United States continued its 

efforts to target three resolutions that renewed the mandates of UN entities that 

embody institutional discrimination against Israel: the Division for Palestinian

Rights, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the 

Palestinian People, and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices 

Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the 

Occupied Territories. Despite strong U.S. diplomatic efforts, support for all 

three resolutions increased somewhat between 2006 and 2007, although those 

opposing them remained constant. The 62nd General Assembly adopted these 

resolutions by votes of 110-8 (U.S.)-54, 109-8 (U.S.)-55, and 93-8 (U.S.)-74, 

respectively.

Throughout the year, U.S. representatives spoke out forcefully and 

frequently in numerous UN bodies to ensure that Israel was not excluded from 

or isolated at UN meetings and conferences, with Israeli interests given fair 

consideration.

Iran

Throughout 2007, the United States was actively engaged in both the 

UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to 

pressure Iran to comply with its international nuclear obligations. In response 

to the threat presented by Iran’s continued pursuit of a nuclear weapons 

capability, the Security Council and the IAEA took a number of actions 

against Iran, culminating in negotiations on a third round of UN Security 

Council sanctions at the end of the year.

Building upon its efforts in 2006, the UN Security Council 

unanimously adopted Resolution 1747 on March 24, 2007, imposing 
Political and Security Affairs

7

additional, legally binding sanctions on Iran under Chapter VII of the UN 

Charter UN Security Council Resolution 1747 reaffirmed the provisions in 

Resolutions 1696 and 1737 and built upon those provisions, including by 

extending the asset freeze and travel restrictions to individuals and entities in 

the 1747 annex, most notably to Bank Sepah and several individuals and 

entities affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Resolution 

1747 included a provision prohibiting Iran’s export of all arms and related 

materiel and called upon states to exercise vigilance and restraint in their 

supply to Iran of arms listed in the UN Register on Conventional Arms. The 

Resolution also called upon all states and international financial institutions 

not to enter into new commitments for grants, financial assistance, or 

concessional loans with the Government of Iran, except for strictly 

humanitarian and developmental purposes. The Resolution further requested 

the IAEA Director-General to report within 60 days on Iran’s compliance with 

the terms of the resolution. The Council clearly stated that it ―shall‖ consider 

the adoption of further appropriate measures under Article 41 of Chapter VII 

of the UN Charter if the IAEA Director-General reported that Iran had failed 

to comply with Resolutions 1737 and 1747. 

The May 23, 2007, IAEA Director-General’s report, submitted 

pursuant to Resolution 1747, once again made clear that Iran had failed to 

suspend its enrichment-related and heavy water-related activities, as required 

by Resolution 1737. As indicated in the report and by Iran’s own admission, 

Iran instead continued to expand its enrichment- and heavy water-related 

activities and refused to cooperate fully with the IAEA. The August 30, 2007 

Director-General’s report further confirmed Iran’s continued refusal to 

suspend its proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities. This was the fifth time 

since the Council’s adoption of Resolution 1696 that the IAEA DirectorGeneral had reported Iran’s failure to comply with the Council’s demands.

On August 27, 2007, the IAEA released a ―Plan of Action‖ (Plan) 

that it developed with Iran on modalities for resolving outstanding issues with 

respect to Iran’s nuclear program. While the implementation of the Plan 

would be a positive step if Iran cooperated fully and transparently, completion 

of the Plan would be insufficient insofar as Iranian compliance with its UN 

Security Council obligations is concerned. Moreover, Iran also must 

implement fully its IAEA Safeguards Agreement and grant the IAEA all 

required access and transparency. To that end, Iran must acknowledge and 

respect its continuing obligation to provide the IAEA with early declaration of 

any intent to construct new nuclear facilities, an obligation which Iran 

announced that it was suspending on March 25, 2007.

On November 15, 2007, the IAEA Director-General reported a 

continued Iranian pattern of incomplete implementation of its international 

commitments. As stated in the report, Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA had 

continued to be ―reactive rather than proactive,‖ and Iran continued to move 

forward with its centrifuge activities at Natanz and its construction of the Arak 

Heavy Water Research Reactor, in violation of its UN Security Council legal 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

8

obligation to suspend proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities. The DirectorGeneral reported that while Iran had taken some long overdue steps to address 

questions about the scope of past centrifuge activities and the IAEA 

investigation had made some progress, the IAEA was not in a position, based 

on information then available, to draw conclusions about ―the underlying 

nature‖ of Iran’s programs, i.e., whether they were solely peaceful. The 

Director-General also reported that the IAEA had been unable to verify the 

non-existence of undeclared nuclear material or facilities in Iran, noting that 

Iran no longer provided the type of information that it had previously been 

providing, pursuant to the Additional Protocol and as a transparency measure. 

―As a result, the Agency’s knowledge about Iran’s current nuclear program is 

diminishing.‖ The Director-General stated that Iran must ―clear the deck‖ by 

resolving all outstanding questions by the end of the 2007.

In a joint statement issued on September 28, 2007, the P5+1 foreign 

ministers announced their agreement to finalize a text for a third Chapter VII

resolution imposing additional sanctions and bring it to the Security Council 

for a vote unless the November reports of both IAEA Director-General 

ElBaradei and European Union High Representative Solana showed a positive 

outcome in their efforts to secure Iran’s compliance with its international 

obligations. The P5+1 political directors met several times during the fall of 

2007 to discuss and finalize the elements of the next sanctions resolution on 

Iran. The Security Council was expected to consider a new sanctions

resolution in early 2008. 

Per Resolutions 1737 and 1747, states are to report to the Iran

Sanctions Committee within 60 days of the adoption of the resolution on the 

steps taken to implement their obligations. At the end of 2007, the Committee 

had received 87 national reports under Resolution 1737 and 71 national reports 

under Resolution 1747. All states that submitted reports assured the 

Committee of their commitment to implementing the resolutions and to 

meeting their obligations.

On February 5, 2007, pursuant to Resolution 1737, the Committee 

solicited information from the IAEA regarding the Agency’s efforts to 

implement the Resolution 1737 measures that restrict the scope of the 

technical cooperation provided by the IAEA to Iran. On March 8, 2007, the 

IAEA informed the Committee that out of 55 projects, 22 were to be 

suspended per an IAEA Board of Governors decision of March 5, 2007. 

Technical cooperation was to continue for food, agricultural, medical, safety, 

and humanitarian purposes. The Committee solicited an update on the issue 

on August 7, 2007. By letter dated August 22, 2007, the IAEA informed the 

Committee that no projects had been added to its technical cooperation 

program with Iran since the issuance of its first report, and it provided an 

update on technical cooperation and technical assistance activities since March 

8, 2007. Six requests for technical cooperation were considered to be covered 

and had proceeded; five others had not. Twenty-four requests for participation 
Political and Security Affairs

9

in technical assistance activities had been deemed in conformity with 

Resolution 1737, and three requests had not.

Iraq

The United States continued its active engagement with the United 

Nations in 2007 to support Iraq’s efforts to build a united, secure, and stable 

country in the face of significant security concerns. The UN Assistance 

Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) expanded its staffing in Baghdad, Erbil, and Basrah 

and enhanced its support for the Iraqi government and people, including 

through assistance on electoral activities, national reconciliation, conduct of a 

constitutional review, resolution of disputed internal boundaries, facilitation of 

regional and international dialogue and cooperation, assistance to refugees, 

and efforts to address other humanitarian and development needs. In addition, 

UNAMI played a full role in the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) and 

Expanded Neighbors process. The ICI is an initiative of the Government of 

Iraq for a partnership with the international community to achieve a farreaching five-year national plan for improved security, political reconciliation, 

and economic development. The first Expanded Neighbors of Iraq Ministerial 

was convened on May 4 in Sharm el-Sheikh for the purpose of creating a 

forum in which Iraq and its neighbors could address the political and security 

challenges facing Iraq.

On March 15, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General 

(SRSG) Ashraf Qazi conducted the first quarterly briefing of the UN Security 

Council in 2007 on UNAMI operations, while U.S. Deputy Permanent 

Representative Ambassador Alex Wolff reported on behalf of Multinational 

Force – Iraq (MNF-I). SRSG Qazi focused on the threat of political, sectarian, 

and criminal violence and the resulting humanitarian crisis. He also called 

upon the Iraqi Government to inspire its citizens’ confidence in its political 

reform agenda and urged neighboring countries to help restore stability. 

Ambassador Wolff noted the creation of the Baghdad Security Plan to renew 

the Iraqi Security Forces’ efforts to secure the capital and President Bush’s 

announcement of a ―New Way Forward‖ strategy. Ambassador Wolff also 

spoke on the Iraqi Government’s efforts to build positive relations with its 

neighbors. Iraqi Vice President Adil Abd-al Mahdi reaffirmed his 

government’s commitment to establishing security, rebuilding the Iraqi

political structure and economy, and promoting international partnership 

toward the achievement of peace.

On April 13, the Security Council issued a Presidential Statement 

(S/PRST/2007/11) condemning a terrorist attack in Iraq on April 12 that 

targeted the Iraqi Council of Representatives. The statement underlined the 

need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors to justice 

and urged all states to cooperate with Iraqi authorities in that regard.

On May 3 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the International Compact with 

Iraq (ICI) was launched by its co-chairs, the UN, and the Government of Iraq, 

with the endorsement of the United States and over 70 other countries and 

international organizations. Participating countries pledged more than $670 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

10

million in new development assistance and upwards of $25 billion in debt 

relief. The first Mid-Year ICI Report was delivered at the UN in New York on 

September 20. The report indicated that Iraq was making good progress 

toward achieving its economic objectives under the ICI.

Participants in the first Expanded Neighbors of Iraq Ministerial on 

May 4 in Sharm el-Sheikh included the countries neighboring Iraq plus Egypt, 

Bahrain, the UN, the Group of Eight, the permanent five Security Council 

members, the European Union, the Arab League, and the Organization of the 

Islamic Conference. The group endorsed the creation of three working groups 

on border security, energy, and refugees, all of which met later in the year. 

In May and December 2007, the Secretary-General issued biannual 

update reports on Iraq’s progress on repatriating or returning all Kuwaiti and 

third-country nationals or their remains and all Kuwaiti property, including 

archives, seized by Iraq, as mandated by Resolution 1284 (1999). Both reports 

confirmed that the case of the missing American serviceman, Captain Michael 

Scott Speicher, remained unresolved and that Kuwait had been unable to 

resume search and exhumation activities in Iraq due to the dangerous security 

situation. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait turned over two boxes of recovered 

documents to the Kuwaiti government.

On June 13, consistent with Resolution 1723 (2006), the Security 

Council conducted a six-month review of the mandate of the MNF-I and 

certain arrangements for the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) and the 

International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB). In accordance with 

Resolution 1483 (2003), the proceeds from all export sales of petroleum, 

petroleum products, and natural gas from Iraq are deposited in the DFI, which 

is audited by independent public accountants approved by the IAMB. The 

Council heard briefings by SRSG Qazi and U.S. Ambassador to the United 

Nations Khalilzad. SRSG Qazi expressed serious concern about the deepening 

sense of insecurity and pessimism in Iraq, which he attributed to the lack of 

progress in resolving the overlapping sectarian, political, and ethnic conflicts. 

Ambassador Khalilzad reported on the recent accomplishments of MNF-I and 

the increasing capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces, as well as progress in the 

political and economic sectors. Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari, who also 

attended the meeting, provided an update on current developments in Iraq, 

including the implementation of the Government of Iraq’s Baghdad Security 

Plan and its political, economic, and reconciliation efforts.

As requested by the Government of Iraq in a June 8 letter, the 

Council agreed to continue the MNF-I mandate and the arrangements for the 

DFI and IAMB for another six months. Following the meeting, the Council 

issued a press statement on Iraq that summarized the briefings, called upon the 

international community to continue its support of Iraq, and condemned the 

attacks on the holy shrines in Samarra, which occurred on June 13. 

On June 29, the United States and the United Kingdom (U.K.) 

submitted a resolution terminating the mandate of the UN Monitoring, 

Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), as well as the related 
Political and Security Affairs

11

Nuclear Verification Office of the International Atomic Energy Agency

(IAEA) in Iraq. The Security Council passed the proposed resolution (1762)

by a vote of 14 in favor with Russia abstaining. The Council also decided that 

all remaining funds in the UNMOVIC escrow account should be deposited in 

the DFI within three months of the Resolution’s adoption and that the 

Government of Iraq should report to the Council within one year on the 

progress made in adhering to applicable disarmament and non-proliferation

treaties and related international agreements.

On August 10, the Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1770, 

which extended UNAMI’s mandate for 12 months and stated the Council’s 

intention to review the mandate in one year or sooner, if so requested by the 

Iraqi Government. (The Council also welcomed the August 6 letter from Iraqi

Foreign Minister Zebari, which reaffirmed his government’s request that 

UNAMI assist Iraqi efforts to build a productive and prosperous nation at 

peace with itself and its neighbors.)

Resolution 1770, which was co-sponsored by the United States, the

United Kingdom, Italy, and Slovakia, also broadened the mandate of UNAMI

by authorizing the SRSG to ―advise, support, and assist‖ the Iraqi Government 

in advancing a national dialogue and political reconciliation; holding elections 

and referendums; resolving internal boundary disputes; facilitating regional 

dialogue; reintegrating former members of illegal armed groups; and 

conducting a census. The SRSG was further authorized to ―promote, support, 

and facilitate, in coordination with the Government of Iraq,‖ the return of and 

humanitarian assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs); 

the implementation of the International Compact with Iraq; the provision of 

essential services and donor coordination through the International 

Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI); economic reform, capacitybuilding, and the conditions for sustainable development; the development of 

civil, social, and essential services; and the contributions of UN agencies, 

funds, and programs.

The Resolution further called upon the Secretary-General to brief the 

Council within three months from the date of its passage, and on a quarterly 

basis thereafter. U.S. Ambassador Khalilzad delivered a statement to the 

Council upon the adoption of Resolution 1770, affirming that the newly 

expanded mandate would assist domestic reconciliation, promote regional 

understanding, and help marshal resources to assist those Iraqis affected by the 

humanitarian crisis. 

On September 11, Staffan de Mistura of Sweden was appointed to 

replace Ashraf Qazi as SRSG in Iraq and head of UNAMI. He assumed his 

responsibilities on November 11. 

On October 19, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn 

Pascoe briefed the Council, in accordance with Resolution 1770. He reported 

that recent developments in Iraq provided an opportunity for progress that 

must not be missed. The positive trends, including the lowest monthly 

casualties for the year during September, resulted in part from the ceasefire 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

12

declared by the Mahdi Army, the growing Sunni rejection of Al-Qaeda, the 

pact reached by the Sadrists, and the efforts of MNF-I and the Iraqi Security 

Forces. Pascoe urged Iraqi leaders to move beyond rhetoric toward progress 

on the constitutional review and major legislation, including oil and deBa’athification reform, as part of a wider political reconciliation process. He 

also pressed member states to increase contributions to the trust fund to 

support the ―distinct entity‖ of the Multi-National Force, which provides 

security for UNAMI. U.S. Ambassador Khalilzad also made a statement to 

the Council at this meeting, citing the Anbar Awakening, the rejection of Shia 

extremists, and the 2007 surge in Coalition forces as contributing factors to the 

improving security situation.

On October 28-29, the Sixth Donor Committee Meeting of the 

International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) was held in Bari, 

Italy. The IRFFI is comprised of two Iraq Trust Funds – one operated by the 

UN Development Group (UNDG) and the other by the World Bank. The 

UNDG reported that international donor contributions to the IRFFI continued 

to rise following the launch of the ICI in Sharm el-Sheikh in May. The Donor 

Committee decided to align the activities of the IRFFI with the goals and 

objectives of the ICI and further decided that funding from the European 

Union (EU) and the IRFFI would support the UNAMI offices in Baghdad in 

providing technical assistance to help the ICI Secretariat with its work.

On November 3, the second Expanded Neighbors Ministerial was 

held in Istanbul, Turkey. Participants issued a final communiqué in which 

they reaffirmed their commitment to helping Iraq restore peace, stability, and 

prosperity; endorsed the creation of a ―support mechanism‖ to carry out 

administrative duties and chart progress; and agreed to hold the next 

ministerial in Kuwait in 2008. 

On December 18, the Security Council unanimously adopted 

Resolution 1790, extending until December 31, 2008, the mandate of MNF-I

and certain arrangements for the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI), including 

the extension of legal immunities and oversight by the IAMB, the monitoring 

body for the Development Fund for Iraq. The resolution also contained 

language setting a review of the mandate for MNF-I and DFI/IAMB no later 

than June 15, 2008, and declared that it would terminate the mandate earlier if 

so requested by the Government of Iraq. Prior to the adoption of the 

Resolution, Warren Sach, the UN’s representative on the IAMB, briefed on the 

current status of the DFI/IAMB. In his statement at the adoption of Resolution 

1790, U.S. Ambassador Khalilzad welcomed the extension of MNF-I and the 

DFI/IAMB as indicators of the international community’s continued support 

of the Iraqi people and of the Iraqi government’s progress toward self-reliance.

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki wrote a letter to the Security Council, 

which was annexed to Resolution 1790, announcing that Iraq would not 

request another extension of MNF-I’s mandate when it expired on December 

31, 2008, with the expectation that the Council would thereafter not invoke 

Chapter VII authority when handling the situation in Iraq.
Political and Security Affairs

13

During 2007, the United States, on behalf of MNF-I, presented four 

reports to the Security Council regarding MNF-I activities in Iraq, consistent

with Resolutions 1546 (2004), 1637 (2005), and 1723 (2006).

Lebanon

The United States continued its active engagement in the United 

Nations to support the Government of Lebanon as it expanded its sovereignty 

to all of Lebanese territory. The United States is committed to the full 

implementation of all UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions regarding 

Lebanese sovereignty, including UNSC Resolutions 1559, 1701, and the 

Special Tribunal for Lebanon. 

UNSC Resolution 1559

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004) reaffirmed 

the Security Council’s call for strict respect for the sovereignty, territorial 

integrity, unity, and political independence of Lebanon as well as its call for 

the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, the disbanding and 

disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, and the extension of 

Lebanese government control over the entire country. 

On May 7, 2007, the Secretary-General issued his fifth semi-annual 

report on the implementation of Resolution 1559. The report noted that 

weapons outside of the area of command of the United Nations Interim Force 

in Lebanon (UNIFIL) undermine the authority of the Lebanese state. It called 

on Syria to take further steps to secure the border. The report emphasized that 

Syrian cooperation to enforce the arms embargo established in Security 

Council Resolution 1701 (2006) was an indispensable element in enabling the 

extension of the Lebanese Government’s control over all of its territory. On 

May 23, 2007, the UN Security Council issued a press statement condemning 

Fatah al-Islam’s attack on Lebanese security and armed forces in northern 

Lebanon and reiterating the Council’s unequivocal condemnation of any 

attempt to destabilize Lebanon. It underlined the Council’s readiness to 

continue to act in support of the legitimate and democratically-elected 

Government of Lebanon.

On June 11, 2007, the United States joined with other members of the 

UN Security Council to issue a Presidential Statement welcoming the abovementioned fifth report to the Security Council on the implementation of 

Resolution 1559. The Presidential Statement also reiterated the call for free 

and fair presidential elections in conformity with the Lebanese constitution 

and without any foreign interference and influence, and it urged political 

parties in Lebanon to relaunch a national dialogue. The Presidential Statement 

condemned ongoing criminal and terrorist acts, including those perpetrated by 

Fatah al-Islam, and supported the efforts of the Lebanese government and 

army to ensure safety and stability in Lebanon. The Presidential Statement 

reiterated the Council’s deep concern at mounting information from Israel and 

other states on illegal movements of arms into Lebanon, and in particular 

across the Lebanese-Syrian border.
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

14

On September 27, 2007, in advance of the expiration of the term of 

Lebanese President Lahoud on November 24, 2007, the United States joined 

with other members of the UN Security Council to issue a press statement 

calling for the holding of a free and fair presidential election in conformity 

with Lebanese constitutional norms and without any foreign interference. The 

Council also took note of the decision to convene a Lebanese parliamentary 

session on October 23 and looked forward to the Parliament electing a 

president.

On October 24, 2007, the UN Secretary-General released his sixth 

semi-annual report on the implementation of Resolution 1559. According to 

the report, Lebanon continued to experience political crisis and instability. 

The report concluded that political tension focused primarily on the demand of 

the opposition (consisting of Amal, Hizballah, and the Free Patriotic 

Movement) to establish a national unity government. The report also pointed 

to the absence of succession to President Lahoud, whose extended term in 

office ended in November 2007. It noted that political tensions had been 

exacerbated since December 2006 by ongoing protests in front of the Prime 

Minister’s office, which paralyzed regular political life in Lebanon. The 

report also noted that a significant number of bomb attacks and assassinations 

had taken place during the reporting period.

The United States continues to support full implementation of all the 

provisions of Resolution 1559 to ensure Lebanon’s political independence and 

territorial integrity, as well as the stability of Lebanon and the wider region. 

United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission

The UN International Independent Investigation Commission

(UNIIIC) was established by Security Council Resolution 1595 (2005) to 

assist Lebanese authorities in investigating the February 14 terrorist bombing 

that resulted in the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 

19 others. In 2006, Security Council Resolution 1748 extended the 

Commission’s mandate through June 15, 2008, and requested UNIIIC report to 

the Council on the progress of its investigation every four months or at any 

other time it deemed appropriate. (Previously, UNIIIC had been requested to 

report to the Council every three months.)

During 2007, UNIIIC issued three progress reports on its 

investigation of the Hariri assassination. Its March 15 report underscored 

UNIIIC’s belief that, beyond those directly involved in the crime and those 

who decided it should take place, certain other individuals may have had prior 

knowledge of the attack. It noted that as the bombing team began final 

preparations for the attack, some potentially relevant individuals noticeably 

altered their activities. The report characterized Syrian cooperation as 

"generally satisfactory.‖ (UN Security Council Resolution 1636, adopted on 

October 31, 2005, required Syria to cooperate with the Commission.) The 

Commission’s July 12 report noted that it had consolidated previously 

acquired evidence to hand over to a prosecutor and that the Commission had 

identified persons of interest. The November 14 report contained less detail 
Political and Security Affairs

15

than previous UNIIIC reports; it stated that UNIIIC could not jeopardize the 

integrity of its investigation nor the identity of witnesses by disclosing its 

substantive findings and was ―of the opinion that only limited information 

[could] be placed in the public domain regarding its ongoing investigations.‖

In 2007, the Security Council issued three Presidential Statements 

and a press statement condemning the assassinations of Lebanese officials and 

other terrorist attacks and sent letters to the Secretary-General authorizing 

UNIIIC to help provide technical assistance to the Government of Lebanon in 

connection with its investigation into the following crimes:

 February 13 terrorist attacks on two public buses that killed at 

least three people in northeast Beirut (press statement adopted 

February 13; letter sent to the Secretary-General on February 

15);

 June 13 assassination of Member of Parliament Walid Eido and 

at least nine others (Presidential Statement adopted June 3; letter 

sent to the Secretary-General on June 14);

 September 19 assassination of Member of Parliament Antoine 

Ghanem and at least seven others (Presidential Statement 

adopted September 20; letter sent to the Secretary-General on

September 21); and

 December 12 assassination of General Francois el-Hajj of the 

Lebanese Armed Forces and others (Presidential Statement 

adopted December 12; letter sent to the Secretary-General on

December 14).

Pursuant to Resolution 1644 (2005), which acknowledged the 

Lebanese government’s request that those responsible for the assassination of 

Prime Minister Hariri be tried by a tribunal of an international character, the 

Secretary-General issued a report on March 21, 2006, in which he requested 

the Security Council’s authorization to begin negotiations with the 

Government of Lebanon aimed at establishing such a tribunal. The Security 

Council authorized the Secretary General to negotiate such an agreement in 

Resolution 1664, unanimously adopted on March 29, 2006. On September 6, 

2006, the UN Legal Counsel presented a draft Agreement, which included a 

draft Statute, to the Lebanese Prime Minister and to the Minister of Justice of 

Lebanon for their consideration. On November 21, 2006, the Security Council 

approved the Tribunal documents. However, the Lebanese Speaker of 

Parliament refused to convene a session of Parliament, effectively preventing 

the Lebanese government from ratifying the Agreement. 

According to press reports in early April 2007, 70 members of the 

Lebanese Parliament – representing enough votes to approve the Tribunal

documents – wrote the Secretary-General expressing their desire, given the 

ongoing political impasse in Lebanon and the Speaker of the Parliament’s 

refusal to convene a parliamentary session, for the Security Council to bring 

the Tribunal into effect. On April 17, UN Legal Adviser Nicolas Michel
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

16

arrived in Beirut to engage in a dialogue with Lebanese officials regarding the 

ratification of the Agreement on the establishment of a tribunal. 

On May 14, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora sent a letter to 

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noting that ―the Lebanese Government 

believes that the time has come for the Security Council to help make the 

Special Tribunal for Lebanon a reality.‖ The letter asked the SecretaryGeneral to ―put before the Security Council [the Lebanese government’s] 

request that the Special Tribunal be put into effect.‖ However, Lebanese 

President Emile Lahoud sent the Secretary-General a letter on May 17, which 

said that the Siniora government was ―devoid of legitimacy‖ and argued 

against Security Council action to bring the Tribunal Agreement into force.

On May 30, 2007, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1757, 

which decided that the provisions of the Tribunal Agreement would enter into 

force on June 10, 2007, unless the Government of Lebanon provided 

notification before that date of compliance with the requirements for entry into 

force. The Government of Lebanon did not provide such notification, and the 

Tribunal Agreement thus entered into force on June 10, 2007. 

The Secretary-General issued his first report on the implementation of 

Resolution 1757 on September 4, 2007. The report, which was welcomed by 

the Security Council in a press statement on September 19, detailed progress 

made in establishing the Tribunal, including securing agreement from the 

Government of The Netherlands to host the Tribunal. On October 16, the 

Secretary-General sent a letter to the Security Council noting his intention to 

appoint Judge Mohamed Amin El Mahdi of Egypt, Judge Erik Mose of 

Norway, and Mr. Nicolas Michel, UN Legal Counsel, to the panel charged 

with selecting the judges and prosecutors for the Tribunal. 

On September 28, 2007, the United States donated $5 million to help 

cover start up and first year costs of the Tribunal’s operations. The United 

States strongly supports the efforts of UNIIIC and the Special Tribunal for 

Lebanon and is committed to seeing those responsible for the assassination of 

Rafiq Hariri and others brought to justice.

UN Interim Force in Lebanon

UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426 established the United 

Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in March 1978, in response to the 

Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon following a Palestinian Liberation 

Organization attack inside Israel. UNIFIL’s mandate included confirming the 

withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, assisting the Government of 

Lebanon in restoring its effective authority, and contributing to the restoration 

of international peace and security in the region. In a report to the Security 

Council in 2000, the Secretary-General asserted that UNIFIL had essentially 

completed two of the three parts of its mandate, the remaining task being the 

restoration of international peace and security.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted on August 11, 2006, 

expanded UNIFIL’s authorized force strength to a maximum of 15,000 troops, 

which remains the same under the current UN Security Council Resolution 
Political and Security Affairs

17

1773. It also provided that, in addition to UNIFIL’s existing mandate under 

Resolutions 425 and 426, UNIFIL would monitor the cessation of hostilities 

called for in the original resolutions; accompany and support the Lebanese 

Armed Forces (LAF) as they deployed throughout the South, including along 

the Blue Line, as Israel withdrew its armed forces from Lebanon, coordinating 

these activities with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of 

Israel; extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian 

populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons; assist the 

LAF in taking steps toward the establishment between the Blue Line and the 

Litani River of an area free of armed personnel, assets, and weapons other than 

those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL; and assist the 

Government of Lebanon, at its request, in securing its borders and other points 

of entry. 

Though UNIFIL is not authorized to search vehicles or private 

domiciles for weapons unless requested to do so by the Lebanese Armed 

Forces, if UNIFIL finds weapons in plain sight, or discovers caches of 

weapons according to the rules of engagement, UNIFIL is required to turn 

them over to the LAF as soon as possible. In 2007, UNIFIL discovered: 39

bunkers, 54 rockets, 84 grenades, 277 bombs of various types, 137 cases of 

flares, 27 mortars, eight booby traps, six mines, two rifles, and 58 nondescript 

shells. 

Throughout 2007, UNIFIL continued to clear the numerous 

minefields throughout southern Lebanon. According to the Belgian

contingent, as many as 800,000 unexploded ordnance (UXO) devices and 

possibly more still remain. UNIFIL is clearing approximately 50 square 

meters of land per day. Thus far, civilian contractor teams have cleared 

approximately 110,000 UXO, and UNIFIL teams, like the Belgian teams, have 

cleared approximately 25,000.

In 2007, UNIFIL provided needed medical, dental, and veterinary 

assistance through the entire UNIFIL area of operation. UNIFIL has provided 

numerous quick impact projects including: hospital rehabilitation, sanitation, 

generators for schools, well and water pump installation, LAF dining facility 

construction, furniture for public schools, streetlights, and social centers. 

UNIFIL has also sponsored numerous cultural and support activities. 

Additionally, UNIFIL works alongside Lebanese national projects.

On April 17, the United States joined consensus with other UN 

Security Council members to issue a Presidential Statement welcoming the 

progress that had been made in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 

1701, including the completion of the second phase of UNIFIL’s deployment, 

and the Secretary General’s intent to dispatch the Lebanon Independent Border 

Assessment Team (LIBAT) to assess the monitoring of the Lebanon-Syria

border. The Presidential Statement also expressed the Council’s deep concern 

about statements made by Hizballah’s Secretary-General regarding Lebanese 

authorities’ seizure of a truckload of arms on February 8, 2007.
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

18

On June 18, the United States joined with other members of the UN 

Security Council to issue a press statement condemning the June 17 rocket 

attack launched against Israel from southern Lebanon.

In June 2007, an explosion in the vicinity of Khiam hit a Spanish

battalion patrol, comprised of two armored personnel carriers. Six UNIFIL

personnel were killed and two others injured. Preliminary findings indicate 

that the explosion was caused by a remote-controlled car bomb, which hit the 

second of the two armored vehicles. The UN Secretary-General issued a 

statement condemning the attack in the strongest possible terms. Lebanese 

authorities, including President Lahoud, Prime Minister Siniora and the 

leadership of the LAF, echoed the condemnation. The United States joined 

with UN Security Council members to issue a Presidential Statement 

on June 25, condemning the bombing. 

On August 3, the UN Security Council issued a Presidential 

Statement reiterating its commitment to full implementation of UN Security 

Council Resolution 1701 and taking note of the Government of Lebanon’s 

request for the Council to renew UNIFIL’s mandate.

UN Security Council Resolution 1773, adopted on August 24, 2007, 

commended the positive role of UNIFIL and the LAF in establishing a new 

strategic environment. The swift and effective deployment of the expanded 

UNIFIL and its activities to date have proven critical in preventing a 

recurrence of hostilities across the Blue Line and in establishing a strong 

military presence in Southern Lebanon. The effectiveness of UNIFIL has 

hinged on the will of troop contributors to enforce the mandate aggressively. 

As of December 31, 2007, UNIFIL had 11,563 troops, with Italy, 

France, Spain, and India serving as the largest troop contributing countries. 

As of December 31, 2007, UNIFIL’s maritime force consisted of 15 ships and 

four helicopters in coordination with two LAF navy boats. The maritime area 

of interest was 12,000 square nautical miles, while the area of maritime 

operations was 5,000 square nautical miles.

UN Truce Supervision Organization

In 2007, the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) continued 

to maintain a stabilizing presence in the region, including military observers 

and administrative staff to support the United Nations Interim Force in 

Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

(UNDOF) in the Golan Heights. UNTSO personnel maintained their positions 

at their patrol bases to fulfill their mandate requirements. At Egypt's request, 

the mission also continued to provide a small monitoring team to patrol the 

Sinai.

UNTSO was the first peacekeeping mission organized by the United 

Nations. In 1948, UNTSO was established under UN Security Council 

Resolution 50 to supervise the truce called for by the Council at the end of the 

British mandate in Palestine. Since then, the Council has entrusted UNTSO 

with a variety of tasks, including supervising the implementation and 
Political and Security Affairs

19

observance of the general agreements between Israel and its four Arab 

neighbors—Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Following the 1967 Middle 

East War, UNTSO assumed cease-fire monitoring responsibilities in the IsraelSyria sector and the Suez Canal Zone. In 1972, a similar operation was 

established in southern Lebanon. Unarmed UNTSO military observers were 

directed to assist UN peacekeeping forces deployed in the Sinai (1973), on the 

Golan Heights (1974), as well as in southern Lebanon (1978). 

As of December 31, 2007, UNTSO had 153 military observers, 

including three United States personnel.

UN Disengagement Observer Force

The UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was established 

by UN Security Council Resolution 350 of May 31, 1974, in the aftermath of 

the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. UNDOF observes the implementation of the 

Israel-Syria Disengagement Agreement and serves U.S. national security 

interests by maintaining confidence levels and preventing the escalation of 

tensions between Israel and Syria. The Security Council extends UNDOF’s 

mandate at six-month intervals, with the last renewal authorized by the 

Security Council on December 15, 2007. 

UNDOF’s mission in 2007 remained focused on monitoring the 

cease-fire between Israel and Syria, supervising the disengagement of Israeli

and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights, and monitoring the areas of separation 

and limitation between the two countries. In carrying out its mandate, 

UNDOF is also assisted by military observers from the UN Troop Supervision 

Organization (UNTSO) based in Jerusalem. In 2007, the security situation in 

UNDOF’s area of operations remained generally calm, though the SecretaryGeneral reported to the Council in June and December that the situation in the 

Middle East was tense and likely to remain so, unless and until a 

comprehensive peace settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East 

problem could be reached. Syrian government officials made statements in 

fall 2006 hinting at a willingness to retake the Golan Heights from Israel by 

force.

In 2007, UNDOF continued to operate close to the area of separation, 

with two base camps, 44 permanently manned positions, and 11 observation 

posts. UNDOF maintains an area of separation, which is some 80 kilometers 

long and varies in width between approximately 10 kilometers in the center to 

less than one kilometer in the extreme south. In addition, the Force operates 

patrols by day and night. The Force is assisted by the military observers of 

Observer Group Golan.

UNDOF continued to assist the International Committee of the Red 

Cross with facilities for mail and the passage of persons through the area of 

separation. Within the means available, medical treatment is provided to the 

local population on request. 

In UNDOF’s area of operation, especially in the area of separation, 

minefields continue to pose a threat to personnel and local inhabitants. The 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

20

Force supported the activities of the United Nations Children's Fund to 

promote mine awareness among the civilian population. 

UN Security Council Resolution 1729 (2007) renewed UNDOF’s 

mandate for six months, until June 30, 2008. As of December 31, 2007, 

UNDOF had 1,047 troops assigned but no U.S. military personnel. UNassessed costs for UNDOF in 2007 totaled $41.6 million. The U.S. share 

totaled $8.9 million.

South Asia

Afghanistan

The United States continued to work through the United Nations and 

with the international community in pursuit of a sovereign, stable, democratic, 

and prosperous Afghanistan. Afghans were supportive of the international 

presence, both civilian and military, but difficult challenges remained. 

Violence continued to increase in the south, the east, and in Kabul during the 

spring and summer of 2007. In response, Afghan authorities and international 

partners continued to integrate security operations with economic 

revitalization, infrastructure development, better governance, public 

diplomacy, counter-narcotics activities, and cooperation with Pakistan.

The Security Council established the UN Assistance Mission in 

Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Resolution 1401 (2002) with a mandate to facilitate 

implementation of the Bonn Agreement, which established provisional 

arrangements in Afghanistan pending the re-establishment of permanent 

government institutions. The Security Council on March 23, 2007, passed 

Resolution 1746, updating and renewing UNAMA’s mandate for one year. 

The mandate contained six main elements: 

 Providing political and strategic advice for the peace process, 

including strengthening emerging democratic institutions; 

 Providing good offices, as appropriate; 

 Assisting the Government of Afghanistan in the coordination and 

monitoring of the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact, 

and co-chairing the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board 

(JCMB); 

 Promoting human rights through an independent role in 

monitoring human rights violations and capacity-building of 

national institutions; 

 Providing technical assistance in sectors where the United 

Nations has a demonstrated comparative advantage and 

expertise, including disbanding illegal armed groups and support 

to the Independent Electoral Commission; and 

 Managing all United Nations humanitarian relief, recovery, 

reconstruction and development activities in Afghanistan.
Political and Security Affairs

21

UNAMA is a Special Political Mission directed and supported by the 

UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and funded by the UN 

regular budget. With strong U.S. support, UNAMA’s priorities in 2007 

included strengthening Afghan institutions; increasing coordination among the 

Afghan Government, the United Nations, and the international community; 

and building the capacity of the Afghan Government’s administration at all 

levels including the institutionalization of good governance, the rule of law, 

and security.

Security is mainly the responsibility of the UN-mandated, NATO-led, 

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Afghan National 

Security Forces (ANSF). ISAF’s mission is to assist Afghanistan and the 

international community in maintaining security. During 2007, ISAF’s five 

regional commands continued to coordinate security operations in all parts of 

the country with the Afghan National Army (ANA). ISAF also has 

responsibility for the 26 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), 12 of which 

are led by the United States. Separately from ISAF, the U.S.-led Operation 

Enduring Freedom (OEF) continued its focus on counter-terrorism operations. 

Afghan, U.S., and international forces continued to promote a counterinsurgency 

strategy through improved regional security and stability, good governance, and 

greater economic development.

Afghan National Security Forces are comprised of the ANA, the 

Afghan National Police (ANP), and the National Directorate of Security 

(NDS). The United States coordinated police and justice-sector training with 

UNAMA. The international community pays ANP salaries through the Law 

and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOFTA), which is administered by the 

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and to which the United States 

is a principal donor. The ANA continued to expand in size, improve its 

capabilities, and take on more responsibility for operations alongside Coalition 

forces. Disarmament efforts in Afghanistan are ongoing, carried out by the 

Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) program formally launched in 

March 2005, with Japan as the lead donor nation. In June 2007, Afghanistan 

and the international community agreed to transition day-to-day operations of 

DIAG from the Afghan New Beginnings Program (ANBP) under UNDP to a 

special cell within the Ministry of Interior. 

In coordination with UNAMA, the United States also built over 3,500 

kilometers of national and provincial roads. Several multi-national projects 

were underway to build Afghanistan’s hydro and electrical power systems. 

Education and health care are also U.S. and UN priorities. Over 5.4 million 

children attended school, and approximately 80% of the population now has 

access to basic health services.

After a decrease in poppy cultivation in 2005, Afghanistan produced 

record poppy crops in 2006 and 2007, according to the UN Office on Drugs 

and Crime (UNODC). The Afghan Government and its international partners 

began implementing a long-term, integrated strategy in 2006 to combat the 

narcotics industry. UNAMA’s Rule of Law Unit established the International 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

22

Coordination Group for Justice Reform (ICGJR) in 2006, co-chaired with 

Italy, which resulted in much-improved coordination among donors’ justice 

programs. In July 2007, the United Nations and the Italian and Afghan 

Governments jointly chaired the international Conference on Rule of Law in 

Afghanistan in Rome. The conference laid down detailed joint 

recommendations for the development of rule of law in Afghanistan, including 

the preparation of: a consolidated National Justice Sector Strategy (NJSS, to 

be part of the ANDS) and including the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme 

Court, and the Office of the Attorney General; a National Justice Program 

(NJP), which would implement the NJSS; and a Provincial Justice 

Coordination Mechanism (PJCM), which would help communicate and 

coordinate justice reform initiatives between Kabul and the provinces. The 

PJCM would be supervised by UNAMA, and the PJCM coordinators would be 

located at UNAMA offices in key population centers around the country. All 

of these efforts were due to be finalized in the first half of 2008.

The United States also funds the efforts of the UN High 

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist returning refugees in 

Afghanistan. More than five million Afghans have returned home since 2002, 

making it the most successful and largest refugee repatriation in UNHCR’s 

history. Returns slowed to approximately 350,000 in 2007, due to the security 

situation and limited absorption capacity in Afghanistan. UNHCR will 

continue to support returns, but is also looking to stabilize returnee populations 

so they do not recycle back to Iran and Pakistan. UNHCR continued to 

discuss the renegotiation of two tripartite agreements, one among itself, 

Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the other among itself, Afghanistan and Iran, to 

ensure that any repatriation would be voluntary and durable and that any 

refugees remaining in these countries of asylum would continue to receive 

protection and limited assistance.

India/Pakistan

The UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) 

was deployed in January 1949 under United Nations Security Council 

Resolution 47 (1948) to supervise the cease-fire agreed between India and 

Pakistan in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In July 1949, India and Pakistan 

signed the Karachi Agreement establishing a ceasefire line to be supervised by 

UN observers. In 1971, hostilities broke out between India and Pakistan. In 

1972, following a ceasefire, both agreed on a Line of Control which 

UNMOGIP monitors. UNMOGIP’s functions are to observe and report, 

investigate complaints of ceasefire violations, and submit findings to the 

parties and to the UN Secretary-General.

Since the 1972 Agreement, India has taken the position that 

UNMOGIP’s mandate has lapsed. Pakistan did not accept India’s position. 

Given the disagreement between the parties on UNMOGIP’s mandate, the UN 

Secretary-General adopted the position that only a decision of the UN Security 

Council can terminate the mandate. The military authorities of Pakistan have 

continued to lodge complaints with UNMOGIP concerning ceasefire 
Political and Security Affairs

23

violations; recent reports have indicated Pakistan’s interest that the Mission 

continues. The military authorities of India have lodged no complaints since 

January 1972 and have restricted the activities of the UN observers on the 

Indian side of the Line of Control, while continuing to provide 

accommodation, transport, and other facilities to UNMOGIP.

UNMOGIP sustained its core objective in 2007: keeping peace 

between India and Pakistan by supervising the Kashmir region. An escalation 

of violence in Kashmir could have serious consequences given both countries’ 

possession of nuclear weapons. UNMOGIP’s mandate is long-term and will 

not be completed until ownership of Kashmir is decided and a cease-fire is no 

longer necessary. Political talks on Kashmir between India and Pakistan have 

proceeded erratically over the past several years. It is in the U.S. interest that 

tensions between these two counties not escalate because of the threat of a 

possible nuclear conflict between them. The presence of UNMOGIP forces 

monitoring the cease-fire contributes to the stability of Kashmir and serves as 

a constant reminder to the people in the region that the international 

community is concerned with promoting peace in the area.

As of December 31, 2007, UNMOGIP had 44 military observers, 

with the Republic of Korea, Croatia, and Denmark providing the largest 

number of military observers to the Mission. No U.S. personnel served in 

UNMOGIP. 

Nepal

The United States on January 23, 2007, joined other Security Council 

members in unanimously adopting UN Security Council Resolution 1740, 

which established the UN Political Mission in Nepal (UNMIN). UNMIN’s

mandate is to monitor and manage the weapons and troops of the Nepalese 

Army and the Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist (CPN-M)); monitor ceasefire arrangements stipulated in the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement 

(CPA); and assist in the preparation and monitoring of the upcoming elections 

for the Constituent Assembly. Secretary-General Ban on February 6 

appointed Ian Martin (U.K.) as his Special Representative and Chief of 

UNMIN.

On May 31, 2007, the seven parties in Nepal’s coalition government 

agreed that the Constituent Assembly election should be held no later than 

mid-December 2007. The CPN-M withdrew from the Seven-Party Alliance 

Government on September 18 to press for a list of demands that included the 

abolition of the monarchy. After protracted negotiations, the parties agreed on 

December 15 to reschedule the Constituent Assembly election for April 10, 

2008, and on December 23 reached a 23-point agreement as a basis for reestablishing cooperation among the parties. In Security Council discussions, 

the United States consistently called on the parties to refrain from violence, 

implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and conduct the elections as 

soon as possible in a free and fair environment.

The United States offered its full support to UNMIN in carrying out 

its mandate. UNMIN’s Arms Monitoring Office established the Joint 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

24

Monitoring Coordinating Committee with the participation of senior Nepal

Army and CPN-M leaders. The Committee met 59 times in 2007 and proved 

to be an effective mechanism for dispute resolution. On December 23, 

UNMIN completed verifying the occupants of Maoist cantonments, as called

for in the CPA. Despite delays in the electoral calendar, UNMIN’s Electoral 

Assistance Office continued to provide throughout 2007 technical expertise on 

logistics and security matters related to the elections. 

Africa

Burundi

In his May and June 2007 reports on Burundi, UN Secretary-General 

Ban noted that while Burundi had made progress toward the consolidation of 

peace after its emergence from a 12-year civil war, the political and security 

situation remained fragile and required the sustained engagement of the 

country’s international partners. The United States supported the SecretaryGeneral’s establishment of the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi

(BINUB) on January 1, 2007, for an initial period of 12 months, pursuant to 

Resolution 1719 (2006).

On May 30, 2007, the United States joined consensus in the adoption 

of a Security Council Presidential Statement on Burundi (S/PRST/2007/16) 

that welcomed the Burundi Government’s recent corrective steps aimed at 

promoting dialogue, national reconciliation, and social harmony. The 

statement welcomed the resumption of the efforts of the Joint Verification 

Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) to address and remove the obstacles in the 

implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement. It encouraged the Government of 

Burundi to remain committed to finding a solution to the political deadlock 

and urged the Forces Nationales de Libération (Palipehutu-FNL) to fulfill 

expeditiously their obligations under the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement. 

The Security Council welcomed the establishment of BINUB to provide 

support to the peace consolidation process. It also urged the Government of 

Burundi to intensify its efforts on all aspects of reforming the security sector 

and addressing the issue of human rights abuses committed by members of the 

security services, including by bringing perpetrators to justice.

The United States supported the press statements on Burundi adopted 

by the Security Council on June 21 and November 28, in which Council 

members expressed appreciation for the role of the Peacebuilding Commission

in helping Burundi to achieve long-term peace and stability, urged the 

Palipehutu-FNL to return to the JVMM without delay or preconditions, and 

called on both parties to refrain from any action that might lead to a 

resumption of hostilities. These press statements welcomed the Government’s 

efforts to promote dialogue, national reconciliation, and social harmony in 

Burundi, and called on all political stakeholders there to maintain the spirit of 

consensus-building and inclusiveness that had enabled a successful transition. 

Council members also welcomed the agreement reached during the June 17

talks in Dar es Salaam between the President of Burundi and the leader of the 
Political and Security Affairs

25

Palipehutu-FNL. The resumption of the dialogue represented a major 

milestone on the way to the consolidation of peace in Burundi.

On December 19, the United States supported Security Council 

Resolution 1791 (2007) to extend until December 31, 2008, the mandate of 

BINUB, as set out in Resolution 1719 (2006). The resolution also called on 

the Palipehutu-FNL to return to the JVMM without delay or preconditions and 

to release immediately all children associated with it. It also called on both 

parties to the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement to refrain from any action 

that might lead to a resumption of hostilities and to resolve outstanding issues 

in a spirit of cooperation, including by agreeing on a road map of sequenced 

steps and clear time frames for the successful implementation of the 

Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement.

Chad

On September 25, 2007, the UN Security Council approved 

Resolution 1778, to establish the United Nations Mission in the Central 

African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), a peacekeeping operation in Chad 

and the Central African Republic (CAR). The Security Council envisioned 

MINURCAT as primarily a humanitarian police operation, intended to protect 

refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), conflict-affected Chadians, and 

humanitarian operations. At the time MINURCAT was established, Chad 

hosted an estimated 240,000 refugees from Darfur and 46,000 from the 

Central African Republic. CAR hosted an additional 2,500 refugees from 

Darfur. Both Chad and the CAR had internal conflicts and were subject to 

armed incursions from Darfur, further contributing to instability in the subregion. At the time MINURCAT was established, 180,000 Chadians were 

internally displaced, as were over 100,000 Central Africans (though most were 

not in the northeastern region where MINURCAT was to deploy).

Resolution 1778 authorized MINURCAT up to 300 civilian police, 

mandated to train and advise a new special unit of the Chadian National Police 

to protect vulnerable civilians in eastern Chad. MINURCAT was also 

authorized to establish a multidimensional office of civilian and up to 50 

military personnel to maintain a liaison with host country governments, other 

UN entities in the region, and the EU force known as EUFOR. EUFOR was to 

consist of 3,000-4,000 troops contributed by EU countries. While EUFOR had 

a UN mandate to provide force protection to MINURCAT in both countries, 

EUFOR was to remain under EU command and control and was not to be paid 

for out of UN assessments. MINURCAT had a mandate of one year, 

beginning on September 25, 2007, and was, for practical reasons, to deploy 

after EUFOR had done so. EUFOR’s mandate was also set for one year, to 

begin on the date when the EU declared that it had reached its initial operating 

capacity (IOC). As 2007 drew to a close, IOC had not yet been achieved. 

On October 25, a ―definitive peace accord‖ between the Government 

of Chad and the three main rebel groups – Rally of Forces for Change (RFC), 

Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD), and the UFDDFundamental – was signed. This accord collapsed when fighting between 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

26

Chadian forces and the rebel groups broke out in the Guereda region of eastern 

Chad in November and continued into December. On December 14, the three 

rebel groups announced a joint pact, forming an alliance intent on toppling the 

government headed by President Deby.

In his December 17 report, the Secretary-General said that 30 UN

civilian police were in Chad and recruiting for the Special Unit of the Chadian 

police, in accordance with the MINURCAT mandate. This report also noted 

that an additional 40 police had been recruited and that half of the authorized 

50 military observers were scheduled to deploy in January to begin 

establishing liaisons with the governments of Chad and CAR as well as with 

the various UN agencies operating in the region.

The initial deadline for deployment, December 20, passed with no 

significant EUFOR presence in the country. As they continued assembling the 

EUFOR force for deployment, EUFOR officials announced that they were 

encountering difficulties procuring the necessary helicopter units. 

MINURCAT’s delayed commencement was largely due to the absence of the 

EUFOR force.

At year’s end, MINURCAT and EUFOR were still deploying. 

According to UN statistics, 29 civilian police and three military observers had 

deployed to Chad by December 31. 

Central African Republic

The UN Security Council continued addressing the serious situation 

in the Central African Republic (CAR) during 2007. The CAR continued to 

be plagued by political insecurity, conflict, and significant humanitarian needs, 

although the situation improved somewhat in the second half of the year, when 

the Government of the CAR signed a peace agreement with the majority of 

rebel groups. Chronic conflict, poor infrastructure, and economic 

mismanagement hampered the CAR’s economic development. The country 

also faced increasing food insecurity, HIV/AIDs, and decreasing life 

expectancy. Over 300,000 Central Africans remained displaced throughout 

the region, including 197,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 80,000 

refugees in Chad, Cameroon, and Darfur. Between July and September 2007, 

the Central African Armed Forces (FARC) disarmed over 150 fighters fleeing 

the fighting in Chad and Darfur. On November 30, the Government and 

opposition parties of the CAR agreed on the text of a decree establishing a 

preparatory committee for a national dialogue, and the last remaining armed 

rebel group, the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD), 

began discussions with the government with the goal of signing a peace 

agreement.

Throughout 2007, the UN Peacebuilding Office in the Central 

African Republic (BONUCA) remained actively engaged in supporting the 

Government’s efforts to consolidate peace and gain national reconciliation, 

strengthen democratic institutions, and facilitate mobilization of international 

political support and resources for reconstruction and economic recovery. The 
Political and Security Affairs

27

Office also worked to promote domestic public awareness of human rights 

issues and to monitor developments in this field. 

On July 3, 2007, then-Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral (SRSG) General Lamine Cissé (Senegal) reported on the situation in 

the CAR to the Security Council, which reiterated its appreciation for his role 

as head of BONUCA. (Gen. Cissė retired as SRSG for the CAR in August 

2007 and was replaced on September 12 by François Lonseny Fall (Ghana).) 

The Council released a press statement (SC/9069/AFR/1556) that expressed its 

concern at the continuing volatility of the security situation, in particular 

banditry and the activities of armed groups. It expressed appreciation to the 

members of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa for 

action on the Community’s Multinational Force in the Central African 

Republic (FOMUC), as well as to the African Union (AU) and the European 

Union (EU) for their political and financial support. It also called on the 

authorities to fight impunity and ensure the full implementation of the 

international obligations that the CAR had accepted concerning the protection 

of human rights and international humanitarian law. The statement expressed 

serious concern at the human rights situation in the CAR and reports of 

disproportionate use of force by Government forces. It also condemned 

violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by 

armed groups and by some elements of the FARC. 

On August 27, the Security Council issued a Presidential Statement 

(S/PRST/2007/30) expressing concern about insecurity in eastern Chad and 

northeastern CAR and encouraging the Secretary-General and the EU to 

prepare ―a multi-dimensional presence‖ in the two countries, in cooperation 

with their governments and the AU. 

This presence was established on September 25, 2007, by Resolution 

1778, which created the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad

(MINURCAT) to provide humanitarian aid and protection to refugees in 

eastern Chad and northeastern CAR, in liaison with the two governments and 

that of Sudan, the AU, BONUCA, the hybrid UN-AU mission in Darfur

(UNAMID), FOMUC and the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States (CENSAD). Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the resolution authorized 

the European Union to deploy a force (EUFOR) for one year from the time of 

its first deployment to protect refugees, humanitarian aid delivery, and UN 

personnel and facilities. It urged Sudan, Chad, and the CAR not to allow their 

territories to be used as a base to undermine others, pressed stakeholders in 

Chad and the CAR to engage in a national dialogue, and stressed the need to 

cooperate with the United Nations Children’s Fund in ending recruitment of 

children into armed combat.

The December 12, 2007, press statement (SC/9196/AFR/1631) by the 

members of the Security Council continued to express concern about the 

ongoing insecurity in the CAR, condemned ongoing violence by armed 

groups, and called on all those groups to disarm without delay. It welcomed 

the extension of the mandate of FOMUC and the Force’s intention to deploy 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

28

troops in the north-west of the country to respond to the growing insecurity in 

that area. The Security Council also welcomed the imminent deployment of 

EUFOR to eastern Chad and north-eastern CAR. It urged the Government of 

the CAR to hold the national dialogue as soon as possible and called for the 

full participation of all the country’s political and civil society stakeholders. 

The Security Council also called on the Government of the CAR to take 

determined action to protect human rights, promote the rule of law, put an end 

to the widespread culture of impunity that prevailed in the country, and 

redouble its efforts to improve public governance. The Council welcomed 

national and international efforts to investigate crimes allegedly committed in 

the CAR in 2002 and 2003 and expressed support for the Special 

Representative and for BONUCA, the mandate of which the Council had just 

extended for another year. 

By the end of 2007, the first MINURCAT personnel had deployed to 

Chad and planning was underway for a small MINURCAT presence to be colocated with BONUCA in Bangui, according to a report by the SecretaryGeneral’s office (S/2007/739). The Security Council established a 

MINURCAT Trust Fund to cover the mission’s expenses, estimated to be 

around $23 million, of which around $14 million had been pledged by the 

European Commission, Japan, Belgium, and Norway. The United States 

contributed $2 million towards MINURCAT salaries. EUFOR encountered 

unexpected delays in force generation, due to a lack of committed resources 

and rebel activity in the east, and had not yet begun to deploy by year’s end.

Cote d’Ivoire

The UN Security Council established the UN Operation in Cote 

d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in Resolution 1528 on February 27, 2004. On January 10, 

2007 the Security Council extended UNOCI’s mandate until June 30 by its 

Resolution 1739. Throughout 2007, UNOCI continued to implement its 

mandate, including conducting patrols throughout the country to monitor the 

security situation and along the border with Guinea and Liberia. Nationwide 

presidential and parliamentary elections were not held as scheduled in 2007. 

President Laurent Gbagbo and Forces Nouvelles (FN) leader Guillaume Soro 

signed an agreement in Ouagadougou on March 4 that appeared to give some 

impetus to the peace process, but only limited progress was made during the 

year.

On January 17, President Gbagbo convened the first Council of 

Ministers meeting since the Security Council had endorsed the African Union

Peace and Security Council’s (AUPSC) extension of the peace process in 

November 2006. While FN leader Soro did not attend, a coalition of seven 

opposition groups endorsed direct dialogue between Soro and Gbagbo. A 

January 19 summit meeting of the Economic Community of West African 

States (ECOWAS) also endorsed direct dialogue between the two leaders and 

authorized incoming ECOWAS Chairman Compaore (Burkina Faso) to 

facilitate talks. Soro traveled to Ouagadougou a few days later to discuss 

modalities for dialogue with Compaore.
Political and Security Affairs

29

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Pierre 

Schori (Sweden) resigned in January. Principal Deputy SRSG Abou Moussa

(Chad) was acting SRSG until the UN Secretary-General appointed Choi 

Young-Jin (Republic of Korea) as SRSG on October 18. 

On March 4, President Gbabgo and FN leader Soro signed the 

Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA). Under the OPA, voter registration 

and identification would resume, allowing elections to take place within 10 

months. This new agreement extended the October 31 deadline endorsed by 

the African Union (AU) and Security Council in 2006. The Ivorian Army and 

FN would then partially merge, in anticipation of the formation of a new 

national army. The plan called for disarmament of militia groups, and 

disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants. The 

United Nations and France would gradually withdraw their troops from the 

Zone of Confidence. President Gbagbo issued a decree shortly after signature 

of the OPA establishing a joint command center for Ivorian and FN troops as a 

first step towards establishing a national army. 

The UN Security Council held consultations on Cote d’Ivoire on 

March 14. On March 19, the AUPSC issued a communiqué endorsing the 

OPA. Gbagbo and Soro returned to Ouagadougou to hammer out details of a 

power-sharing deal; Soro was named Prime Minister on April 4.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hedi Annabi took 

a UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations team to Abidjan in April to 

review UNOCI’s size and tasks. Following the signing of the OPA, the Zone 

of Confidence was officially dismantled; UN and French troops pulled back to 

observation posts.

On April 7, the new cabinet was announced. Most key portfolios, 

including Interior (both internal security and territorial administration), 

Defense, and Finance, went to President Gbagbo’s party. Soro’s FN gained 

five ministries (Tourism and Handicrafts, Solidarity and War Victims, Justice 

and Human Rights, African Integration, and Communication). The other 

opposition parties received the rest of the positions. 

The International Working Group (IWG) met in Abidjan on April 13. 

Delegates agreed to allow ECOWAS and the AU to make recommendations to 

the Security Council on whether the IWG should be dissolved or whether it 

could continue to serve a useful function in the peace process.

The OPA called for the establishment of ―mobile courts‖ to issue 

birth certificates to unregistered persons as a preliminary step in identification 

and voter registration. The process got under way sporadically over the 

summer and began wider operations in September. 

The Secretary-General issued his regular report on Cote d’Ivoire on 

May 14, which the Security Council reviewed on May 18. The report 

contained recommendations on how the United Nations could continue to 

support the Ivorian peace process, particularly in light of the OPA. There 

were no significant changes in UNOCI’s mandate. UNOCI continued to 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

30

provide security in the area dividing the government and Forces Nouvelles, 

although the Zone of Confidence had been dismantled and a ―green line‖ 

established. UNOCI continued to provide support for security sector reform. 

The mission also maintained its role in attempting to disarm and demobilize 

militias and was involved in the preparation for and conduct of elections and 

the restoration of government authority. 

In May, the French force (Licorne) reduced its strength by 500, 

leaving a force of around 2,500. A ceremony was held in Guiglo in western 

Cote d’Ivoire on May 19, during which militia groups turned in approximately 

100 small arms. While the weapons turned in were not significant -- mainly 

hunting rifles -- the ceremony had an important symbolic value. All parties, 

including President Gbagbo, attended. 

On June 29, UN Security Council Resolution 1763 rolled over 

UNOCI’s mandate unchanged until July 16. This technical rollover allowed 

some additional time for clarification of details on implementation of the 

March OPA. 

Also on June 29, Prime Minister Soro’s airplane was hit by rocketpropelled grenades while landing in Bouake, the principal city in the northern 

area held by the FN. Soro was unhurt, but five members of his party were 

killed and at least a dozen other people were wounded. UNOCI provided 

security for Soro at his residence in Bouake. UNOCI, Licorne, and the Ivorian 

army stepped up security precautions in Abidjan. Although there was some 

firing at the airport immediately after the attack, possibly by security forces, 

there was no subsequent fighting. The Security Council immediately issued a 

Presidential Statement condemning the attack and stressing the Council’s 

continuing support for the OPA. There was no immediate indication of who 

was responsible for the attack. President Gbagbo later asked the United 

Nations to help investigate the attack. The United Nations declined to open an 

official investigation under UN auspices, but sent a team of experts to Cote 

d’Ivoire in early September to assist the Ivorian authorities. 

A Security Council delegation visited Abidjan on June 18 to 

underline the Council’s support for the peace process. On June 20 Security 

Council Resolution 1761 renewed the mandate of the Cote d’Ivoire Group of 

Experts until October 31, 2007. The Group of Experts released its periodic 

report on June 11; it found no gross violations of the arms embargo and 

diamond ban, but a number of its inspections and those conducted by UNOCI

were obstructed, particularly by Government forces. The Group of Experts 

also noted a continuing lack of transparency surrounding the management of 

the most lucrative industries, including petroleum and cocoa. The Sanctions

Committee wrote to quasi-governmental agencies operating in the coffee and 

cocoa sectors to underline that Resolution 1761 (2007) required reporting on 

revenue management. Despite repeated attempts, the Group of Experts 

was unable to meet with the agencies or to obtain explanation on use of levies 

on cocoa and coffee collected from 2001 to 2006.
Political and Security Affairs

31

On July 16, the Council adopted Resolution 1765, which extended 

UNOCI’s mandate until January 15, 2008, specifying that this extension was 

intended to support elections within the timetable called for in the OPA. 

Resolution 1765 also endorsed the recommendations in the SecretaryGeneral’s report of May 14 and authorized a Contact Group to replace the 

IWG as the follow-on mechanism for the peace agreement. The resolution 

also called for certification of each stage of preparations and conduct of the 

elections. It transferred the authority for this certification from the High 

Representative for Elections to the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral; the High Representative position was abolished.

On July 20, UNOCI suspended and confined to barracks an entire 

Moroccan battalion, pending investigation of allegations that some of its 

members were having sex with under-age girls. A team of UN investigators 

traveled to Cote d’Ivoire the following week, accompanied by several senior 

Moroccan military representatives. Morocco promised to punish any 

personnel found guilty of the charges; in 2005, Morocco had removed and 

disciplined the commander of its UNOCI contingent when similar charges 

were made. 

On August 8, eight Ivorian defense and security forces personnel 

were deployed to Kopingu province to establish the fifth out of six mixed 

gendarmerie units provided for in the OPA to maintain law and order in the 

former Zone of Confidence. 

On September 4, Burkina Faso President Compaore convened a 

meeting in Ouagadougou to review implementation of key points, including 

the process to identify and issue documents to Ivorian citizens and steps to 

extend State authority. The mobile courts began work on September 25. 

The Group of Experts issued a report in October. On October 29, 

Security Council Resolution 1782 renewed the Cote d’Ivoire diamond 

sanctions and the arms embargo for a year.

By mid-November about a quarter of the mobile courts had been 

established. The Ivorian Government designated French technical operator 

Societe d’Applications Generales Electriques et Mecaniques (SAGEM) to 

produce national identity cards.

Political parties met in November to discuss a code of conduct for the 

elections; however, leaders of the ruling Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party 

declined to sign the agreement. According to a ―complementary‖ agreement 

(supplementing the OPA) signed by Gbagbo and Soro in Ouagadougou on 

November 28, an Integrated Command Center would begin ―regrouping‖ 

former combatants and disarming and dismantling militias by December 22. 

The two also agreed that civil service recruitment would begin by December 

22; taxation and customs officials would be redeployed to the north by 

December 30; and the rest of the bureaucracy would be deployed to the north 

by January 30, 2008.
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

32

Eight new mobile courts became operational in December, for a total 

of 33 teams deployed. The courts issued 84,603 certificates by the end of the 

year. In mid-December, the FN, after a 10-month interruption, resumed 

participation in meetings of the group of seven opposition parties. The 

political parties (including the Government party) agreed to sign an Electoral 

Code of Conduct. Preliminary steps, such as the Prime Minister’s signature of 

a decree creating a new civil service, were taken to begin extending 

government authority. 

There were two formal ceremonies on December 22 marking the 

beginning of regrouping of former combatants and disarmament of militias. 

UNOCI’s strength at the end of 2007 was 7,838 troops, 1,127 civilian 

police officers, and 195 military observers. UN assessments for UNOCI in 

2007 totaled $557.5 million. The U.S. share totaled $123.6 million.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

(MONUC) was established under Security Council Resolution 1258 (1999) to 

assist in implementing the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement between the 

Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.) and the governments of Angola, 

Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. 

In early January, Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping 

Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno and former Under Secretary-General for 

Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari briefed the Security Council, saying that 

continued international involvement in the D.R.C. was crucial to stability not 

only in the country, but also for the region as a whole. Later in the month, 

Secretary-General Ban visited the D.R.C., where he held talks with MONUC

peacekeepers and staff. Also in January, for the first time in history, MONUC 

chose 10 members from the National Congolese Police (PNC) to serve in other

United Nations peacekeeping missions.

In February, MONUC dispatched additional forces to Bas-Congo in 

southwestern D.R.C., where protests against the outcome of a gubernatorial 

race sparked fighting between police and the radical traditional 

religious/political group Bunda Dia Kongo (BDK). The UN Advisory 

Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions (ACABQ) also carried 

out a week-long fact finding and evaluation mission to MONUC. On February 

15, the Security Council extended MONUC’s mandate for two months due to

a technical issue.

In early March, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz paid a two-day 

visit to the D.R.C. On March 22-25, fighting broke out in Kinshasa between 

supporters of former Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba and Congolese Armed 

Forces (FARDC) troops deployed to implement a deadline for the replacement 

of Bemba’s personal security guards by Congolese police. On March 23, 

D.R.C. authorities issued an arrest warrant against Bemba for "high treason," 

but Bemba was given authorization by the D.R.C. Senate to depart for 

Portugal, where he also held citizenship. Later in the month, the World Bank 
Political and Security Affairs

33

Board approved $180 million to help rebuild Kinshasa. In northern D.R.C., 

more than 200 fighters loyal to Bemba handed in their weapons and agreed to 

join the regular army. 

On April 3, the Security Council issued a presidential statement 

expressing grave concern at the loss of lives and regret at the destruction and 

pillaging during March 22-25 clashes between government forces and 

followers of Bemba. On April 6, the Congolese Parliament demanded an 

inquiry into the violence in Kinshasa. Also in April, the group of the Ituri 

militia Nationalist and Integrationalist Front (FNI) headed by Peter Karim was 

formally integrated into FARDC after handing over its weapons. On April 13, 

the Security Council rolled over the MONUC mandate until May 15, which 

allowed additional time for discussions over the new mandate. On April 22, 

Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro visited the D.R.C., where she 

pledged continued UN support for the country’s efforts to consolidate peace. 

On May 2-3, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) 

William L. Swing met with various State Department officials including 

Assistant Secretary Kristen Silverberg and Deputy Secretary John Negroponte, 

National Security Council representatives, and members of Congress to 

discuss the force size and mandate of MONUC. In early May, MONUC 

announced that Karim agreed to the reintegration of 500 more FNI fighters 

into FARDC. On May 15, the Security Council extended the mandate of 

MONUC until December 31, 2007, maintaining its personnel strength. Later 

in the month, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported that Pakistani UN 

peacekeepers charged with disarming Congolese militia instead traded in gold 

and sold weapons to the groups. In a statement, MONUC confirmed that it 

had been aware of the allegations and noted that it had requested the Office of 

Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) to open an investigation. 

There were again press allegations in July that both Pakistani and 

Indian peacekeepers in MONUC had been involved in illegal gold trafficking. 

OIOS found evidence that Pakistani troops had been engaged in gold 

smuggling, but could not substantiate allegations that they had been trading 

arms and gold with rebel groups. OIOS also began investigating similar 

allegations against the Indian contingent in eastern Congo. The same month, 

the United Nations sent an audit team to Kinshasa to review management 

procedures, and the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women paid a 12-

day working visit to the D.R.C. 

On August 1, a mob attacked a MONUC military observer team site 

reportedly in reaction to rumors that MONUC, the Office of the UN High 

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and non-governmental organizations 

(NGOs) were facilitating the return of Tutsi refugees to the area. On August 8, 

MONUC facilitated a meeting in Uganda between D.R.C. Chiefs of Staff and 

Ugandan armies, following a clash in early August on Lake Albert between 

the two armies. Six days later, Ugandan Foreign Minister Kutesa met with 

D.R.C. President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa to defuse the tensions between 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

34

their countries. In late August, MONUC troops found at least six bodies 

buried at former military camps in North Kivu. 

In late August and early September, MONUC intervened three times 

to facilitate a ceasefire in Masisi and Rutshuru, where clashes between the 

FARDC and dissident general Laurent Nkunda’s Rwandan Patriotic Front 

(RPF) forces were taking place. On September 3, Rwandan Minister for 

Foreign Affairs Charles Murigande met with his D.R.C. counterpart, Mbusa 

Nyamwisi, in Kinshasa as part of a three-day visit aimed at consolidating 

relations, discussing the presence of ex-FAR-Interahamwe (former Rwandan

Armed Forces) in the D.R.C., and the situation surrounding Nkunda. 

Additionally, John Holmes, UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian 

Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, arrived in the D.R.C. for a fiveday visit. Clashes in North Kivu between troops loyal to Nkunda and the 

FARDC ended with a cessation of hostilities on September 6. On September 

8, MONUC Interim Force Commander Major General Bikram Singh and 

FARDC Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Kayembe carried out a joint 

security and humanitarian evaluation mission in North Kivu province. Three 

days later, the Security Council expressed its deep concern at the clashes in 

North Kivu, urged all parties to respect the ceasefire and initiate a dialogue, 

and asked Congolese authorities to redouble their efforts to seek a 

comprehensive political solution to address and resolve the root causes of 

tensions in the Kivus, particularly by convening a roundtable. 

Between September 15-17, ministers from Burundi, the D.R.C., 

Rwanda, and Uganda met at the Tripartite Plus Joint Commission in Kampala, 

Uganda. During the meetings, ministers reaffirmed the core mission to end the 

threat to regional peace and security, and agreed to redouble efforts to achieve 

that objective. MONUC was present at the meetings. On September 18, 

former Special Representative of the Secretary-General William Swing

marked the official launch in the D.R.C. of Resolution 1325, ―Women, Peace 

and Security.‖ On September 22, Deputy Special Representative of the 

Secretary-General Ross Mountain went to Bunia, Ituri, where he addressed 

leaders of the three armed groups—the FNI, the Front for the Patriotic 

Resistance of Ituri (FRPI), and the Congolese Revolutionary Movement 

(MRC)—taking part in the phase III disarmament, demobilization, and 

reintegration (DDR) program. MONUC reported that the Ugandan Peoples 

Defense Force (UPDF) killed and wounded Congolese civilians after firing on 

a Congolese patrol vessel on Lake Albert on September 24. The confrontation 

followed an incident earlier in the day in which MONUC naval forces 

intercepted and subsequently released a Heritage Oil vessel carrying five 

civilians on the Congolese side of the demarcation line. On September 25, 

Swing visited Kananga to understand better the situation in Kasai Occidental 

province, and to find solutions to the problems posed by the Ebola epidemic to 

MONUC staff. In a speech to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 

Kabila stated that the D.R.C. needed the United Nations’ help to disarm and 

repatriate foreign armed groups in its territory. 
Political and Security Affairs

35

On October 9, SRSG Swing met with African Union ambassadors in 

Kinshasa to discuss MONUC’s remaining challenges, including security sector 

reform (SSR), and to address continued instability in the Kivus. On October 

17, Secretary-General Ban appointed Alan Doss of the United Kingdom as his 

Special Representative for the D.R.C. The same day, Swing, along with 

MONUC Force Commander Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye and the D.R.C.

Ministers for Defense, Interior, and Humanitarian Affairs, met with 

ambassadors to the D.R.C. from the United States, France, the United 

Kingdom, Belgium, and South Africa to discuss SSR, DDR, and the struggle 

to contain the FDLR. On October 24, the Secretary-General appointed Bacre 

Waly Ndiaye of Senegal as his other Deputy Special Representative for the 

D.R.C. 

On November 5, some 40 people were wounded, including 25 

peacekeepers, during demonstrations by civilians displaced by fighting in 

North Kivu. On the same day, MONUC transferred 16 senior commanders of 

Ituri armed groups to Kinshasa to join the regular army. On November 9, the 

Congolese and Rwandan governments signed the historic Nairobi 

Communiqué, in which the governments of the D.R.C. and Rwanda agreed on 

a common strategy against illegal armed groups in the D.R.C. On November 

20, the Secretary-General issued a report on MONUC, in which he 

recommended extending the mandate for another year at current force levels 

and suggested that a drawdown plan could begin following local elections in 

2008 and the achievement of additional benchmarks relating to security. On 

November 21, the Security Council issued a Presidential Statement welcoming 

the Nairobi Communiqué. On November 27, one officer and 14 troops 

associated with Nkunda surrendered to MONUC forces, agreeing to integrate 

into FARDC. On November 29, SRSG Swing met with the Security Council 

to discuss the Secretary-General’s report, the security situation in eastern 

Congo, and MONUC mandate renewal.

Beginning December 3, FARDC launched an offensive against the 

Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). With logistical support from MONUC, the 

FARDC initially regained territory previously won by the RPF. However, 

after several days of intense fighting, RPF troops ultimately forced the 

FARDC into retreating from the strategic village of Mushake, 25 miles west of 

Goma, in an embarrassing defeat for the government. The heavy fighting 

displaced thousands.

Ethiopia/Eritrea

On January 16, the UN Security Council held consultations on the 

UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), where members discussed four 

options for the Mission: reducing UNMEE’s force size but maintaining its 

presence in the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ); relocating support elements 

from Eritrea to Ethiopia; transforming UNMEE into an observer mission; and 

reducing UNMEE to a liaison mission. In a press interview on January 19, 

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki blamed ―foreign intervention‖ for the stalled 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

36

peace process and asked the Secretary-General to end such intervention to 

move the peace process forward. 

On January 24, the Secretary-General suggested extending UNMEE’s 

mandate, and on January 30, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1741, 

approving a six-month extension of UNMEE’s mandate until July 31, 2007 

and reducing the number of troops from 2,300 to 1,700, while maintaining the 

authorized force ceiling and mandate. On February 9, Acting Special 

Representative of the Secretary-General Azouz Ennifar gave a 90-minute 

briefing to representatives of the diplomatic corps. One day later, UNMEE 

briefed the ―Friends of UNMEE‖ and the Security Council on Resolution 

1741. 

On February 15, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi criticized 

the Security Council for failure to take action on Eritrea’s deployment into the 

TSZ. On March 2, the UN News Center reported that Eritrea imposed more 

restrictions on UNMEE, further reducing its monitoring ability. On March 21, 

Eritrea expelled David Bax, the head of the UNMEE-Mine Action 

Coordination Centre (MACC), for what the government called ―repeated 

violations of Eritrean laws and regulations.‖ 

On April 13, the Permanent Representative of Eritrea sent a letter to 

the President of the Security Council addressing the Government of Eritrea’s 

grievances over the border and the demarcation process. On April 30, the 

United Nations released the Secretary-General’s Report on Ethiopia and 

Eritrea. The report dealt with recent developments in the area, progress in 

implementation of Resolution 1741, the work of the former Ethiopia-Eritrea 

Boundary Commission (EEBC), the human rights situation, ongoing 

humanitarian activities, the Secretary-General’s observations, and an annex 

written by Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, President of the EEBC. 

On May 8, the Security Council issued a press statement that voiced 

concern over increased friction between Ethiopia and Eritrea and called on 

both Horn of Africa countries to refrain from violence and cooperate fully with 

UNMEE with a view to resuming the meetings of the Military Coordination 

Commission (MCC). 

In early June, UNMEE troops reported incidents of threatening 

behavior from Eritrean Defense Force (EDF) members. On June 8, Ethiopian 

Foreign Minister Seyoum sent a letter to the Secretary-General highlighting 

Eritrea’s militarization of the TSZ and continuing restrictions on UNMEE. On 

June 14, the Secretary-General wrote to Eritrean President Isaias and 

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles, offering his assistance in resolving the 

boundary impasse and moving toward normalized relations. On June 15, the 

Eritrean Minister of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the President of the 

Security Council placing full responsibility on Ethiopia for the stalemate in the 

peace process. 

The Secretary-General’s July 18 report to the Security Council 

concluded that the military situation in the TSZ and the adjacent areas 

remained tense. On July 20, the EEBC sent a letter to the Department of 
Political and Security Affairs

37

Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) offering to meet with the Security Council 

if the latter believed this to be useful. DPKO recommended that the EEBC 

approach the Security Council directly but cautioned against mixing legal and 

political issues. The EEBC ultimately did not meet with the Security Council 

or other UN bodies. Five days later, Isaias asked China for help in breaking 

the border stand-off with Ethiopia. On July 30, the Security Council adopted 

Resolution 1767, which extended UNMEE’s mandate until January 31, 2008. 

In a September 17 interview broadcast by state-run Ethiopian 

television, Meles said that Eritrea must change its stance if the protracted 

border dispute between the two countries was to be resolved. A week prior, 

Ethiopia criticized the work of the EEBC, which had said its demarcation 

decision by map coordinates would become final at the end November 2007, 

unless the parties requested and enabled the EEBC to demarcate the boundary, 

and that the commission would then be dissolved. Earlier in the month, 

Eritrea promised to fulfill all requirements demanded by the EEBC, including 

lifting restrictions on UN peacekeepers and withdrawing its troops from the 

TSZ to the extent necessary to support demarcation if Ethiopia honored the 

2002 Algiers Agreement.

On September 25, in a letter to his Eritrean counterpart, Seyoum said 

Addis Ababa would be forced ―to consider its peaceful and legal options under 

international law‖ and that Ethiopia would be justified in terminating the 

Algiers Agreement in light of Eritrea’s material breaches of the Agreement. 

The breaches included remilitarizing the TSZ, coordinating ―terrorist activity,‖ 

and imposing severe restrictions on UNMEE. Ethiopia forwarded the letter 

and supporting material to the Security Council. 

On October 11, UN Secretary-General Ban called on Ethiopia and 

Eritrea to show maximum restraint and to abide by the Algiers Agreement. 

Through a spokesperson, Ban expressed particular concern over recent 

shooting incidents, as well as the building up of military forces in the border 

area. On October 23, the Eritrean Permanent Representative sent a letter to the 

President of the Security Council, which underscored that Eritrea would not 

accept dialogue with Ethiopia or normalization of relations between the parties 

as preconditions to border demarcation. Moreover, the letter contended that 

―virtual‖ border demarcation, instead of pillar emplacement, was inconsistent 

with the terms of the Algiers Agreement. 

On November 1, the Secretary-General released his regular report on 

UNMEE, which expressed his continuing concerns about tensions along the 

border. On November 6, a spokesman from the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry 

stated that Ethiopia had no desire to return to war with Eritrea. However, 

Ethiopia requested that Eritrea pull its troops out of the TSZ and lift all 

restrictions on UNMEE. Three days later, Isaias met with the Assistant 

Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet, and blamed 

the United Nations for the continuing crisis, alleging that UNMEE had 

provided cover for Ethiopia’s continued occupation of Eritrean territory. On 

November 13, the Security Council issued a Presidential Statement urging the 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

38

parties to implement without delay the 2002 delimitation decision of the 

EEBC, to avoid the use of force, and to comply with the commitments in the 

Algiers Agreements and relevant Security Council resolutions. In late 

November, Eritrea sent a letter to the Secretary-General stating that it did not 

reject virtual demarcation as was reported in the press, but instead saw virtual 

demarcation as a step toward physical demarcation. On November 30, the 

EEBC ended its substantive activities and the virtual demarcation decision 

became final by its terms. Ethiopia rejected the approach as inconsistent with 

international law and the Algiers Agreement. 

On December 21, in response to a December 11 letter from SecretaryGeneral Ban summarizing steps he was taking to resolve the impasse, Isaias 

wrote to the Security Council to underscore his view that Ethiopia, in violation 

of the Algiers Agreement, remained responsible for obstructing demarcation of 

the boundary and continuing to occupy Eritrean territory unlawfully and in 

violation of the UN Charter. Furthermore, Isaias claimed that the Security 

Council had failed to address either of these issues. On December 21, the 

Secretary-General informed the Security Council that Eritrea’s unwillingness 

to allow UNMEE to obtain fuel was causing UNMEE to curtail its activities 

and efforts to convince Eritrea to allow resumption of fuel had so far been 

unsuccessful. On December 27, UNMEE issued a statement indicating that an 

Indian battalion posted on the border heard an exchange of fire in the early 

hours of December 26. On December 28, the European Union Presidency 

issued a statement confirming the parties’ primary responsibility to resolve 

their differences and urging the parties to fulfill their obligations under the 

Algiers Agreements and relevant Security Council resolutions and statements. 

As of December 31, 2007, UNMEE had not been supplied with diesel fuel for 

the month.

Guinea-Bissau

The political climate remained tense in 2007. The Government and 

the political parties that were signatories to the stability pact—the African 

Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), the Social 

Renewal Party (PRS), and the United Social Democratic Party (PUSD)—met 

ahead of the November parliamentary session to resolve their differences. In 

November/December 2007, the National Assembly approved the 2007/2008 

budgets. Parliamentary elections were set for November 16, 2008.

The United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau

(UNOGBIS) assists in managing the political transition and in building trust 

among national stakeholders and international partners in the post-transition 

phase. In a July 10, 2007 press statement, the Security Council expressed 

concern at the alarming increase in organized crime, drug trafficking, and 

illicit small arms in Guinea-Bissau, and it called on the international 

community to continue to provide the necessary assistance to strengthen the 

security institutions and operationalize the Security Sector Reform Strategy 

Plan.
Political and Security Affairs

39

The Security Council agreed to an October 19, 2007, Presidential 

Statement that reaffirmed that the danger posed by drug trafficking in GuineaBissau could have negative implications in the region and elsewhere. The 

Security Council called upon the government to take concerted action to 

safeguard the safety and security of those officials who were involved in 

combating drug trafficking and organized crime. It further welcomed the 

initiative to hold an international conference in Lisbon, Portugal, on drug 

trafficking in Guinea-Bissau in December 2007.

On December 11, 2007, the United Nations Advisory Board pushed 

for the inclusion of Guinea-Bissau on the agenda of the Peacebuilding 

Commission. The Commission’s country-specific configuration for GuineaBissau is chaired by Brazil’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, 

with the aim of building a partnership among the government, international 

partners, the private sector, and civil society. This action was followed by a 

Press Statement noting the progress made by the government, with the support 

of the international community and the United Nations system, in particular 

the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), towards developing a robust 

anti-narcotics trafficking program.

Also in December 2007, the Secretary-General recommended that the 

UN Security Council renew UNOGBIS’S mandate for 12 months. The United 

States supported this renewal and resolved to continue to monitor closely the 

situation in the country. 

In 2007, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) finalized 

a project document to provide support for the 2008-2010 electoral cycle, 

which includes the 2008 legislative elections and the 2010 presidential 

elections. UNDP and the Government are also discussing the electoral budget 

and voter registration methodology. 

UNODC and the Government of Guinea-Bissau worked together to 

develop an anti-narcotics program. UNODC fielded two technical missions in 

October 2007 and posted a senior anti-organized crime consultant and senior 

legal assistance regional advisor to Bissau in November. The Governments of 

Guinea-Bissau and Portugal co-hosted an International Conference on Drug 

Trafficking in Lisbon on December 19 to mobilize program support funds.

Liberia

The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was established by United Nations 

Security Council Resolution 1509 (2003) to support the implementation of the 

ceasefire agreement and peace process in Liberia. 

In January 2007, an all-women formed police unit contributed by 

India arrived in Liberia. The unit consisted of 103 women with operational 

responsibilities, supported by 22 male logistics specialists. This was the first 

time such a unit had ever been deployed on a UN operation. During 2007, the 

number of Liberian women applying for positions with the new Liberian

National Police rose substantially, which appears to have been largely in 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

40

response to the excellent example presented by the Indian women police 

officers.

The UN Secretary-General’s report of March 15 noted that while 

substantial progress had been made in reintegrating ex-combatants, around a 

quarter of those eligible -- about 23,000 -- were waiting for funding of suitable 

reintegration projects by donors. Security Council Resolution 1750 of March 

30, 2007 extended UNMIL’s mandate until September 30. Resolution 1750 

also authorized the mission to provide administrative and security support to 

staff of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, within UNMIL’s existing mandate, 

areas of deployment, and resources. Small groups of Special Court personnel 

visited Liberia regularly in 2007 as they prepared for the trial in The Hague of 

former Liberian president Charles Taylor.

On April 27, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 

1753, lifting a ban on diamond imports from Liberia that had been imposed in 

December 2003. This decision marked substantial progress on the part of the 

Government of Liberia in meeting the minimum recommendations of the 

Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which included putting in place 

internal controls. Liberia was admitted to the Kimberley Process Certification 

Scheme on May 3, 2007. 

The trial of former president Taylor by the Special Court for Sierra 

Leone began in The Hague on June 4. Taylor refused to attend and dismissed 

his chief counsel. Taylor again refused to appear when the Court reconvened 

on June 25. The Court directed that Taylor be assigned new counsel and that 

steps be taken to ensure his new defense team was assembled by July 31. The 

Court convened again on July 3 to address various procedural and scheduling 

matters. Taylor attended the brief session and entered a plea of not guilty to an 

amended charge of sexual slavery in Count 5 of the indictment. The Court 

granted the defense an additional four-month continuance, until January 7, 

2008. 

On September 20, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1777, 

which extended UNMIL’s mandate for a year, until September 30, 2008. The 

resolution endorsed the Secretary-General’s recommendation for the first 

substantial phase of drawdown, beginning with a reduction of 2,450 military 

personnel by September 2008. UNMIL was also scheduled to begin reducing 

police in April 2008, with a projected reduction of 498 by December 2010. 

The drawdown schedule is measured against benchmarks of progress, in 

particular development of Liberia’s security services.

The U.S. security sector program, which is restructuring and training 

the new Armed Forces of Liberia, continued during 2007, with a steady 

procession of personnel through enlisted, non-commissioned and officer 

training. The United States will train an army of 2,000, with the program 

projected for completion in 2010. 

On October 18, Secretary-General Ban announced the appointment of 

Ellen Margrethe Loj (Denmark) as his Special Representative for Liberia, 
Political and Security Affairs

41

replacing Alan Doss (U.K.), who became SRSG for the Democratic Republic 

of Congo.

On December 19, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1792, 

renewing the arms embargo and travel ban until December 20, 2008, and 

renewing the mandate of the Liberia Panel of Experts until June 20, 2008. The 

Liberia Sanctions Committee reviewed the assets freeze, which does not have 

a specific end date, and left it in effect.

During a December visit by the Truth and Reconciliation 

Commission to Lofa County in the northwest (where the borders of Liberia, 

Guinea, and Sierra Leone meet), villagers revealed mass graves of those killed 

during Liberia’s 14-year civil war. The smallest grave held about 78 bodies, 

with the largest containing as many as 500.

At the end of 2007, UNMIL’s strength stood at 13,310 troops, 1,203 

UN civilian police officers, and 199 military observers. The United States had 

six military observers, seven staff officers, and 14 police officers attached to 

UNMIL. 

Sierra Leone

Despite the end of its 11-year civil war in 2002, Sierra Leone remains 

a fragile state. While developments in 2007 were generally positive, Sierra 

Leone needed to remain focused on addressing the root causes of the past 

conflict, such as promoting good governance and anti-corruption efforts, 

economic recovery, better access to justice, and human rights. The United 

Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), originally established in 1999, 

completed its mandate in December 2005. UNAMSIL was succeeded by the 

United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL), established on 

January 1, 2006, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1620 (2005) 

to help consolidate peace in the country, enhance development, ensure human 

rights, and build capacity to hold free and fair elections in 2007.

In 2007, events in Sierra Leone were dominated by the organization 

and conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections. The elections, 

originally scheduled for July 28, were postponed to August 11. Because none 

of the presidential candidates won over 55 percent of the vote on the first

ballot, a run-off presidential election was held on September 8, 2007. The 

elections were considered to be largely peaceful, transparent, and credible, 

despite heightened tensions and isolated clashes between the supporters of the 

main political parties. Several initiatives were taken to defuse the tense 

political situation in the days leading up to the elections. The Political Parties 

Registration Commission organized peace marches throughout the country and 

hosted high-level meetings with party political leaders to underline the need 

for compliance with the Political Parties Code of Conduct.

After the election results were finalized, the United States joined 

consensus on a Security Council press statement (SC/9121) on September 19 

that noted the results of the elections and congratulated the people and 

institutions of Sierra Leone, particularly the National Electoral Commission 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

42

and the Sierra Leone police, on their conduct over the election period and their 

demonstrated commitment to the democratic process.

Following the success of the elections, the Peacebuilding Cooperation 

Framework, adopted on December 12, 2007, highlighted priority areas in the 

peace consolidation process to be addressed by the Government of Sierra 

Leone with the support of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), the United 

Nations system, and bilateral and multinational partners.

On December 31, 2007, the United States joined consensus in the 

adoption of Resolution 1793 (2007) that extended the mandate for UNIOSIL

for a final period of nine months, but requested a reduction in strength with a 

view to completing its mandate by September 2008. The Resolution 

welcomed the holding of peaceful and democratic parliamentary and 

presidential elections in August and September 2007 and stressed that the wide 

acceptance of the local elections in June 2008 would be another important 

milestone in consolidating a sustainable peace in Sierra Leone.

Somalia

The UN Security Council continued to be heavily involved in 

Somalia in 2007, adopting three resolutions, three Presidential Statements, and 

two press statements.

On February 2, the Security Council released a press statement that 

welcomed the African Union’s (AU) intention to establish a peace support 

mission in Somalia, underlined the urgency of its deployment, and encouraged 

member states of the AU to contribute to the mission. It also welcomed the 

intention of Somali President Yusuf to convene a National Reconciliation 

Congress.

On February 21, the Security Council unanimously adopted 

Resolution 1744 (2007) that gave the AU Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) an 

UN-authorized mandate for six months to:

 Support dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia by assisting with 

the free movement, safe passage, and protection of those 

involved with efforts to promote an all-inclusive political 

process; 

 Provide protection to the Transitional Federal Government 

(TFG) and its Institutions (TFIs) to help them carry out their 

functions of government and security for key infrastructure; 

 Assist with the implementation of the National Security and 

Stabilization Plan, in particular the effective re-establishment and 

training of all-inclusive Somali security forces; 

 Contribute, within its capacities and where appropriate, to 

creating the necessary security conditions for providing 

humanitarian assistance; and

 Protect its personnel, facilities, installations, equipment, and 

mission.
Political and Security Affairs

43

The resolution also urged all AU states to contribute to AMISOM and 

urged UN member states to provide personnel, equipment, services, and 

financial resources to AMISOM. It also requested the UN Secretary-General 

to send a Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) to visit the AU headquarters 

and Somalia and then compile a report on the political and security situation 

and the possibility of a UN peacekeeping operation following AMISOM’s

deployment.

On March 23, the Security Council issued another statement to the 

press that expressed concern about the resumption of violent clashes in 

Somalia and the shooting down of a cargo plane, stressed concern over the 

deteriorating humanitarian situation, and reiterated its call for an immediate, 

all-inclusive political dialogue.

On April 30, the Security Council held consultations on Somalia, 

after which it adopted a Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2007/13) that 

expressed grave concern at the renewed fighting in Somalia, reiterated its 

support for the political process outlined in the Transitional Federal Charter, 

called on the TFG to convene a National Reconciliation Congress (NRC) as 

soon as possible, and asked Secretary-General Ban to begin appropriate 

contingency planning for a possible UN peacekeeping mission to be deployed 

if authorized by the Security Council.

On June 14, the Security Council issued another Presidential 

Statement (S/PRST/2007/19) that condemned the June 3 attack on the Prime 

Minister and the May 16 attack on AMISOM forces, reiterated its support for 

the NRC as a mechanism for political dialogue and reconciliation, and 

emphasized the need for appropriate contingency planning for a possible UN 

peacekeeping mission in Somalia if the Security Council decided to authorize 

one.

On July 18, the Somalia Monitoring Group, which was established 

pursuant to Security Council Resolution 751 (1992) to collect and report 

information regarding arms embargo violations in Somalia, issued a report that 

concluded that, notwithstanding the difficulties in monitoring developments, 

Somalia was ―literally awash with arms‖ and that ―the sheer quantities, 

numbers and diversity of arms, especially in central and southern Somalia, are 

greater than at any time since the early 1990s.‖ The report also concluded the 

majority of arms appeared to have been brought into Somalia via clandestine 

routes.

On July 23, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 

1766 (2007), which expressed the Council’s intention to consider specific 

action to improve compliance with the arms embargo created by Resolution 

733 (1992). It also extended the mandate of the Monitoring Group for a 

further six months so that it could continue to investigate all activities, 

including in the financial, maritime, and other sectors used to generate 

revenues to violate the arms embargo; make recommendations based on its 

investigations; work for additional measures to improve overall compliance 

with the arms embargo; and assist in identifying areas where capacities of 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

44

states in the region could be strengthened to facilitate the implementation of 

the arms embargo.

On August 20, the United States co-sponsored and joined in 

unanimously adopting Resolution 1772 (2007), which stressed the Council’s

concern at the upsurge in piracy off the Somali coast and encouraged member 

states with naval vessels and military aircraft in international waters and 

airspace adjacent to the coast of Somalia to be vigilant to any incident of 

piracy and to take appropriate action to protect merchant shipping. It also 

welcomed the convening of the NRC and requested the Secretary-General to 

promote an ongoing, all-inclusive political process; report on the progress of 

the NRC and subsequent political process; and provide an assessment of 

further measures that might be required to strengthen the UN Political Office 

in Somalia (UNPOS), including its possible relocation from Nairobi to 

Mogadishu. Finally, the Resolution decided to re-authorize AMISOM for a 

further six months.

On December 19, the Security Council adopted a Presidential 

Statement (S/PRST/2007/49) that reiterated its strong support for AMISOM

and its request that the Secretary-General develop contingency plans for a 

possible UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia.

Sudan

UN Security Council Resolution 1590 (2005) authorized the United 

Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) to support implementation of the 

Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between North and South Sudan. 

UNMIS continued throughout 2007 to promote reconciliation efforts between 

the North and South and hold regular meetings with civilian and military 

authorities at the local, state, and national levels.

Progress was limited in many aspects of CPA implementation. For 

example, the complete redeployment of Northern and Southern forces did not 

occur by July 9, 2007, the date stipulated in the CPA. The Secretary-General 

called on the Northern forces to remove immediately all remaining regular 

military elements from Southern Sudan, with the exception of those intended 

for the Joint Integrated Units. Disputes concerning the Abyei area also 

remained unresolved, with rising tensions. UNMIS provided monitoring and 

helped with the development of a local Joint Integrated Unit, but UNMIS’s 

freedom of movement was restricted and the area was still in danger of serious 

conflict. Demarcation of the north-south boundary was another issue where 

little progress occurred. Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration have 

not made significant progress since 2005, but the creation of a national 

strategic plan boosted its phased implementation. Toward the end of 2007, 

UNMIS increased its engagement with the Northern and Southern 

Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commissions.

Resolution 1784 (2007) extended UNMIS’s mandate on October 31, 

2007. Pursuant to this resolution, UNMIS held consultations with donor 

countries on November 16 and December 1. UNMIS also established a Joint 

Integrated Unit support cell. After briefly pulling out of the Government of 
Political and Security Affairs

45

National Unity, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement returned to the 

government in December, ending the year on a more positive note.

Resolution 1706 (2006) authorized the transition of the African Union

Mission in Sudan (AMIS) into UNMIS, but the Government of Sudan 

repeatedly refused to permit the transition of AMIS into UNMIS. To create a 

more robust peacekeeping force in Darfur, the United Nations held a series of 

negotiations with the Government of Sudan, the international community, and 

the African Union (AU). All parties agreed in November 2006 upon a threephase approach to strengthen AMIS and peacekeeping efforts in Darfur. 

Finally, the Government of Sudan agreed to an UN-AU hybrid operation on 

June 12, 2007, after intense diplomatic and technical discussions. Via 

Resolution 1769 (2007), the UN Security Council unanimously authorized the 

hybrid United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on July 

31, 2007, leaving UNMIS as a separate UN peacekeeping operation.

Resolution 1769 authorized the establishment of UNAMID under 

Chapter VII of the UN Charter for an initial period of 12 months. Protection 

of civilians was at the core of its mandate. UNAMID was to contribute to the 

security necessary for humanitarian assistance, monitor implementation of 

agreements and the situation along the borders with Chad and the Central 

African Republic, assist an inclusive political process, and contribute to the 

promotion of human rights and rule of law.

In May 2007, the United Nations and African Union appointed 

Rodolphe Adada of the Republic of the Congo as joint AU-UN Special 

Representative to head UNAMID. In consultation with the United Nations, 

the African Union appointed General Martin Luther Agwai of Nigeria as Force 

Commander of AMIS. He retained this position in UNAMID.

The phases for transition from AMIS to UNAMID included 

deployment of Light and Heavy Support Packages of UN assistance to AMIS 

and culminated with a full handover to UNAMID on December 31, 2007. The 

Light Support Package consisted of 105 military staff officers, 34 police 

advisers, and 48 civilians, plus material and equipment to enhance the 

management capacity of AMIS. Most of the Light Support Package had 

deployed by August 2007.

The Heavy Support Package consisted of 2,250 military, 721 police, 

and 1,136 civilians. On November 21, 2007, a Bangladeshi-formed police unit 

arrived in Nyala. On November 24, 2007, 135 of the 355 personnel of a multirole engineer and well-drilling company from China arrived in Nyala. In 

addition, individual police and other civilians for the Heavy Support Package 

deployed to Darfur in 2007. The security situation, administrative obstacles 

created by the Government of Sudan, logistical difficulties, and lack of 

readiness by both the UN and troop-contributing countries prevented full 

deployment of the Heavy Support Package in 2007.

Several benchmarks called for in Resolution 1769 were successfully 

met. By October 2007, UNAMID was able to establish an initial operating 

capability for its headquarters and establish financial arrangements to cover 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

46

troop costs for all personnel deployed to AMIS. By the same date, UNAMID 

was also able to complete preparations to assume operational command 

authority over the Light Support Package, personnel currently deployed to 

AMIS and the Heavy Support Package, and hybrid personnel by the transfer of 

authority. By December 31, UNAMID was able to assume authority from 

AMIS.

UNAMID lacked pledges for certain key assets when it assumed 

authority. UNAMID lacked one light tactical helicopter unit (six helicopters) 

and three military utility aviation units (18 helicopters), one heavy and one 

medium ground transport unit, and a multi-role logistics unit. Thus, by 

December 31, 2007, UNAMID had at its disposal little more than the same 

assets that AMIS had before the transition. The Government of Sudan put up 

several obstacles to UNAMID deployment. In addition, rebel activities, 

including attacks on Government forces, oil installations, AMIS, and 

humanitarian vehicles, contributed to difficult circumstances for deployment.

The humanitarian situation in Darfur continued to be volatile during 

2007, with violence driving more people from their homes, bringing the total 

number of people displaced in 2007 to almost 270,000. Humanitarian workers 

also were targets of violence, despite the March 28, 2007 joint communiqué 

between the United Nations and Government of Sudan on facilitating 

humanitarian activities in Darfur. Although in October the UN and AU

Special Envoys’ efforts for reinvigorating the Darfur peace process got off to a 

weak start, such a political solution is necessary for sustainable peace and 

must complement peacekeeping deployment.

Western Sahara

On January 31, 2007, Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou briefed 

the Council of Ministers on Morocco’s proposed plan for the autonomy of 

Western Sahara, and the UN Secretary-General appointed Julian Harston of 

the United Kingdom (U.K.) as the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral for the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

(MINURSO).

In February, Jettou announced to the press that a ―first draft‖ of the 

autonomy plan would be presented to the UN in April. Soon after his 

announcement, a Moroccan delegation met with U.K. Minister of State Kim 

Howells and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Germany at 

the time held the Presidency of the European Union), to outline its plans for 

the autonomy of Western Sahara. Also during February, the SecretaryGeneral of the Frente Polisario (Polisario), Mohammed Abdelaziz, wrote a 

letter to the Secretary-General requesting UN intervention to bring an end to 

the ―flagrant human rights violations perpetrated by the Moroccan authorities 

in Western Sahara‖ and calling for the release of 38 Saharan detainees who 

had been on a hunger strike. Additionally, the MINURSO force commander 

requested that the Royal Moroccan Army (RMA) and military forces of the 

Polisario provide information on landmines on each side of the berm.
Political and Security Affairs

47

On March 8, Abdelaziz released a letter that reiterated Western 

Sahara was a decolonization problem and met with the Secretary-General on 

the same day. On March 14, a Moroccan delegation briefed the SecretaryGeneral on Morocco's proposal to grant autonomy to Western Sahara. On 

March 18, Harston visited Rabat. The following day, then-Algerian Foreign 

Minister Mohammed Bedjaoui transmitted a message from President 

Abdelaziz Bouteflika underscoring the UN’s responsibility vis-à-vis the people 

of Western Sahara. In a speech to Polisario officials on March 31, Polisario 

Secretary-General Abdelaziz declared that "any solution that does not respect 

our right to self-determination is unacceptable."

On April 11, the Moroccan Permanent Mission to the United Nations 

submitted the Moroccan initiative for negotiating an autonomy statute for the 

Sahara Region to the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General also received 

a letter dated April 10 from the representative of the Polisario in New York, 

transmitting the Polisario proposal. During the week of April 11-17, Jettou 

held a series of meetings with political parties and local media to explain the 

"broad lines" of Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara.

On April 18, 31 Saharans traveled on MINURSO aircraft from 

Western Sahara to Tindouf and the same number of Saharan refugees traveled 

to Laayoune as part of the exchange of family visits under a UN High 

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-led confidence-building measures 

program. On April 30, the Security Council passed Resolution 1754, which 

took note of the Moroccan proposal presented on April 11 to the SecretaryGeneral, welcomed serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process 

forward toward resolution, took note of the Polisario proposal presented April 

10 to the Secretary-General, called upon the parties to enter into negotiations 

without preconditions, and extended MINURSO’s mandate by six months.

On May 3-4, Harston conducted official visits to Rabat and Rabouni 

for technical consultations with Moroccan and Polisario officials following the 

adoption of Resolution 1754. On May 7, Harston traveled to Algiers, where 

he held meetings with UN representatives and Algerian officials. On May 30, 

the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Peter van 

Walsum, met with senior officials at the French Foreign Ministry to discuss 

implementation of Resolution 1754.

On June 14, MINURSO's Chief Operations Officer wrote to all 

MINURSO team sites clarifying that civilian presence in the buffer strip was 

not prohibited under Military Agreement No. 1. At the same time, MINURSO 

requested all team sites on the RMA side of the berm to reiterate the terms of 

the Military Agreement to the RMA and inform the Polisario that civilians 

nonetheless should refrain from entering the buffer strip.

In accordance with Resolution 1754, Morocco and the Polisario

began negotiations under the Secretary-General's auspices in Manhasset, New 

York on June 18 and 19. Representatives of neighboring Algeria and 

Mauritania were also present at the opening and closing sessions and were 

consulted separately during the talks. The parties agreed that the process of 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

48

negotiations would continue during the second week of August 2007. On June 

27, the Secretary-General issued a report on the status and progress of 

negotiations under UN auspices. The report stated both sides confirmed their 

respect for the principle for self-determination and acceptance of Resolution 

1754 as the mandate for negotiations. Nonetheless, their positions remained far 

apart on the definition of self-determination.

On July 30, King Mohammed VI stated that Morocco was committed 

to serious negotiations and would remain ready to negotiate on autonomy. 

The King stated that a consensual autonomy solution could be conceived only 

within the framework of the Kingdom’s full, non-negotiable sovereignty and 

national unity, and indivisible territorial integrity. Polisario Secretary-General 

Abdelaziz stated that the King’s speech was an attempt to derail the decolonization process of Western Sahara and that the Moroccan position was 

prejudicial and negative and augured badly for the next round of negotiations.

On August 4, a group of civilians and police in civilian clothes 

arrived at MINURSO headquarters in Laayoune to "inspect" ongoing 

construction of a new security access point to MINURSO headquarters. 

Although the group did not attempt to enter MINURSO premises, the group 

briefly detained some employees of the contractor and confiscated their 

equipment.

On August 10 and 11, the second round of talks between 

representatives of Morocco and the Polisario were held in Manhasset. 

Representatives of Algeria and Mauritania were again present at the opening 

and closing sessions and consulted separately during the talks. During the 

meeting, the parties discussed the implementation of Resolution 1754 and also 

heard presentations by UN experts on natural resources and local 

administration. Confidence-building measures were also proposed for 

discussions. In a communiqué agreed by the parties, van Walsum stated that 

the parties acknowledged the current status quo was unacceptable and that 

they had committed to continue these negotiations in good faith. On August 

27, Major General Zhao Jingmin of China was named the new Force 

Commander, and on September 17 he officially assumed duties.

On October 19, the Secretary-General issued a report on the situation 

concerning Western Sahara (S/2007/619). The most significant part of the 

report was van Walsum’s assessment of the situation in Western Sahara. On 

October 24, Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi stated that the new 

Moroccan Government would pursue efforts aimed at ensuring the success of 

the Moroccan initiative to grant substantial autonomy to Western Sahara, 

asserting that Morocco remained open to negotiations, but negotiations based 

on "autonomy, all autonomy and nothing but autonomy." On October 31, the 

Security Council passed Resolution 1783, which again took note of the 

Moroccan proposal presented on April 11 to the Secretary-General, welcomed 

serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward toward 

resolution, took note of the Polisario proposal presented April 10 to the 
Political and Security Affairs

49

Secretary-General, called upon the parties to continue negotiations without 

preconditions, and extended MINURSO’s mandate by six months.

On November 9, after an extraordinary session of its Secretariat, the 

Polisario issued a statement underlining that the "Sahrawi people will not 

accept any solution that does not put an end to the conflict as an issue of 

decolonization with the option to allow them to practice their right to selfdetermination and to independence." On December 7, the UN announced that 

Morocco and the Polisario would have a third round of UN-backed 

negotiations on Western Sahara in Manhasset. Between December 14-22 in 

Tifariti, Western Sahara, the Polisario held its 12th congress, where it adopted 

a national program of action for the next three years, which included a 

renewed commitment to the peace talks and a pledge to develop ―liberated 

Sahrawi territory‖ (i.e., east of the berm). The congress also re-elected 

Abdelaziz as Secretary-General.

East Asia and the Pacific

Burma (Myanmar)

UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/48/150 (1993) called on 

the Secretary-General to assist in implementing the Resolution, which called 

on the Burmese regime to release political prisoners and take ―all necessary 

steps toward the restoration of democracy.‖ In 1997, then Secretary-General 

Annan appointed then Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Alvaro 

de Soto (Peru) as the first Special Envoy for Myanmar (Burma). UN General 

Assembly Resolution A/RES/54/186 (2000) provided that the Special Envoy 

should engage in discussions with the Government and political leaders, 

including Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives of some ethnic minority 

groups and called upon the Government of Myanmar to enter into constructive 

dialogue with the Secretary-General to make better use of his good offices to 

continue discussions on the human rights situation and the restoration of 

democracy. It also asked the Government of Myanmar to submit reports to the 

UN General Assembly and the UN Commission on Human Rights on the 

progress made.

Razali Ismail (Malaysia) was appointed Special Envoy in April 2000 

and visited Burma in March 2004. The Burmese regime subsequently refused 

to permit him to return, and he resigned in January 2006. On May 22, 2007, 

Secretary-General Ban appointed former Under Secretary-General for Political 

Affairs Ibrahim Gambari (Nigeria) as Special Advisor for Myanmar. Gambari

has been allowed to visit Burma several times, but has achieved no 

breakthroughs in implementing the goals of UNGA Resolution 54/186.

The United States seeks greater attention to Burma in all UN bodies 

and agencies. In November 2007, UN Commission on Human Rights Special 

Rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro was allowed to visit the country for the first 

time since 2003 and issued a report in December 2007 that detailed the brutal 

September 2007 crackdown by the Burmese regime against peaceful political 

protests by a wide sector of Burmese citizens, led by Buddhist monks. At least 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

50

30 people were killed, thousands were imprisoned, beaten, and tortured, and 

monasteries were closed and sacked.

In January 2007, the Security Council voted on a draft resolution that 

the United States and United Kingdom had introduced in December 2006. 

The draft resolution called on the Government of Myanmar to cooperate with 

the Secretary-General’s ―good offices‖ mission, cease military attacks against 

civilians in ethnic minority regions, permit international humanitarian 

organizations to operate without restrictions, cooperate with the International 

Labor Organization (ILO) in the eradication of forced labor, immediately 

begin a substantive political dialogue leading to a genuine democratic 

transition, and release Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. Although 

nine Council members voted in favor of the resolution, three abstained (Qatar, 

Indonesia, Popular Republic of the Congo), while Russia, China, and South 

Africa voted ―no.‖ The ―no‖ votes by UN Security Council permanent 

members Russia and China resulted in the veto of the resolution.

On October 11, 2007, the Security Council issued a Presidential 

Statement condemning the September 2007 crackdown on peaceful prodemocracy protestors, urging the release of political prisoners, and calling for 

the creation of the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue between the 

Burmese regime and Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic 

groups to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation. The Council reiterated 

these concerns in a statement to the press on November 15, 2007. Gambari

visited Burma in September and November to press for progress on those 

goals, but the regime continued to arrest and detain political prisoners, made 

no progress toward a dialogue with democratic and ethnic minority leaders, 

and insisted on continuing to implement its so-called ―roadmap to 

democracy,‖ a plan seemingly aimed at cementing indefinite military 

domination of Burma’s political and economic life.

In its 2007 report on Burma, the ILO noted that in spite of the fact 

that its cooperation with the Burmese regime improved somewhat, forced 

labor continued to be a problem.

East Timor

In August 2006, the UN Security Council established the UN

Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) under Resolution 1704, with a 

six-month mandate to expire February 2007. At the start of 2007, UNMIT 

focused on preparations to assist the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) to 

conduct presidential and parliamentary elections. In a February report 

(S/2007/50), the Secretary-General recommended deploying an additional 

Formed Police Unit (FPU) and extending UNMIT’s mandate by 12 months. 

On February 26, 2007, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1745 (2007) 

to extend the mandate of UNMIT until February 26, 2008. The mandate also 

increased the authorized force strength by up to 140 police personnel to permit 

the deployment of an additional FPU to supplement the existing FPUs, 

particularly during the pre- and post-electoral period.
Political and Security Affairs

51

While the security situation remained generally stable through the 

spring and early summer, the country experienced bouts of violence and 

unrest, most notably in early March when the GoTL asked the Australian-led 

International Stabilization Force to capture the renegade and former military 

police commander Major Alfredo Reinado.

The GoTL held two rounds of presidential elections, the first since 

the country’s independence, in April and May, with the support of UNMIT

and international donors. José Ramos-Horta won a majority in the May runoff 

election and took office as President on May 20, 2007. The election 

proceeded peacefully with active turnout by Timorese exercising their right to 

vote. The losing candidate (representing the then-ruling FRETILIN party) 

accepted the result peacefully. Election monitors reported no significant 

logistical, security, or political problems with the voting process.

The Government held parliamentary elections in a largely peaceful 

atmosphere on June 30, also with significant support from UNMIT. Observers 

considered the elections to be generally free and fair. No single party won a 

majority of seats in the 65-seat National Parliament, and the various parties did 

not agree to form a national unity government. To break the impasse, 

President Ramos-Horta asked former President Xanana Gusmão, head of a 

coalition of former opposition parties calling itself the Alliance with a 

Parliamentary Majority, to form a government and serve as Prime Minister. 

The new government was formally sworn in on August 8. The former ruling 

FRETILIN Party yielded power and now serves as the opposition in the 

National Parliament. Minor violence erupted in response to the elections in 

the capital of Dili and certain eastern districts, but quickly subsided, in part as 

a result of the response by United Nations Police and international security 

forces.

In September, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Atul 

Khare briefed the Security Council on developments in Timor-Leste. While 

noting significant progress, particularly the successful completion of 

presidential and parliamentary elections, Khare underlined that serious 

problems remained. He pointed to the continuing weakness in Timor-Leste’s 

security forces and justice system, the persistence of a large population of 

internally displaced persons (IDPs), the challenge of achieving accountability

for past crimes and human rights abuses, and the continuing need for national 

reconciliation. In light of these conditions, UNMIT shifted its focus from 

interim law enforcement and electoral assistance to building Timorese

capacity in these key areas.

In November, UNMIT issued a report describing the situation with 

regard to human rights in Timor-Leste. The report called for further measures 

to combat impunity and resolve the problem of IDPs. Also in November and 

December, the GoTL hosted several visits by high-level UN officials, 

including Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno, 

Secretary-General Ban, and a delegation from the UN Security Council, all of 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

52

whom urged Timorese leaders to work together to tackle pressing issues in a 

coordinated way.

As of December 31, 2007, UNMIT had 1,513 police and military 

observers, with Malaysia, Bangladesh, Portugal, and Pakistan providing the 

largest combined number of police and military observers. No U.S. personnel 

served in UNMIT, although it coordinated closely with the U.S. Embassy and 

the Australian-led International Security Force.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)

Under the February 13, 2007 Initial Actions for the Implementation 

of the Joint Statement (Initial Actions agreement), the Democratic People’s 

Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K. or North Korea) committed in the first phase to 

shut down and seal for the purpose of eventual abandonment the Yongbyon 

nuclear facility, including the reprocessing facility, and to invite back 

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) personnel to conduct all 

necessary monitoring and verification. The D.P.R.K. also committed to 

providing a ―complete declaration of all nuclear programs and disablement of 

all existing nuclear facilities‖ during the ―next phase.‖

IAEA Director-General ElBaradei visited Pyongyang March 13-14, 

2007, at the D.P.R.K.’s invitation for preliminary discussions on the IAEA’s 

prospective return to the country. Following the resolution of the Banco Delta 

Asia issue in June, a team of IAEA personnel led by IAEA Deputy Director 

General for Safeguards Olli Heinonen visited the D.P.R.K. from June 26-29, 

2007. During Heinonen’s visit, the D.P.R.K. and IAEA reached an 

understanding on an ad hoc arrangement to begin monitoring and verification 

at five nuclear facilities that would be shut down and sealed pursuant to the 

Initial Actions agreement: the 5-Megawatt (electric)(MW(e)) Experimental 

Nuclear Power Plant, the Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Plant, the Radiochemical 

Laboratory (reprocessing plant), the unfinished 50-MW(e) Nuclear Power 

Plant, all at Yongbyon, as well as the unfinished 200-MW(e) Nuclear Power 

Plant at Taechon. The two unfinished reactors required no shut-down.

Under the arrangement, the IAEA was given access, for the purpose 

of monitoring and verification activities, to all the facilities and equipment that 

had been shut down and sealed in the D.P.R.K.. In addition, the IAEA was 

permitted to install and service, as necessary, appropriate containment and 

surveillance devices to monitor and verify the status of the shutdown and 

sealed facilities and equipment. The D.P.R.K. was to inform the IAEA in 

advance of any changes to the design or status of facilities and equipment, as 

well as the removal of any equipment, so that consultations could take place 

on the impact such changes might have on the IAEA’s monitoring and 

verification work.

At its July 9, 2007, IAEA meeting, the Board of Governors (BOG) 

authorized the Director-General, subject to the availability of funds, to 

implement the ad hoc arrangement. On July 14, 2007, an IAEA team arrived 

at Yongbyon to implement the arrangement, and following initial verification, 

on July 17, 2007, the IAEA stated that the five installations specified in the 
Political and Security Affairs

53

arrangement had been shut down. Since July 17, 2007, the IAEA continued to 

monitor and verify the shutdown status of the five facilities and implemented 

appropriate monitoring and verification measures at each of the five facilities, 

in cooperation with the D.P.R.K. We also understand that the IAEA applied 

seals at each of the five facilities. IAEA officials informally expressed 

satisfaction with the level of cooperation provided by the D.P.R.K. in enabling 

the IAEA to properly monitor and verify the shutdown and sealing of the five 

facilities.

The October 3, 2007, Second-Phase Actions for the Implementation 

of the Joint Statement (Second-Phase agreement) issued by the Six Parties 

provided that the disablement of the 5-megawatt Experimental Reactor at 

Yongbyon, the Reprocessing Plant (Radiochemical Laboratory) at Yongbyon 

and the Nuclear Fuel Rod Fabrication Facility at Yongbyon would be 

completed by December 31, 2007. At the request of the other parties, the 

United States led the disablement activities at the three core facilities at the 

Yongbyon nuclear complex and provided the initial funding for those 

activities. Roughly half a dozen U.S. experts have been present continuously 

at Yongbyon since November 4, 2007 to monitor the completion of the 11 

agreed-upon disablement measures. The disablement plan was shared with all 

Six Parties and IAEA leadership, but was not distributed more broadly, though 

all of the agreed disablement activities, including photos, have been described 

in American and international press accounts. Due to health, safety, and 

verification concerns, the Parties agreed that the fuel discharge (consisting of 

approximately 8,000 rods in the reactor core) would need to continue even 

after December 31, 2007. The October 3 Second-Phase Actions agreement 

provided that the United States begin the process of ―removing the designation 

of the D.P.R.K. as a state sponsor of terrorism and advance the process of 

terminating the application of the Trading with the Enemy Act with respect to 

the D.P.R.K., . . . in parallel with the D.P.R.K.'s actions based on consensus 

reached at the meetings of the Working Group on Normalization of D.P.R.K.-

U.S. Relations.‖

While disablement activities proceeded, North Korea did not provide 

a declaration of its nuclear program by December 31, 2007. The declaration 

was to be subject to a process of verification aimed at resolving any 

discrepancies and ensuring achievement of a declaration that was complete 

and correct.

The United States continued to emphasize U.S. support for a key role 

for the IAEA in all stages of implementation of North Korean denuclearization 

and the D.P.R.K.’s early return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and 

IAEA safeguards as contemplated in the September 19, 2005, Joint Statement, 

including verification of the D.P.R.K.’s declaration.

In February, the 1718 Sanctions Committee addressed a letter to UN 

member states concerning the implementation of the ban on the export of 

luxury goods to North Korea and clarifying the definition of ―luxury goods.‖ 

The Committee reaffirmed that the ban was consistent with the objectives of 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

54

Resolution 1718 and was neither intended to restrict the supply of ordinary 

goods to the wider population of the country nor to have a negative 

humanitarian impact on the D.P.R.K. In June, the Committee adopted 

guidelines for the conduct of its work. These guidelines — which were 

transmitted to all states for their information and use and were posted on the 

Committee’s webpage — serve as a tool to guide the work of the Committee 

and to facilitate the implementation of the measures imposed under Resolution 

1718.

The Sanctions Committee continued the process of determining 

additional items, materials, equipment, goods, and technology to be specified 

under the Resolution, but no final decision was taken in this regard. By 

December 31, 2007, the Committee had received reports from 71 countries 

and one organization (European Union) concerning the implementation of the 

Resolution. Replies are issued as official documents of the Committee and are 

accessible electronically on the United Nations Official Document System and 

on the Committee website, unless a state requests that its reply be kept 

confidential. During the reporting period, the Committee received no requests 

for designation of any additional individuals and entities to be subjected to 

targeted financial sanctions or the travel ban under Resolution 1718.

Europe and Eurasia

Cyprus

The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was created in 

March 1964 under United Nations Security Council Resolution 186 to help 

end the violence between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. 

Since the de facto division of the island in 1974 as a result of the Turkish 

military intervention that followed a coup d’etat directed by Greece, 

UNFICYP has served as a buffer force between Turkish and Turkish Cypriot

forces on one side and Greek Cypriot National Guard and Greek (Hellenic 

Republic) forces on the other. The first UN-sponsored negotiations to develop 

institutional arrangements acceptable to both communities began in 1968; 

several sets of negotiations and other initiatives followed.

The UN Security Council renewed UNFICYP’s mandate repeatedly 

since 1964. The United States continued to support the role of the UN 

Secretary-General and the efforts of his Special Representative in seeking a 

solution to the conflict. The situation inside the buffer zone remained calm in 

2007.

A March 27 UN Security Council press statement on Cyprus

welcomed the Greek Cypriots dismantling a wall on Ledra Street and 

recognized the dismantling by Turkish Cypriots of the wall and pedestrian 

bridge on the north side of the buffer zone in the same area earlier in the year. 

The statement urged the immediate opening of the crossing and the 

implementation of the July 8, 2006 Agreement between the President of the 

Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos and the Turkish Cypriot leader 

Mehmet Ali Talat.
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55

In his June report, UN Secretary-General Ban concluded that in view 

of the lack of a comprehensive political settlement, UNFICYP continued to 

play a vital role on the island. In light of the Secretary-General’s report, the 

Security Council voted unanimously on June 15 to extend the UNFICYP 

mandate until December 17, 2007.

On September 5, Republic of Cyprus President Papadopoulos and 

Turkish Cypriot leader Talat met for the first time since agreeing to the 

―Gambari Process‖ on July 8, 2006. The three-hour meeting did not produce 

an agreement to implement the Process, though the leaders agreed to meet 

again at a suitable time.

As of December 2007, the UN Committee on Missing Persons, tasked 

with identifying the remains of those who died during intercommunal strife 

between 1963 and 1974, had exhumed the remains of more than 350 

individuals. The remains of 250 underwent examination and 57 families 

received the remains of missing relatives.

In his December report, UN Secretary-General Ban expressed 

frustration with the continued lack of progress on implementing the July 8, 

2006 Agreement, noting that the responsibility for finding a solution in Cyprus

was with the Cypriots themselves. The Secretary-General concluded that in 

the absence of a comprehensive settlement, UNFICYP’s presence remained 

necessary to maintain the ceasefire.

On December 14, the Security Council unanimously adopted 

Resolution 1789 to extend the UNFICYP mandate for an additional six 

months. The resolution expressed full support of the July 8 agreement, noted 

with deep concern the lack of progress made, urged all parties involved to 

engage constructively with UN efforts, and requested the Secretary-General to 

submit a report by June 1, 2008, on the implementation of this resolution.

As of December 31, 2007, UNFICYP had 923 troops and police, with 

Argentina, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, and Hungary serving as the largest 

troop contributing countries. No U.S. personnel served in UNFICYP. UN 

assessments for UNFICYP in 2007 totaled $26 million. The U.S. share totaled 

$6.2 million.

Georgia

Established on August 24, 1993, by UN Security Council Resolution 

858, the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) monitors compliance 

with a cease-fire agreement reached between the Georgian Government and 

Abkhaz separatists. Under the May 1994 Moscow Agreement, a peacekeeping

force of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) monitors compliance 

with the terms of the cease-fire. The CIS force consists of approximately 

1,700 armed Russian Federation troops. CIS peacekeepers maintain 

checkpoints along both sides of the cease-fire line. UNOMIG military 

observers maintain a close working relationship with the CIS force, which is 

responsible for UNOMIG’s security. On July 2, 1994, Resolution 937 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

56

increased the authorized number of military observers in UNOMIG (all 

unarmed) from 55 to 136.

On January 11, 2007, the Secretary-General released his first 

quarterly report on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia. The report noted 

settlement efforts were burdened by fundamental differences between the sides 

on underlying political questions. The report also noted that both sides had 

refocused their attentions towards enlisting more active external support rather 

than engaging in direct dialogue.

On March 11, 2007, UNOMIG received a number of reports about 

the bombardment of villages and the presence of helicopters in the upper 

Kodori Valley. The following morning UNOMIG convened a joint factfinding group (JFFG) charged with investigating the incident. The JFFG, 

which included representatives from UNOMIG, the CIS peacekeeping force, 

Abkhazia, and Georgia, did not determine responsibility, but it did provide a 

list of recommendations to avoid such incidents, including UNOMIG 

deploying artillery radar in the Kodori Valley and enhancing surveillance 

capability (possibly by unmanned aerial vehicles).

On April 3, 2007, the Secretary-General released his second quarterly 

report on the situation in Abkhazia. The report welcomed progress the two 

sides had made in implementing Resolution 1716 (2006), particularly the 

continuation of joint patrolling of the Kodori Valley by UNOMIG and the CIS

peacekeeping force. The report also noted that the events of March 11 were a 

major setback and that tensions along the ceasefire line had remained high, 

including an exchange of fire that took place on March 1. On April 13, 2007, 

the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1752 extending UNOMIG’s

mandate for six months.

On July 18, 2007, the Secretary-General released his third quarterly 

report, which welcomed the outcome of a Group of Friends meeting on June 

27-28 in Bonn and expressed his hope that both sides would take concrete 

steps to implement the understandings reached at the meeting, in particular the 

establishment of maritime communication between Sukhumi and Trabzon, 

Turkey, with appropriate Customs control, cooperation on issues such as 

missing persons, and continued cooperation in combating swine fever. The 

report also expressed concern about tensions around Georgia’s patriotic youth 

camp in Ganmukhuri.

On September 20, 2007, the Georgian and Abkhaz sides clashed in an 

isolated area outside the zone of conflict. The Georgian side apprehended 

seven Abkhaz personnel. Several were wounded and two former Russian

officers, reportedly on contract with the Abkhaz de facto border guards, were 

killed. On September 21, 2007, with the consent of the Georgian authorities 

and the de facto Abkhaz authorities, an UNOMIG fact-finding team began an 

independent inquiry into the incident, noting that it took place outside of 

UNOMIG’s area of responsibility. At the end of 2007, UNOMIG had not 

concluded its investigation into this incident.
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57

On October 3, 2007, the Secretary-General released his fourth 

quarterly report noting that UNOMIG had observed a relative calm in the zone 

of conflict since his last report in July, except for the deadly clash on 

September 20, the most serious incident involving the Georgian and Abkhaz

sides in many years. On October 15, 2007, the UN Security Council 

unanimously adopted Resolution 1781 extending UNOMIG’s mandate until 

April 15, 2008.

On November 7, 2007, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili

announced a temporary state of emergency and banned all news broadcasts 

except state-controlled television due to widespread unrest after riot police 

broke up demonstrations calling for Saakashvili’s ouster. On November 16, 

2007, the UN Secretary-General issued a statement welcoming the lifting of 

the state of emergency in Georgia. He emphasized the importance of the full 

restoration of freedom of expression and association. He also took note of 

both sides’ concerns and allegations, including impending threats and a major 

build-up of armed forces in the zone of conflict and the Kodori valley. The 

Secretary-General asserted that UNOMIG had been conducting daily 

verification of the claims, many of which had not been confirmed by the 

situation on the ground.

The Former Yugoslavia: UN Interim Administration Mission 

in Kosovo

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia withdrew its forces from Kosovo

following the 1999 air campaign against Serbian forces by the North Atlantic

Treaty Organization (NATO). UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (June 

10, 1999) authorized an international security presence that became the 

NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) as well as an international civil presence 

that became the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) 

responsible for, among other things, overseeing the development of 

provisional self-governing democratic institutions.

In November 2005, based upon the recommendations of UN Envoy 

Kai Eide that the time had come to initiate a process designed to determine 

Kosovo’s future status, then UN Secretary-General Annan appointed Martti 

Ahtisaari as his Special Envoy for the Kosovo Future Status Process. Over the 

course of 2006 and early 2007, Special Envoy Ahtisaari led intensive, but 

ultimately inconclusive, negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina. In April 

2007, Special Envoy Ahtisaari declared the process at an impasse. 

Nonetheless, he presented to the UN Security Council a comprehensive 

proposal for Kosovo’s future status, including broad provisions to protect 

Kosovo’s minorities, and recommended that Kosovo become independent 

subject initially to a period of international supervision. Serbia rejected the

plan outright, and Russia stated it would not support any outcome to which 

Serbia did not agree.

In May 2007, a draft resolution on Kosovo was introduced in the 

Security Council. The draft resolution endorsed the provisions contained in 

the Ahtisaari Settlement, requested that an International Steering Group 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

58

appoint an International Civilian Representative (ICR) in accordance with the 

settlement, authorized the establishment of a European Union Rule of Law 

Mission to support implementation of the settlement, and decided that the 

international security presence would continue to be authorized. Ultimately, 

despite several attempts to revise the initial draft to produce an acceptable 

Security Council resolution, Russia made it clear that it would veto the 

resolution if brought to a vote.

Russian opposition prevented UN Security Council endorsement of 

the Ahtisaari settlement. A further 120-day period of engagement between 

Belgrade and Pristina was facilitated by a Troika composed of representatives 

of the European Union, the Russian Federation, and the United States, which 

oversaw multiple rounds of negotiations between the parties. Despite four 

months of intense and high-level negotiations, Belgrade and Pristina were 

unable to reach agreement on Kosovo’s final status. UNMIK continued to 

exercise its responsibilities under Resolution 1244 throughout 2007.

Western Hemisphere

Haiti

On February 15, 2007, UN Security Council Resolution 1743 

extended the mandate of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 

by eight months until October 15, 2007. On October 15, 2007, UN Security 

Council Resolution 1780 extended MINUSTAH’s mandate for one year, until 

October 15, 2008. MINUSTAH’s mandate, to promote a secure and stable 

environment in Haiti, was established under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, 

allowing MINUSTAH freedom of action when carrying out security-related 

activities. Eleven Western Hemisphere countries continued to provide 

approximately one-half of MINUSTAH’s troops and police out of a total 43

countries contributing assets to the mission.

MINUSTAH is authorized to provide technical expertise in support of 

Haiti’s efforts to control its borders, including by establishing MINUSTAH 

patrols along maritime and land border areas, to curb illicit cross-border 

trafficking of drugs and arms as well as other illegal activities. MINUSTAH 

continued to help improve Haiti’s security conditions in 2007 and provided 

security and logistical support for remaining legislative and local government 

elections.

Joint MINUSTAH/Haitian National Police (HNP) anti-crime 

operations supported the extension of state authority, aided in the fight against 

poverty, and facilitated quick-impact projects and other developmental 

activities. In Cite Soleil and Martissant, MINUSTAH/HNP operations 

resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,000 criminal gang members. With the full 

support of the Government of Haiti, these operations dismantled the criminal 

gangs, captured their leadership, and restored state authority to one of Haiti’s 

most troubled areas. MINUSTAH/HNP check points and regular joint patrols 

by MINUSTAH and the HNP provided conditions enabling UN agencies and 

development authorities to undertake work in relative safety. While 
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59

kidnappings for ransom continued to plague Haiti, the 227 kidnappings in 

2007 represent a significant decline from 506 in 2006.

In October 2007, MINUSTAH peacekeepers assisted in Haiti’s 

recovery from tropical storm Noel, which caused extensive damage and more 

than 73 deaths. MINUSTAH peacekeepers conducted large-scale 

humanitarian evacuations, ferrying residents to safety in inflatable boats and 

providing food, water, and medical assistance.

MINUSTAH and the Government of Haiti implemented a five-year 

HNP Reform Plan agreed upon in December 2006, including a robust 

Community Crime Reduction Program, commencing in Cite Soleil on January 

3, 2007. While the Reform Plan envisions expanding the HNP to 14,000 

officers over its remaining four years, at the current rate of fewer than 1,200 

recruits each year, this will prove difficult.

Haiti did not schedule constitutionally-mandated Senate elections due 

in autumn 2007. This delay resulted in a reduction of serving Senators to 18, 

just two above the number needed for a quorum, threatening a cessation of 

legislative functioning, and raising the prospect of presidential rule by decree. 

Such a failure would constitute a severe setback to MINUSTAH’s goals and to 

the international community’s engagement in Haiti.

MINUSTAH’s Border Security Implementation Plan, authorized in 

UN Security Council Resolution 1773, commenced in fall 2007 along the 

contiguous border with the Dominican Republic. While MINUSTAH has 

deployed troops to the land borders with the Dominican Republic, the UN 

Security Council-authorized maritime mission has yet to deploy. The UN 

Department of Peacekeeping Operations continues to work with member states 

to source the required 16 patrol boats to watch over 1,000 miles of Haiti’s 

coastline out 3 - 5 kilometers.

Tragically, 11 MINUSTAH peacekeepers lost their lives in the course 

of the year, including five from acts of violence.

The United States remains Haiti's largest bilateral assistance donor,

contributing over $260 million in 2007. U.S. assistance to Haiti for the period 

of 2004 through 2007 totaled over $800 million. American assistance is 

intended to help Haiti improve its security and its justice sector, foster good 

governance, and stimulate economic growth. To help ensure secure and stable 

conditions for democratic institutions and economic development in Cite 

Soleil, the United States committed $20 million in assistance for a focused 

program, the Haiti Stabilization Initiative (HSI), to increase police and access 

to justice, improve service delivery, and deliver targeted economic assistance.

Total donor funding pledged at the July 2006 Donors Conference in 

Port-au-Prince amounted to $750 million through September 2007. UN 

assessments for MINUSTAH in 2007 totaled $418.9 million. The U.S. share 

totaled $82 million.
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

60

Disarmament Issues

1540 Committee

UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) established, for the first 

time, binding obligations on states, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, to 

develop and enforce appropriate legal and regulatory measures against the 

proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and their means of 

delivery. Among other things, Resolution 1540 obligates member states to 

criminalize and take action against proliferation-related activities, including 

financing. The Security Council established a subsidiary Committee, 

comprised of all Security Council members, to assist with implementation to 

prevent and deter illicit access to WMD, their means of delivery, and related 

materials.

The Security Council, through Resolution 1673 (2006), unanimously 

extended the mandate of the 1540 Committee for two years. During 2007, 

outreach to other member states, on a bilateral basis or in the context of 

existing regional or sub-regional organizations, became an important element 

of the United States’ approach toward the implementation of Resolution 1540. 

Through this outreach, the United States sought not only to encourage member 

states to submit reports to the 1540 Committee but also to highlight the role 

that regional organizations could play in promoting the discussion of their 

members’ experiences in implementing Resolution 1540, disseminating best 

practices, and helping participating states to present more and better reports in 

support of the Resolution. The United States, consistent with the mandate 

under Resolution 1673, has sought to complement the 1540 Committee’s 

outreach activities.

In 2007, the United States helped explain the value of completing a 

National Action Plan (which the United States completed in May 2006) and 

worked with regional organizations, such as the Organization for Security and 

Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the 

Organization of American States (OAS), to achieve consensus among 

members to submit such plans on a voluntary basis. Moreover, the United 

States sought to partner with other assistance providers, such as the European 

Union, to coordinate better efforts to build nonproliferation capacity.

Through its bilateral and Committee-based outreach activities in 

2007, the United States worked to build support for further action by member 

states in recognition of the realities and complexities involved in fulfilling the 

provisions of Resolution 1540. In doing so, the United States focused on 

laying the groundwork to ensure that the Security Council would renew the 

mandate of the 1540 Committee beyond its scheduled expiration in April 

2008. In preparation for the negotiations to extend the Committee’s mandate, 

the United States expressed support during the latter part of 2007 for a 

mandate extension beyond two years, with enhanced terms for the mandate, to 

enable the 1540 Committee to pursue a better-coordinated, better-funded, and 
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61

more inclusive approach toward promoting the implementation of Resolution 

1540 by all member states.

Conference on Disarmament

The Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament (CD) is the principal 

multilateral forum for negotiating arms control and disarmament agreements. 

Its agenda includes the issues of nuclear disarmament and the prevention of 

nuclear war, weapons of mass destruction, conventional armaments, negative 

security assurances (NSAs), the prevention of an arms race in outer space 

(PAROS), and transparency in armaments.

The CD is an autonomous body, but is supported through the budget 

of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs. The United States is assessed 22 

percent of the approximately $4 million devoted to CD costs annually. The 

CD’s 65 member states are divided into geopolitical groups – the Western 

Group, the Eastern Group, and the Non-Aligned (G-21) Group, with China as 

an independent member. In addition, 41 governments also participated in 

2007 as observers. All CD decisions are made by consensus, and the 

presidency of the CD rotates alphabetically among its members during its 24-

week session; each serves for a month. The CD held 36 formal plenary 

sessions and 48 informal plenary meetings during 2007. The CD adopted its 

annual report to the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007.

The CD has produced significant treaties in the past, including the 

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Convention. 

When the 2007 session began, the CD had been stalemated for 10 consecutive 

years because it was unable to agree on a program of work and that situation 

continued throughout 2007.

As has become the pattern in recent years, the six countries (South 

Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, and Syria, or collectively the 

―P-6‖) that held the rotational CD presidency in 2007 worked together to 

design a year-long timetable that allowed for a rolling discussion of all of the 

CD’s seven substantive agenda items. They appointed seven CD 

representatives as coordinators, one for each of the agenda items. After formal 

and informal discussion of all agenda items in the first weeks, the P-6 at the 

March 23 plenary put forward a proposal for organizing the work of the 

balance of the 2007 session. That proposal, presented in document 

CD/2001/L.1, called for the negotiation of a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty 

(FMCT), the primary U.S. objective in the CD, and for substantive discussion 

on nuclear disarmament, NSAs, and PAROS.

The U.S. representative pointed out that the United States would have 

preferred a clear-cut decision to start negotiations on FMCT, based on a draft 

mandate the United States tabled in 2004, and without reference to any other 

issue. Nonetheless, the United States accepted the P-6 proposal as presented 

in L.1 as a carefully-crafted and balanced way forward that the United States

would not block. But during subsequent discussions, a small core of states, led 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

62

by Pakistan, China, and Iran, effectively blocked a consensus on L.1, arguing 

that the proposal required amendment.

In the CD’s annual report to the General Assembly, CD members 

noted that an increased level and focus had characterized the CD’s activities in 

2007 and highlighted the need to build on that momentum during the 2008 

session.

UN Disarmament Commission

The UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC), a subsidiary body of the 

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), is a deliberative body intended to 

consider in depth and make recommendations on disarmament issues. It 

typically meets annually for three weeks in New York. The UNDC reports 

annually to the UNGA. All UN member states are eligible to participate, but 

barely one-third have attended the UNDC in recent years.

The UNDC focuses during a three-year cycle on a limited number of 

agenda items, and its recommendations must be approved by consensus. The 

focus of the United States has been to ensure that the UNDC adopts reports 

that are consistent with and advance U.S. policy. The Non-Aligned Movement 

(NAM) historically has tried to focus UNDC discussion almost exclusively on 

nuclear disarmament issues. The United States has tried to maintain a balance 

in UNDC work between nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, 

on the one hand, and other disarmament issues, such as conventional arms 

control, on the other. The UNDC last issued consensus recommendations in 

2000.

The April 2006 UNDC session was the first dealing with substance 

since 2003, when the Commission failed to agree on any recommendations 

after three years of effort. At that session, the UNDC began consideration of 

issues relating to nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and to 

practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional weapons. 

The Commission adopted the agenda proposed by the United States that, for 

the first time, equated nuclear non-proliferation with nuclear disarmament as 

UNDC priorities. Also at U.S. insistence, the UNDC considered and adopted 

a modest set of measures to improve its internal operations.

At its 2007 session, the UNDC continued its work in two groups. 

Working Group I considered recommendations for achieving the objective of 

nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. At the end of 

the session, the chairman made clear that his working paper on the subject 

would be a basis for further deliberations at the UNDC’s concluding session in 

2008. Working Group II prepared a paper on practical confidence-building 

measures in the field of conventional weapons. It was decided that it, too, 

would be a basis for work at the 2008 session.

At both the 2006 and 2007 UNDC sessions, the Islamic Republic of 

Iran was chosen as a vice-chair of the Commission, despite strong criticism 

from the United States. Iran’s presence in the UNDC Bureau did not affect the 

outcome of the UNDC’s work.
Political and Security Affairs

63

At the 62nd session of the General Assembly, the United States

continued to decline to participate in the adoption of the annual UNDC

resolution because of continuing concerns within the U.S. Government about 

the overall worth of the Commission's work, notwithstanding the few 

relatively positive developments noted above.

Peacekeeping Issues

Peacekeeping Financing

In 2007, the United States supported the opening of two missions: 

the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and 

the UN African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to protect 

civilians, facilitate humanitarian relief, and contribute to stabilization of the 

security situation in the affected areas.

The United States supports UN peacekeeping operations when they 

can be an effective means of containing conflict and resolving disputes in 

support of U.S. national interests. The United States has supported proposals 

to improve the United Nations’ ability to assess conflict situations, to plan and 

manage peacekeeping operations, and to respond quickly to UN mandates. 

The United States also has encouraged other states to include peacekeeping in 

their national security strategies and to contribute forces to peacekeeping

whenever appropriate. The total number of troops, military observers, and UN 

police from all nations serving in UN missions at the end of 2007 increased by 

3,941 from 2006, due primarily to the expansion of the UN Interim Force in 

Lebanon (UNIFIL) that had been authorized in August 2006. As of December 

31, 2007, the United Nations had a total of 70,508 troops, 2,724 military 

observers, and 11,077 UN police participating in 17 UN peacekeeping

operations. The U.S. contribution for UN peacekeeping included 291 U.S. 

police and 25 U.S. military serving in UN military staff or observer positions.

UN peacekeeping activities have grown dramatically over the past 

years resulting in the U.S. Government’s contribution rising from some 

$795,000 in fiscal year 2003 to nearly $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2007.

Peacekeeping Reform

The growth in demand for UN peacekeeping operations that began in 

the mid-1990s led to the creation in 2000 of the Panel on UN Peace 

Operations, chaired by then-UN Under Secretary-General Lakhdar Brahimi. 

The Panel’s ―Brahimi Report‖ made a long list of recommendations on 

improving UN peacekeeping operations, including the restructuring and 

augmentation of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), as 

well as improvements in planning, standards of conduct, best practices, and 

force generation.

Since that time, DPKO’s professional standards and planning 

improved substantially. The United Nations established a forward logistics 

base with strategic stocks at Brindisi, Italy, to enable more rapid deployments. 

DPKO established force standards to ensure minimum qualifications for 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

64

troops. By the end of 2007, DPKO oversaw almost 107,000 military, police, 

and civilian personnel in 17 peacekeeping missions and three political 

missions around the world.

Despite the substantial improvements made in managing peace 

operations in response to the Brahimi Report, there was not a parallel growth 

in headquarters staff to support the expansion of peacekeeping. In that 

context, Secretary-General Ban in 2007 presented proposals for restructuring 

DPKO and substantially increasing the resources, in particular staffing, 

available for planning and supporting UN operations.

UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/61/279 of August 1 

approved the restructuring proposal with some modifications. The 

restructuring created a separate Department of Field Support (DFS) headed by 

an Under Secretary-General and several new senior management officers. 

DFS became responsible for administrative and logistic support, and DPKO

became responsible for military, police, and stabilization planning. The two 

Departments began working in integrated teams.

The Secretary-General proposed 495 new permanent positions for the 

two Departments and 76 additional contract positions. The General Assembly 

approved 284 new positions (211 fewer than requested) and 137 new contract 

positions (61 more than requested). In addition, the General Assembly 

approved revisions in contracting and procurement procedures designed to 

streamline work, improve performance, and reduce the need for further 

additional positions.

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

In 2007, the U.S. Government continued to pressure the United 

Nations and troop-contributing countries to prevent sexual exploitation and 

abuse and to hold the perpetrators accountable.

According to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations

(DPKO), 127 new allegations made against UN peacekeeping personnel for 

sexual exploitation and abuses were reported in 2007. The UN Office of 

Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) reviews all allegations and conducts 

investigations into those that are deemed serious and credible. In 2007, OIOS 

completed 123 investigations (including some from earlier years and not 

necessarily corresponding to the 127 new allegations noted above). Of those 

investigations, 114 allegations resulted in repatriations; OIOS found nine to be 

unsubstantiated.

Alleged and confirmed cases of sexual exploitation and abuse are 

reported in the Department of State’s comprehensive semi-annual report to the 

Congress on UN measures taken to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, and 

the effectiveness of such measures, pursuant to section 104(e) of the 

Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), FY 2006, (P.L. 

109-164). The Department’s reports covered all alleged cases reported to 

DPKO or alleged cases reported by the press. Additionally, the report 

provided insight from U.S. embassies in the countries where the UN 
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65

peacekeeping mission was located and/or where the alleged incident of sexual 

exploitation and abuse occurred. Each report covered all peacekeeping

missions expected to be created or renewed during the next six months. The 

first report to the Congress covered UN peacekeeping missions with a mandate 

expiration or renewal during the period of August 15, 2006, to February 15, 

2007. This was followed by a report on relevant missions for the period 

February to August 2007; the report from August 2007 to February 2008 will 

be issued in 2008. Separately, and also pursuant to section 104(e) of the 

TVPRA, the Department of State’s 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report 

summarized actions taken by the United Nations to prevent trafficking in 

persons or the exploitation of trafficked victims.

Throughout 2007, UN member states – working in particular in the 

General Assembly’s Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (the ―C34‖) – addressed issues related to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse by 

UN peacekeeping personnel. On July 24, the General Assembly approved a 

Model Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and troopcontributing countries, specifying standards and procedures for investigations 

and disciplinary action. On December 19, the General Assembly approved the 

―Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual 

Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Staff and Related Personnel.‖ The 

strategy authorized the United Nations to respond to the immediate needs of 

persons alleging sexual exploitation and abuse and to provide for longer term 

assistance for persons whose claims were substantiated and for children born 

as the result of sexual exploitation and abuse. Member states also met to 

discuss a report by legal experts on possible approaches to holding UN 

officials and experts accountable for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse and 

requested recommendations from the Secretary-General on welfare and 

recreation facilities for peacekeeping personnel (a critical element in 

maintaining health and morale).

During 2007, the United Nations continued to establish Conduct and 

Discipline Teams (CDTs) at UN headquarters and in UN peacekeeping

missions. CDTs are responsible for developing policies and programs to 

promote application of the UN’s zero-tolerance policy and informing local 

communities of safe channels for reporting allegations of sexual exploitation 

and abuse. CDTs also receive complaints and reports of misconduct and 

determine which allegations should be handled by missions and which are 

sufficiently serious to refer to OIOS.

Where necessary, UN peacekeeping missions instituted off-limits 

areas, curfews, telephone hotlines, and/or required mission personnel to wear 

uniforms at all times. In addition, DPKO developed training modules for 

different levels of personnel that are provided to troop-contributing countries 

for pre-deployment training. On arrival, all personnel are given additional 

briefings on standards of conduct and the zero-tolerance policy.
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UN Police

UN police officers have participated in peacekeeping missions since 

the 1960s. During 2007, as part of an overall restructuring of UN management 

of peacekeeping operations, UN police issues were placed under the newlycreated Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the Department of 

Peacekeeping Operations. The Police Division is responsible for issues related 

to civilian and military police, as well as gendarmes.

The United States continued its efforts to provide high-quality police 

officers to UN operations. At the end of 2007, the United States had police 

officers assigned to the UN missions in Haiti (48), Kosovo (217), Liberia (14), 

and Sudan (12). In 2007, the demand for qualified police officers to deploy to 

peacekeeping missions continued to outpace the supply. By the end of 2007, 

recruiting was underway for the Standing Police Capacity, a cadre of police 

professionals available to start new UN police operations or to troubleshoot 

existing operations.

Special Issues

Children in Armed Conflict 

UN involvement in children and armed conflict commenced 

following the groundbreaking Machel Report in 1996, which comprehensively 

analyzed the effects of armed conflict on children. The Special Representative 

of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict pursued this issue in 

the UN and with individual member states throughout 2007.

The UN Security Council Working Group established pursuant to 

Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) met on numerous occasions in 2007 

to review the Secretary-General’s country-specific reports, as well as his 

Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict that lists state and non-state 

actors who actively and unlawfully recruit and use children. This list of 

parties to armed conflict is bifurcated: Annex I lists parties in countries 

currently on the agenda of the Security Council, and Annex II lists parties in 

countries that are not on the Security Council’s agenda. These reports evolved 

from Security Council Resolution 1261 (1999), which addressed unlawful 

recruitment and use of children in the context of international peace and 

security, and the Council’s follow-up work in Resolutions 1379 (2001), 1460 

(2003), and 1539 (2004). The Working Group’s current mandate is the result 

of Resolution 1539’s decision to establish a monitoring and reporting 

mechanism on children and armed conflict (SCR 1539, paragraph 5b) and 

Resolution 1612’s decision to establish a Working Group of the Security 

Council to review reports on that mechanism and on action plans developed by 

parties listed in Annex I of the Secretary-General’s reports.

The Working Group is a subsidiary body of the Security Council, 

chaired by the French. The Working Group established a 2007 program of 

work based on the Annexes of the Secretary-General’s annual report, in which 

two countries were reviewed every two months and conclusion documents 
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67

were decided by consensus. These conclusion documents include letters or 

public statements from the President of the Security Council or Chair of the 

Working Group to the concerned member states, non-state actors, the 

Secretary-General, and international organizations or programs, such as the 

World Bank and the United Nations Children’s Fund. These letters or 

statements reflect observations and recommendations agreed by the Working 

Group. Parties to armed conflict in each designated member state are 

reviewed on a roughly annual basis to measure progress on the issue of 

children and armed conflict. De-listing only occurs if a party displays 

compliance in the form of an action plan to halt the recruitment and use of 

children in armed conflict and implementation of that action plan, particularly 

in the areas of unlawful recruitment and separation of children from military 

units or other armed groups.

By the end of 2007, the Working Group had reviewed all parties to 

armed conflict listed in the Annexes to the Secretary-General’s 2006 Annual 

Report, including those situated in Burma, Burundi, the Central African 

Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Nepal, 

Sri Lanka, Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda. Although it has a powerful set of 

tools, the Working Group has faced challenges in gaining consensus on 

employment of such tools.

Although success is difficult to measure, non-state actors from the 

Cote d’Ivoire who were previously listed in the Secretary-General’s report 

were de-listed. This was the first recorded de-listing. Other encouraging 

developments for the Working Group included the increased cooperation of 

relevant parties in certain country situations and a marked reduction in the 

number of new recruits.

The Working Group and the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy (Sri 

Lanka), have sometimes ventured beyond the countries listed in the annual 

reports of the Secretary-General. For example, in spring 2007, Ms. 

Coomaraswamy visited Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. The Working Group 

does not officially react to these activities and did not officially review and 

react to her trip notes, although members of the Working Group were briefed 

in several special sessions to learn about her trip.

Non–Self-Governing Territories

The status of non-self-governing territories, defined as ―territories 

whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government,‖ is 

considered annually by the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to 

the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to 

Colonial Countries and Peoples (Committee of 24 or C-24) and by the Special 

Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) of the UN 

General Assembly.

The United States is the administering power of three non-selfgoverning territories considered by the Committee: American Samoa, Guam, 
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and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico, as a self-governing dominion, was 

removed from the Committee’s jurisdiction in 1953. In 2007 the United States

continued its long-standing practice of joining with the United Kingdom to 

ensure agreement on an ―omnibus‖ resolution on the ―Questions of American 

Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, 

Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and 

the United States Virgin Islands.‖ This resolution confirmed the right of selfdetermination and reiterated the call for complete decolonization. It further 

recognized the work of the ―administering powers‖ to this end. As in prior 

years, this resolution was adopted by consensus. The United States continues 

to fulfill reporting requirements as requested by this resolution and Article 

73(e) of the UN Charter.

During the General Assembly, the United States voted against or 

abstained on a series of resolutions addressing the governance and 

independence of non-self-governing territories. These resolutions contained 

unacceptable provisions regarding land tenure, economic and military 

activities, or the responsibilities of administering powers.

Oil For Food

The Oil-for-Food program was terminated on December 31, 2007, 

with the expiration of the final 68 contracts, in accordance with Resolution 

1483 (2003). However, 210 unpaid letters of credit, worth approximately 

$656 million were still pending with BNP Paribas at that time. The suppliers 

of 164 of these unpaid letters of credit, worth approximately $175 million, 

claimed that they had fulfilled the contract by delivering goods and services in 

Iraq; the suppliers of the other 46 contracts, worth approximately $481 

million, did not claim delivery of goods and services. These 46 contracts have 

been targeted for cancellation, and the associated $481 million remains in the 

United Nations Iraq Account, at the request of the Security Council. The 164 

contracts with claims of delivery cannot be paid out without the receipt of the 

corresponding authentication documents from the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI). 

In letters to the Secretary-General dated January 29, April 30, and November 

8, 2007, Security Council members expressed their concern regarding the 

CBI’s delay in authenticating the letters of credit and urged it to expedite the 

authentication process, so that the suppliers could receive payment for the 

delivery of goods and services.

Peacebuilding Commission

The UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) continued to focus in 

2007 on Burundi and Sierra Leone, as the first countries under its review, and 

added a third country, Guinea-Bissau, at the end of the year. The PBC 

encouraged an inclusive process in Burundi and Sierra Leone that involved 

civil society, government, and the many other actors relevant to peacebuilding 

in these countries, including the World Bank and other institutions of the 

broader international community.
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In addition, the PBC Organizational Committee addressed various 

organizational, procedural, and methodological issues. In 2007, the 

Organizational Committee discussed the concept note on integrated 

peacebuilding strategies and adopted the provisional guidelines for the 

participation of civil society in PBC meetings. It decided to invite institutional 

donors, pursuant to paragraph 9 of UN General Assembly Resolution 60/180 

and UN Security Council Resolution 1645 (2005). The Working Group on 

Lessons Learned, created in 2006, held meetings on Sierra Leone, the 

Afghanistan Compact, regional approaches, strategic frameworks, fiscal 

capacities in post-conflict countries, and local governance and 

decentralization.

The PBC’s country-specific meetings on Burundi and Sierra Leone

took place regularly and led to the adoption of workplans and visits by field 

missions to gather information and produce analyses. The PBC also launched 

the development of integrated peacebuilding strategies in line with the critical 

priority areas identified by the PBC in 2006 for each country. The countryspecific configuration for Burundi produced its integrated strategy in June, 

while the country-specific configuration for Sierra Leone waited until after 

Sierra Leone’s national elections in August to adopt its strategy in December. 

The country-specific configuration for Burundi adopted its Monitoring and 

Tracking Mechanism in December to help implement its strategy.

In addition, in December, the Security Council referred GuineaBissau to the PBC and requested its advice on (1) that government’s capacity 

to institute effective management of national finances, including effective anticorruption policies; (2) action by the national government and the international 

community to develop effective security systems and to strengthen the rule of 

law, particularly considering the dangers posed by drug trafficking and 

organized crime; and (3) developing democratic accountability and 

preparations for elections in 2008.

The UN Peacebuilding Support Office continued to support the work 

of the PBC and to oversee the operation of the UN Peacebuilding Fund, which 

had more than $200 million and was disbursing funds for projects for Sierra 

Leone, Burundi, and other countries declared eligible for similar peacebuilding 

needs or, for amounts under $1 million, on an emergency basis for 

peacebuilding purposes.

Sanctions

The United States continued to support the imposition of UN 

sanctions in response to threats to international peace and security. Chapter 

VII, Article 41, of the United Nations Charter authorizes the Security Council 

to require member states to implement measures not involving the use of 

armed force to give effect to its decisions. Under this authority, the Security 

Council has resorted to the use of multilateral sanctions to address threats to 

international peace and security where diplomatic efforts alone have been 

insufficient.
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The United States believes that international sanctions, appropriately 

structured and targeted, can serve as a key political tool to prompt a change in 

policies or behaviors that threaten international peace and security. Sanctions 

have restricted access to arms, funds, and commodities used to undermine 

security, while denying political support to the leadership of sanctioned 

regimes. The United States recognizes that sanctions alone are often 

insufficient and are most effective when used in conjunction with effective 

diplomacy. The effectiveness of United Nations sanctions is directly linked to 

the willingness and ability of member states, particularly neighbors of the 

targeted regime, to implement and enforce the measures.

In 2007, the UN Security Council maintained multilateral sanctions

regimes directed toward the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, 

Somalia, Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 

Iraq, and Iran, as well as against non-state actors in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. 

Additionally, United Nations sanctions remained in place against Saddam 

Hussein and other senior officials of the former Iraqi regime [Resolution 1518 

(2003)]; individuals and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the 

Taliban, and al-Qaida [Resolution 1267 (1999)]; and individuals designated by 

the International Independent Investigation Commission or the Government of 

Lebanon as suspected of involvement in the terrorist bombing that killed 

former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 19 others [Resolution 1636 

(2005)]. 

In an effort to ensure fair and clear procedures exist to remove 

individuals and entities from sanctions lists, the United States and France

drafted Resolution 1730 (2006). This resolution established a focal point 

review process, which became operational in March 2007, to receive and 

better facilitate requests for de-listing.

The arms embargo on Somalia, dating back to 1992, remained in 

place as the oldest sanctions regime currently in effect. Resolution 1766, 

adopted on July 23, 2007, re-established for six months a monitoring group, 

established by Resolution 1519 (2003), to continue monitoring implementation 

and violations of the arms embargo. In Resolution 1744, adopted on February 

20, 2007, the Security Council established exceptions to the arms embargo to 

support the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and provide Statesupplied assistance to help rebuild effective security sector institutions. 

Additionally, Resolution 1772, adopted on August 20, 2007, re-authorized 

member states of the African Union to maintain a protection and training 

mission in Somalia and decided that the arms embargo would not apply to 

supplies of weapons and military equipment intended solely for support of or 

use by this force.

The Security Council adopted Resolution 1749 on March 28, 2007, in 

response to positive developments in Rwanda, especially the signing of the 

Pact on Security, Stability, and Development in the Great Lakes Region; the 

Nairobi Communiqué; and the Goma Peace Process. This resolution removed 

the notification requirement for the export of arms by states to the Government 
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of Rwanda, as well as the Government of Rwanda’s requirement to mark, 

register, and notify the Sanctions Committee of all arms it imported.

The United States supported a series of resolutions concerning 

measures imposed on Liberia in 2007. In recognition of the progress made in 

Liberia, Resolution 1753, adopted on April 27, 2007, lifted the ban on the 

import of diamonds from Liberia imposed by Resolution 1521 (2003). 

Resolution 1760, adopted June 20, 2007, re-established a panel of experts to 

assess the effectiveness of and compliance with the sanctions regime. Due to 

the still fragile security situation, however, the United States supported 

Resolution 1792, adopted on December 19, 2007, which renewed the arms 

embargo, extended the travel ban on designated individuals for a period of 12 

months, and re-appointed the Panel of Experts for six months.

Concerned with the ongoing situation in the Democratic Republic of 

the Congo (D.R.C.), the Security Council adopted Resolution 1768 on July 31, 

2007 and Resolution 1771 on August 10, 2007, which renewed for one month 

and six months, respectively, the D.R.C. Group of Experts, established by 

Resolution 1533 (2004). Resolutions 1768 and 1771 also renewed the arms 

embargo imposed by Resolution 1493 (2003) and the travel ban and asset 

freeze imposed on designated persons by Resolution 1596 (2005), including 

the extension of such measures to designated political and military leaders 

recruiting or using children in armed conflict as described in Resolution 1689 

(2006).

In addition, the deteriorating situations in Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan

prompted the Security Council to adopt three sanctions-related resolutions for 

these countries in 2007. Resolution 1761, adopted on June 20, 2007, reestablished the Group of Experts concerning Cote d’Ivoire through October

2007. The Group of Experts supported the Committee by monitoring the 

effectiveness of the sanctions regime, in cooperation with the UN Operation in 

Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI). Additionally, Resolution 1782, adopted on October 

29, 2007, renewed for one year the arms embargo, travel ban, assets freeze, 

embargo on the import of rough diamonds originating in Cote d’Ivoire, and the 

mandate of the Group of Experts. Resolution 1782 also demanded that all 

Ivorian parties provide unhindered access to the Group of Experts, UNOCI, 

and the French forces supporting UNOCI. In response to the humanitarian 

crisis in Darfur, the United States supported the adoption of Resolution 1779 

on September 28, 2007. Resolution 1779 re-established the Panel of Experts 

concerning Sudan, originally established by Resolution 1591 (2005), for one 

year and called on all states, relevant UN bodies, the African Union and other 

interested parties to cooperate fully with the Committee and the Panel of 

Experts.

The United States supported several sanctions resolutions in response 

to the international threats to peace and security posed by the nuclear programs 

of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.) and Iran. The 

United States drafted and welcomed the unanimous adoption of Resolution 

1718 on October 14, 2006, which imposed targeted sanctions on the D.P.R.K. 
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72

and established a Security Council Committee to oversee the implementation 

of measures related to the ban on transfers of specified weapons of mass 

destruction-related items, the travel ban, assets freeze, and arms embargo. On 

June 20, 2007, the Committee adopted guidelines for the conduct of its work. 

Similarly, in response to Iran’s continued pursuit of a nuclear weapons 

capability, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1747 on March 24, 2007. 

Resolution 1747 expanded and strengthened the existing sanctions regime 

established under Resolution 1737 (2006). Resolution 1747 called upon all 

states to exercise not only vigilance, but also restraint with respect to allowing 

entry into their territories of designated individuals providing support for 

Iran’s proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or ballistic missile program. 

Additionally, it required states to freeze assets of additional individuals and 

entities; prohibited Iran from exporting or other states from procuring from 

Iran any arms or related material; called on states to exercise vigilance and 

restraint in the transfer to Iran of certain categories of heavy conventional 

arms; and called on all states and international financial institutions not to 

enter into new commitments for grants, financial assistance, or concessional 

loans to the Government of Iran.

Security Council Membership

Each year the UN General Assembly (UNGA) elects five nonpermanent members of the Security Council for two-year terms. Countries 

must receive a two-thirds majority of UN members present and voting to be 

elected. In accordance with the UN Charter and Council practice, the nonpermanent Council seats rotate among the various regional groups. In 2007, 

the five open seats were allocated as follows: two for Africa, one for Asia, 

one for Eastern Europe (Countries with Economies in Transition), and one for 

the Latin America and Caribbean Group (GRULAC). The Africa group 

reached consensus supporting the candidacies of Burkina Faso and Libya, and 

the Asia group reached consensus in support of Vietnam. Costa Rica and the 

Dominican Republic contested the GRULAC seat, and the Czech Republic

and Croatia contested the Eastern Europe seat.

On October 16, the UNGA voted for the non-permanent members. 

The UNGA traditionally approves by acclamation regional consensus 

candidates. Burkina Faso, Libya, and Vietnam won election by votes of 185, 

183, and 178, respectively, in the first round of voting. For the Eastern Europe

group, Croatia held a lead over the Czech Republic through the first two 

rounds before surpassing the two-thirds majority needed for election with 184 

votes in the third round. Costa Rica held a lead over the Dominican Republic

through two rounds before receiving 179 votes for election in the third round.

As a matter of longstanding policy, the United States does not reveal 

its vote in elections either before or after the balloting. After the election, 

Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, the Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative 

to the United Nations, expressed the interest of the United States in working 

with all the newly-elected members. In reference to Libya, he also said, ―On a 

personal note, I noticed that there were family members from the Pam Am 103
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tragedy . . . Their presence was felt here today. I felt it and I know other 

delegations felt it.‖ With regard to Vietnam, he noted the burgeoning bilateral 

relationship and said, ―After a very difficult history with Vietnam, we look 

forward to working with them and congratulate them on their election.‖

Security Council Thematic Debates

The UN Security Council (UNSC) took up thematic issues of 

importance throughout the year.

On January 8, the Security Council held a debate on ―Threats to 

International Peace and Security.‖ Afterwards, the President of the Security 

Council made a statement on behalf of the Council that, among other things: 

committed the Council to work closely with the Secretary General (SYG) to 

better address the multifaceted and interconnected challenges and threats 

confronting the world; reaffirmed its commitment to address the range of 

threats to international peace and security, including armed conflict, terrorism, 

and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; recognized the essential role 

of the United Nations in the global effort to combat terrorism and welcomed 

the adoption by the General Assembly of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism 

Strategy; reaffirmed the Council’s resolve to take appropriate and effective 

actions against any threat to international peace and security caused by the 

proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and their means of 

delivery; recognized the importance of more effective international efforts to 

prevent conflict, including intra-state conflict; underlined the need for 

improved UN capacity to assess conflict situations and for the effective 

planning and management of UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs); 

emphasized the importance of post-conflict peacebuilding to assist countries 

emerging from conflict in laying the foundation for sustainable peace and 

development; welcomed the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission

(PBC), which should play an important role in improving UN capacity to 

coordinate with regional organizations, relevant regional countries, donors, 

troop contributors, and recipient countries and to perform peacebuilding 

activities, particularly from the start of peacekeeping operations through 

stabilization, reconstruction, and development; and underlined the importance 

of close interaction between the UNSC and the PBC.

On February 20, the Security Council held a meeting entitled 

―Maintenance of International Peace and Security,‖ which focused exclusively 

on security sector reform (SSR). Afterwards, the President of the Security 

Council made a statement that, among other things: stressed that reforming 

the security sectors in post-conflict environments was critical to the 

consolidation of peace and stability, promoting poverty reduction, rule of law 

and good governance, extending legitimate state authority, and preventing 

countries from relapsing into conflict; underlined that it was the sovereign 

right and primary responsibility of the country concerned to determine the 

national approach and priorities of SSR; recognized the need when mandating 

a UN operation to consider, as appropriate, the national SSR priorities; 

underlined that SSR could be a long-term process that continues well beyond 
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74

the duration of a PKO; emphasized the important role that the PBC can play in 

SSR; emphasized that SSR must be context-driven and that needs will vary 

from situation to situation; encouraged states to formulate SSR programs in a 

holistic way; acknowledged the need for a comprehensive report by the SYG 

on UN approaches to SSR; relayed its expectation that the proposed SYG 

report focus on concrete recommendations on the identification, prioritization, 

and sequencing of UN support to nationally-owned SSRs that includes 

recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness and coordination of all 

UN system entities that support SSR.

On June 25, the Council again took up the issue of ―Maintenance of 

International Peace and Security,‖ focusing on the role natural resources play 

in armed conflict and post-conflict situations. Afterwards, the President made 

a statement on behalf of the Council that, among other things: reaffirmed that 

every state has the full and inherent sovereign right to control and exploit its 

own natural resources and that natural resources were a crucial factor in 

contributing to long-term economic growth and sustainable development; 

reaffirmed its determination to act against illegal exploitation and trafficking 

of natural resources and high-value commodities in areas where it contributed 

to the outbreak, escalation or continuation of armed conflict; emphasized the 

importance of the contributions made in the past by existing sanctions

committees and the various experts’ groups and panels established by the 

Council in dealing with the impact of illegal exploitation of natural resources 

on conflicts in the countries under its consideration; recognized that UN 

missions and peacekeeping operations could play a role in helping the 

governments concerned to prevent the illegal exploitation of their resources 

from further fueling conflict; emphasized the important contribution of 

commodity monitoring and certification schemes such as the Kimberley 

Process; recognized the need for the private sector to contribute to good 

governance and avoidance of illegal exploitation of natural resources; and 

stressed the important role of transparent and effective national security and 

customs structures for the effective control and management of natural 

resources by preventing illegal access to and the trade and exploitation of 

those resources.

On August 28, the Security Council debated the issues of 

―Maintenance of International Peace and Security,‖ emphasizing conflict 

prevention. Afterwards, the President of the Council, among other things: 

acknowledged the importance of the settlement of disputes by peaceful means 

and promoting necessary preventive action in response to threats to 

international peace and security; recognized the important role of regional 

organizations in the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts; 

reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to the full and effective implementation 

of Resolution 1625 (2005) on conflict prevention, particularly in Africa; 

supported the comprehensive and global approach recommended by the SYG 

in his report on the prevention of armed conflict (A/60/891); stressed the need 

for effective coordination between and within UN organs, programs, funds, 

and agencies involved in policy formulation and implementation to ensure 
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better coherence of existing mechanisms between PKOs and preventive 

activities; encouraged the SYG to continue efforts to improve the UN’s early 

warning, mediation support, and other preventive activities; stressed the 

importance of a regional approach to conflict prevention as applicable and 

welcomed the growing contribution made by regional organizations in 

addressing peace and security; underlined the need for a stronger and more 

structured relationship between the UNSC and the African Union (AU) Peace 

and Security Council to contribute to the achievement of the goals of peace 

and stability; welcomed the work done by the AU to set up its Panel of the 

Wise and Continental Early Warning System; and recognized the important 

contribution of sub-regional bodies in conflict prevention.

On June 22, the Security Council held an open debate on ―The 

Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.‖ Afterwards, the President of the 

Security Council made a press statement on behalf of the Council that: 

welcomed a briefing by the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian 

Affairs, John Holmes, who addressed a range of concerns relating to the 

protection of civilians in armed conflict; welcomed progress in, and increased 

awareness of, the issues surrounding protection of civilians, but expressed the 

Council’s grave concern that civilians continue to account for the majority of 

casualties in situations of armed conflict; reaffirmed that parties to armed 

conflict bear the primary responsibility to take all feasible steps to ensure the 

protection of affected civilians; encouraged the continuation of concrete steps 

to enhance the capacity of the UN regarding the protection of civilians in 

armed conflict; recalled the obligations of international humanitarian law 

regarding the protection of civilians, and urged all parties to conflict to allow 

full, safe, and unimpeded access by humanitarian personnel to civilians; and 

reaffirmed the Council’s intention to remain seized of the matter.

During 2007, the Security Council twice held meetings on the topic 

of ―Women and Peace and Security.‖ After the March 7 meeting, the 

President of the Security Council made a statement on behalf of the Council 

that, among other things: reaffirmed its commitment to the full and effective 

implementation of Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women and Peace and Security; 

reaffirmed the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of 

conflicts and in peacebuilding; stressed the importance of their equal 

participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and 

promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in 

decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution; urged 

member states to ensure increased representation of women at all decisionmaking levels in national, regional and international institutions and 

mechanisms for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflict; urged 

the SYG to continue to appoint more women as special representatives and 

envoys to pursue good offices on his behalf and called on all member states to 

provide candidates to the SYG for inclusion in a regularly updated centralized 

roster; recognized the urgent need to intensify efforts to mainstream a gender 

perspective into peacekeeping operations; emphasized the need for the 

inclusion of gender components in PKOs and welcomed current UN PKO 
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polices to promote and protect the rights of women; stressed that it remains 

deeply concerned by the pervasiveness of all forms of violence against women

and girls in armed conflict and called on all parties to armed conflict to take 

specific measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence; 

stressed the need to end impunity for acts of gender-based violence in 

situations of armed conflict; and reiterated its call to member states to continue 

to implement Resolution 1325 (2000), including through the development and 

implementation of national action plans or strategies.

After the October 23 meeting on ―Women and Peace and Security,‖ 

the President of the Security Council made a statement on behalf of the 

Council that, among other things: recognized the importance of ensuring the 

respect for the equal rights of women and reaffirmed the importance of the 

equal role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in 

peacebuilding; expressed its deep concern that civilians, particularly women

and children, continue to account for the vast majority of victims of acts of 

violence committed by parties to armed conflicts; reaffirmed that parties to 

armed conflict bear the primary responsibility to ensure the protection of 

affected civilians; recognized the constant under-representation of women in 

formal peace processes and stated its deep concern about persistent obstacles 

and challenges resulting from situations such as violence against women; 

stated it remains concerned about the low number of women appointed as 

Special Representatives or Special Envoys of the SYG to peace missions and 

urged the SYG to appoint more women to pursue good offices on his behalf; 

reaffirmed the Council’s call for broader gender mainstreaming in all PKOs 

and welcomed UN PKO policies to promote and protect the rights of women; 

took note of the second follow-up report of the SYG on women, peace and 

security (S/2007/567); called on the SYG to update, monitor, and review the 

implementation of the UN system-wide action plan on the implementation of 

Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000); requested the SYG to conduct a 

system-wide evaluation in 2010 of progress achieved in implementing this 

plan; condemned all violations of international law, including international 

humanitarian law, human rights law, and refugee law, committed against 

women and girls in situations of armed conflict; stated the Council remained 

concerned that gender-based violence remains pervasive, and in some 

situations has become systematic; stressed the need to end impunity for such 

acts as part of a comprehensive approach to seeking peace, justice, truth, and 

reconciliation; requested the SYG to include in his reporting to the Council on 

situations of armed conflict the progress in gender mainstreaming throughout 

the UN peacebuilding and peacekeeping missions, data on the impact of armed 

conflicts on women and girls, and special measures proposed and taken to 

protect women and girls from gender-based violence; and requested the SYG 

to prepare a follow-up report on the implementation of Resolution 1325 

(2000).

During 2007, the Security Council held two similar debates on the 

role of regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and 

security. After a meeting on ―The Relationship Between the UN and Regional 
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77

Organizations, in particular the African Union (AU), in the Maintenance of 

International Peace and Security‖ on March 28, the President of the Security 

Council made a statement, that, among other things: reaffirmed the primary 

responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security remained 

with the Security Council; recognized the important role of regional 

organizations in the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts; 

welcomed the growing contribution made by the AU to address and solve 

conflicts on the African continent and stressed the need for the AU to keep the 

Security Council fully informed of these efforts in a comprehensive and 

coordinated manner; recognized that regional organizations were wellpositioned to understand the root causes of many conflicts close to home and 

to influence their prevention or resolution, owing to their knowledge of the 

region; stressed that common and co-coordinated efforts undertaken by the UN 

and regional organizations should be based on their comparative advantages; 

recognized the PBC as a forum for coordination between the UN system and 

regional and sub-regional organizations; recognized that in some cases, the 

AU may be authorized by the Security Council to deal with collective security 

challenges on the African continent; and stressed the importance of supporting 

and improving in a sustained way the resource base and capacity of the AU 

and requested the SYG to provide a report on specific proposals on how the 

UN can better support arrangement for further cooperation and coordination 

with regional organizations.

After the November 6 Security Council meeting on the ―Role of 

Regional and Sub-Regional Organizations in the Maintenance of International 

Peace and Security,‖ the President of the Security Council made a statement 

on behalf of the Council, that, among other things: reaffirmed the primary 

responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security remained 

with the Security Council; recognized the important role of regional and subregional organizations in the prevention, management, and resolution of 

conflicts; emphasized the growing contribution made by regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security; recalled 

its determination to take appropriate steps to further the development of 

cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations; 

underlined the importance of exploring the potential and existing capacities of 

regional and sub-regional organizations in the field of peace and security; 

stressed the potential role of regional and sub-regional organizations in 

addressing illicit trade in small arms and light weapons; welcomed the efforts 

undertaken by the Council’s subsidiary bodies with responsibilities in counterterrorism to foster cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations; 

and requested the SYG to include in his report pursuant to the Council’s 

Presidential Statement of March 28 a recommendation on practical ways and 

means to increase and strengthen cooperation between the UN and regional 

and sub-regional organizations.
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Terrorism

In 2007, the United Nations continued to be a leading force in 

countering international terrorism. The United States supported the UN’s 

efforts in the Security Council’s terrorism and nonproliferation related 

committees: the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) created pursuant to 

Resolution 1373; the 1267 al-Qaida/Taliban/Usama bin Laden Sanctions

Committee; and the 1540 (non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction) 

Committee, as well as in the UN General Assembly.

The Security Council adopted one resolution and 11 Presidential 

Statements (PRSTs) directly related to terrorism in 2007. Resolution 1787 

extended the mandate of the CTC and that of its supporting staff of experts, 

the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED). The United States 

supported 10 PRSTs condemning international terrorist attacks and one PRST 

reaffirming the importance of international cooperation and compliance with 

the requirements of Resolution 1540 in preventing the proliferation of 

weapons of mass destruction.

The CTC, established by Security Council Resolution 1373 after the 

events of September 11, 2001, continued its work as the leading counterterrorism body of the Security Council. The United States actively supported 

the appointment of the new CTED Director in September 2007; supported the 

adoption of 50 Preliminary Implementation Assessments (PIAs), which serve 

as an analytical tool to measure countries’ progress on implementing 

Resolution 1373: and continued to promote closer cooperation and 

coordination between the CTC and CTED and other UN and international 

organizations’ counter-terrorism efforts. This included continued support for 

greater coordination in facilitating and coordinating counter-terrorism

technical assistance to member states.

The United States continued to refer names of individuals and entities 

for inclusion on the 1267 Sanctions Committee Consolidated List. This is a 

list of individuals and entities associated with al-Qaida, the Taliban, and 

Usama bin Laden, subject to international sanctions — asset freezes, travel 

bans, and arms embargoes — that all UN member states are obligated to 

implement. The United States sponsored the successful listing of eight 

individuals to the Consolidated Sanctions List in 2007 and provided the other 

members of the Committee with sufficient explanatory information on the 

individuals and entities for the Committee to determine whether they should 

be added.

The United States and France proposed creation of a "focal point‖ 

procedure for de-listings, which was adopted by the Council in Resolution 

1730 and became operational in March 2007. The new Focal Point 

mechanism will ensure that all sanctioned persons seeking to be de-listed from 

any UN sanctions list have a forum to submit their petitions and that petitions 

will be fairly considered by the Committee. These new procedures have made 

de-listing procedures clearer, more accessible, and more uniform.
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The United States continued its support of the Global 

Counterterrorism Strategy (Strategy), a UN plan to enhance national, regional,

and international efforts to counter terrorism. The Strategy, adopted during 

the 61st General Assembly in September 2006, marked the first time that all 

UN member states agreed to a common strategic approach to fighting 

terrorism. The United States pledged to provide funding for two of the UN 

Counterterrorism Implementation Task Force working groups established to 

address radicalization and extremism that lead to terrorism and strengthening 

the protection of vulnerable targets.

The UN Security Council established its 1540 Committee on nonproliferation after deciding in Resolution 1540 ―that all States shall refrain 

from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to 

develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer, or use nuclear, 

chemical, or biological weapons and their means of delivery.‖ The United 

States supported the adoption of a PRST backing the 1540 Committee on 

February 23, 2007. The PRST reaffirmed the importance of international 

cooperation and compliance with the requirements of Resolution 1540 in 

preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Negotiations on the Comprehensive Convention on International 

Terrorism (CCIT) in 2007 remained at an impasse over a provision, which the 

United States and like-minded countries supported, exempting state military 

forces from the scope of the Convention because other provisions of 

international law already govern their activities. Negotiations also failed to 

resolve the question of whether the CCIT should include language that could 

be used to argue that terrorists claiming to act in the name of national 

liberation movements were excluded from the scope of the Convention. The 

United States continued to take the position that any provision of this nature 

would undermine the credibility of UN and member states’ counterterrorism 

efforts.

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Part 2

Economic and Social Affairs

Economic and Development Issues

Development Bodies and Programs

Commission on Sustainable Development

In December 1992, the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 

established the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) as a 

functional commission to follow up implementation of the UN Conference on 

Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Earth 

Summit. Based at UN Headquarters in New York, the CSD is composed of 53 

UN members, elected to three-year terms. During its first decade, the CSD 

met formally four weeks annually to consider specific sustainable 

development issues and to promote implementation of internationally agreed 

development goals. At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development 

(WSSD) in Johannesburg, governments called for specific reforms of the CSD, 

including limiting negotiations in the sessions of the Commission to every two 

years, limiting the number of themes addressed at each session, and having 

CSD serve as a focal point for discussing partnerships that promote sustainable 

development, including sharing lessons learned, progress made, and best 

practices.

The United States has been a member of the Commission since its 

inception. Following the WSSD, the United States actively advanced ideas for 

how the CSD could implement reforms to serve as a stronger catalyst for 

action. At the CSD's 11th Session (April-May 2003), the United States worked 

closely with other CSD members to develop a multi-year program of work to 

addresses a series of "thematic clusters" and cross-cutting issues in two-year 

"implementation cycles." The first cycle (2003-2005) focused on water, 

sanitation, and human settlement issues. The second cycle (2005-2007) 

focused on energy-related issues: energy for sustainable development, 

industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere, and climate change. It was 

decided that the 2008-2009 cycle would address agriculture, rural 

development, land, drought, desertification, and Africa. Each two-year cycle 

includes a non-negotiating "review year" to assess the state of implementation 

and to provide a venue to focus on sustainable development partnerships and 

capacity-building activities. The second half of each cycle is a "policy year" 

to discuss policy options and possible actions to address the constraints and 

obstacles in the process of implementation identified during the review year.

Global Compact Leaders Summit

On July 2-5, 2007, the United States participated in the UN Global 

Compact Leaders Summit at the UN Office in Geneva. The summit is held 
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every three years, and is a forum to discuss corporate social responsibility. 

Over 1,000 chief executive officers, government ministers, heads of civil 

society and labor organizations from all over the world attended the event. 

The summit members adopted a chairman's summary document. During the 

summit and in the document, the United States achieved its objectives of 

demonstrating the U.S. Government’s support for voluntary private sector 

engagement on human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anticorruption, and for reinforcing our message on the importance of voluntary 

public-private partnerships to achieve development goals.

Regional Economic Commissions

There are five regional economic commissions that report to the UN

Economic and Social Council. The United States is a member of three: the 

Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Economic Commission for 

Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Economic and Social 

Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The regional commissions are 

funded out of the regular UN budget, of which the United States pays 22 

percent, as well as through voluntary contributions. They are charged with 

―raising the level of economic activity‖ within their respective regions and 

―maintaining and strengthening economic relations‖ both among themselves 

and with other countries of the world. U.S. participation in regional 

commissions advances and safeguards U.S. foreign policy and commercial 

interests in these regions.

The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), headquartered in 

Geneva, was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation within 

Europe and between Europe and other countries with close trade and business 

ties. ECE membership consists of 56 countries, including those of Western 

Europe, as well as the United States, Canada, Israel, Turkey, and the Central 

Asian and Caucasian states of the former Soviet Union. In December 2005, 

the UN Secretary-General appointed Marek Belka (Poland) as Executive 

Secretary. The ECE is traditionally a ―standards-setting‖ and coordination 

body in many technical fields, such as in e-commerce, energy, the 

environment, vehicle construction, road safety, timber and agricultural

produce, border crossing, and statistical collection. Many ECE standards are 

adopted around the world. U.S. Government agencies, including the 

Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service and the Departments of 

Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban 

Development, and Transportation, regularly participate in working groups and 

chair committees. The U.S. Chief Statistician is a vice-chair of the Conference 

of European Statisticians, which coordinates statistical methodology across the 

region and serves as a forum for international harmonization in statistics. 

Since 2005, many member states, including the United States, have been 

urging the ECE to devote more time to capacity building, particularly in 

countries in transition like the Central Asian and Caucasian states, by offering 

workshops on standards and related issues. The ECE created a new Team of 

Specialists on Public-Private Partnerships in 2007, co-chaired by an American 
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and including three U.S. private sector participants. At the 62nd Plenary in 

2007, the ECE decided to hold biennial meetings; the next plenary will take 

place in 2009.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

(ECLAC) was established in 1948. The 33 countries of Latin America and the 

Caribbean are member states of ECLAC, together with several North 

American, Asian, and European nations that have historical, economic, and 

cultural ties with the region, reaching a total of 44 member states. The United 

States is a full member with voting privileges. ECLAC also has eight 

associate members, including the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. 

Virgin Islands. The Commission is headquartered in Santiago, Chile, with two 

sub-regional offices for Mexico and for the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago). 

It also has offices in Bogota, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and 

Washington. Executive Secretary Jose Luis Machinea (Argentina) completed 

his fourth year as head of the organization in 2007.

ECLAC’s mission is to improve cooperation among member states 

and international entities to advance economic and social development in the 

region. Although it previously advocated closed markets and state-run 

economies, ECLAC has come to recognize some of the benefits of trade 

liberalization and privatization. It has also made a name for itself by providing 

excellent technical assistance in data collection for census purposes. Many 

Caribbean and Latin American countries are using ECLAC’s resources and 

expertise to conduct demographic and other data collection at the country 

level.

In July 2007, ECLAC held its fourth meeting of the Statistical 

Conference of the Americas. The conference objectives were to promote the 

development and improvement of national statistics and work to ensure that 

they are comparable internationally, bearing in mind the recommendations of 

the United Nations Statistical Commission, the specialized agencies and other 

relevant organizations; promote international, regional, and bilateral 

cooperation among national offices and international and regional agencies; 

and draw up a biennial program of regional and international cooperation 

activities to meet the demands of the countries of the region, subject to the 

availability of resources. Issues discussed at the conference included the 

Millennium Development Goals, the 2010 census round, and the credibility 

and autonomy of institution-building in national statistical offices. U.S. 

Census Bureau officials attended the conference.

Also in July, the Republic of Korea officially became a member state 

of ECLAC. In Quito in August, ECLAC held its tenth session of the Regional 

Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean. The United 

States did not participate. Throughout the year, the organization held several 

meetings on technical issues ranging from aging, population matters, 

sustainable development and climate change to investment and trade.

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 

(ESCAP) has 62 members and associate members. Headquartered in 
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Bangkok, ESCAP provides technical support to member governments on a 

wide array of socio-economic development issues, such as macroeconomic 

policy, poverty reduction, and inclusive development; trade and investment; 

transport; environment and development; information, communication, and 

space technology and disaster risk reduction; social development; and 

statistics. Its five regional institutions also provide technical expertise on a 

range of issues. During the annual meetings in Almaty, Kazakhstan, May 17-

23, 2007, the United States achieved its objective of maintaining the size of 

the organization's budget and scope of activities. In August 2007, the UN 

Secretary-General appointed Ms. Noeleen Heyzer (Singapore) to be the new 

Executive Secretary-General for ESCAP; she is the first woman to head the 

organization.

UN Children’s Fund

The UN General Assembly created the UN Children’s Fund

(UNICEF) in 1946 to meet the emergency needs of children after World War 

II. UNICEF has broadened its efforts to help children by providing both 

humanitarian assistance and long-term development aid targeted at children 

and families. UNICEF has 139 offices and a presence in more than 150 

countries, as some offices cover more than one country. Its programs address 

children’s health, sanitation, nutrition, basic education, and protection needs, 

wherever possible through low-cost interventions at the family and community 

levels. UNICEF’s total 2007 expenditures were $2,798 million, a 19 percent 

increase over 2006. Expenditures on program assistance increased by $398 

million to $2,517 million. Combined expenditures on program support ($156 

million), management and administration ($84 million), including centrallyshared security costs ($10 million), increased by $32 million (15 percent) to 

$250 million. In 2007, UNICEF’s contributions from all sources of funds 

(regular resources and other resources) reached $3,013 million, an increase of 

eight percent over 2006 levels.

As a respected authority on children and their well-being, UNICEF

typically works through broad partnerships with developing countries, bilateral 

donors, and non-governmental organizations. UNICEF programs target 

vulnerable and marginalized children and their families and are intended to 

improve the capacity of national governments to respond to their needs. The 

United States has worked to ensure that UNICEF maintains strong operational 

capabilities. A significant proportion of UNICEF’s work, however, is tied to 

advocacy, capacity-building, piloting and disseminating best practices, and 

doing research on problems affecting children.

The United States has been a member of UNICEF’s Executive Board, 

now comprised of 36 member states each serving three-year terms, since the 

Fund’s inception. In 2006, the United States began another term running until 

2009. Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman has served as 

UNICEF’s Executive Director since 2005.

UNICEF has capabilities to provide rapid and cost-effective delivery 

of medicines and materials in support of national and international efforts. In 
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2007, UNICEF procured 3.2 billion doses of vaccines reaching 55 percent of 

children in developing countries and worked to ensure not only the 

distribution, but also the development and availability of life-saving vaccines 

and drugs for children. For example, in support of the Global Polio 

Eradication Initiative (of which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention are a partner), UNICEF procured 2.3 billion doses of oral polio 

vaccines. Also in 2007, UNICEF procured 234 million doses of measles 

vaccine, 119 million doses of tuberculosis vaccine, and 174 million doses of 

tetanus vaccine.

Child survival remains the top U.S. policy priority for UNICEF. 

UNICEF is a key U.S. partner worldwide on many issues, including polio 

eradication; child protection; providing safe drinking water, sanitation, and 

hygiene; and combating diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. The United 

States also engaged with UNICEF in 2007 on the UN Transparency and 

Accountability Initiative. While UNICEF has implemented a number of 

management reforms aimed at improving its organizational transparency and 

accountability, such as developing a results-based budget for the 2008-2009 

biennium, work remains to be done, especially in implementing a 

comprehensive ethics framework and ensuring the operational independence 

of its internal oversight mechanism.

The United States continued to encourage UNICEF to play a 

leadership role in efforts to harmonize and simplify UN development 

activities, particularly at the national level. In dealing with joint programming 

between UNICEF and other UN agencies, UNICEF’s collaboration is based on 

evidence of efficiency gains in programming, takes account of the need to 

maintain distinct lines of financial accountability to donors, and recognizes the 

separate identities and roles of UN agencies.

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) established a ―clusterled‖ approach to improve the UN’s response to humanitarian disasters. Under 

this approach, UNICEF is responsible for the water and sanitation, nutrition 

and feeding, and protection sectors. UNICEF is also an active participant in 

the UN Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP), a mechanism through which 

humanitarian organizations plan, implement, and monitor their activities as 

well as appeal for donor support of humanitarian assistance programs. 

UNICEF is strengthening its emergency response capacity, including by 

reinforcing its Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in emergencies. The 

United States has supported UNICEF’s role in emergencies and its work in 

Iraq and Afghanistan.

UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development

The UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development

(CSTD) is a Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), 

established in 1992 as a result of restructuring. The UN Conference on Trade 

and Development (UNCTAD), based in Geneva, serves as secretariat for 

CSTD through its Division of Investment, Technology, and Enterprise 

Development (DITE).
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The Commission has 43 member states, elected for four-year terms 

using a method of staggered rotation within each regional group. The 

composition is as follows: Africa, 11; Asia, 8; Latin American and Caribbean, 

8; Eastern Europe, 5; and Western Europe and Other States, 10.

The Commission meets annually for one week in Geneva, choosing a 

biennial theme. There is also an additional intercessional meeting each year, 

usually hosted by the country-elected chair of the CSTD Bureau.

The CSTD is mandated to provide ECOSOC and the UN General 

Assembly (UNGA) with advice and guidelines on relevant science and 

technology (S&T) issues through analysis, reporting, and policy 

recommendations. The CSTD is a forum for examining, understanding, and 

advancing science and technology questions and policies and their 

implications for development in the multilateral context, particularly in 

relation to developing countries. In 2006, the CSTD received an additional 

mandate to review and assess the progress made in implementing the 

outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). This 

entails collating UN and partner body responses on WSIS action items and 

compiling a yearly status report with recommendations.

The themes, the setting of which is a new development, are two-fold 

each biennium, with one focused on information and communication 

technologies to reflect the WSIS mandate and the other on traditional science 

and technology issues. The themes for 2008-2009 are: development-oriented 

policies for a socio-economic-inclusive information society, including policies 

relating to access, infrastructure, and an enabling environment; and science, 

technology and engineering for innovation and capacity building in education 

and research.

The 11th Session in Geneva in May 2007 produced a resolution 

detailing progress on WSIS implementation and featured discussion on the 

themes that will feed into more substantive discussion and a more formal 

report in 2009.

Encouraged by a reorganization and new mandate, the United States 

rejoined the CSTD in 2007, after having left in 1997. The decision to rejoin 

the CSTD has positioned the United States to engage proactively on issues 

important to developing countries and to help guide and contribute to the 

assessment of WSIS implementation. It also offers the opportunity to: 

promote the empowerment of science and technology for development through 

information and communications technologies; highlight U.S. scientific and 

technological contributions and best practices; encourage science-based 

decision-making on critical development topics; and promote U.S. expertise 

and efforts in offering guidance and S&T-based capacity building for 

development.

UN Conference on Trade and Development

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a 

permanent forum for discussions on trade and development issues and funded 
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through UN regular assessments, functions through a variety of 

intergovernmental groups. These are its governing body, the Trade and 

Development Board; three Commissions (one each on trade, investment, and 

enterprises); and a quadrennial Ministerial Conference. In addition, UNCTAD 

hosts about eight expert meetings annually on issues related to trade and 

development. Based in Geneva, UNCTAD has 192 member states. Dr. 

Supachai Panitchpakdi (Thailand) assumed his position as UNCTAD 

Secretary-General on September 1, 2005.

During 2007, member states built consensus in favor of reforms to the 

UNCTAD Secretariat and its intergovernmental process proposed by the 

Eminent Person’s Group in its June 2006 report. Member states agreed on the 

theme for the quadrennial conference to be held in Accra, Ghana in April 

2008, which is ―addressing the opportunities and challenges of globalization 

for development.‖ Member states also agreed on four sub-themes for the 

conference: sustainable economic development and poverty reduction, trade, 

investment, and reforms to strengthen UNCTAD. These themes provide the 

structure for the negotiation of a new four-year work program for UNCTAD 

and for an assessment by the international community of policy issues in these 

areas. Along with preparing for the quadrennial conference and negotiation of 

its outcome document, UNCTAD in 2007 implemented several reforms to 

increase budget transparency and accountability. It also made positive 

research contributions to promote trade, investment, and development through 

its World Investment Report and country-specific Investment Policy Reviews.

The United States has been an active participant in UNCTAD since 

its founding in 1964. This engagement is based on a conviction that free trade 

is a vital avenue for development and results in strong encouragement for 

UNCTAD’s work on trade and investment facilitation. As of end 2007, the 

United States was the third largest voluntary funder of UNCTAD’s technical 

assistance programs, with major contributions to UNCTAD’s Automated 

System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) software program. Over the past 25 

years, countries that have adopted the ASYCUDA customs program have 

consistently and dramatically reduced corruption and increased government 

revenues from customs administration. The United States has also supported

UNCTAD’s work in investment policy reviews and the development of 

databases that enable countries to find markets for their products and to search 

investment agreements and tariff data.

In January 2007, UNCTAD’s Deputy Secretary-General, who held 

the senior ―donor country‖ post in the organization, passed away 

unexpectedly. The United States and several European countries proposed 

well-qualified candidates for the position, which remained vacant. The head 

of the UNCTAD’s Trade and Investment Division, who is from India, has 

acted as temporary deputy to the organization.

UN Development Program 

The UN Development Program (UNDP) is the leading development 

agency of the United Nations. It is headquartered in New York, with field 
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offices in over 130 developing countries and regions. The United States is a 

member of the 36-state UNDP Executive Board that governs the organization.

The United States is a top contributor to UNDP, providing over $100 

million in 2007 to support the organization and its general programming costs.

Combating poverty through the promotion of economic growth is a 

top U.S. policy objective. At the September 2007 Executive Board session, 

the United States issued a call for UNDP to increase the focus of its programs 

and resources on assisting African countries in the efforts to achieve and 

sustain the Millennium Development Goals, a set of time-bound development 

objectives related to reducing poverty and hunger, improving health and 

education, and combating major diseases.

Reforming UNDP management practices and improving oversight of 

UNDP programs has also been a U.S. priority. During 2007, the United States 

launched the UN Transparency and Accountability Initiative (UNTAI) to 

strengthen a number of critical functions within UNDP, including internal 

oversight, financial disclosure, ethics office independence, disclosure of 

internal audit and oversight reports, public access to program and budget 

documents, transparency of procurement practices, and whistleblower

protections. UNDP management responded positively to the U.S. initiative 

and began in 2007 to make progress in some areas.

In early 2007, following revelations of mismanagement of UNDP’s 

program in North Korea, the United States worked with the Executive Board 

to press for corrective action, which included setting operating conditions for 

continued program activities and initiating an audit of country operations. 

UNDP suspended its program in North Korea in early 2007 after the North 

Korean government refused to abide by the conditions established by the 

Executive Board.

UNDP’s four-year strategic plan concluded in 2007. During this 

period the organization focused on five goals: reducing poverty, fostering 

democratic governance, managing energy and the environment for sustainable 

development, supporting crisis prevention and recovery, and responding to 

HIV/AIDS. UNDP remained a valuable partner in promoting democracy, 

good governance, poverty reduction, and private sector development, as well 

as post-conflict reconstruction and development.

UN Human Settlements Program

In 2001, the UN General Assembly converted the 58-member UN 

Center on Human Settlements to a full program of the General Assembly: the 

UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT). UN-HABITAT’s work 

focuses on the development of sustainable human settlements with access to 

basic services, such as water and sanitation. UN-HABITAT is also the UN 

focal point for efforts to achieve the Millennium Declaration goal of 

significantly improving the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020. 

The creation of the new UN-HABITAT program marked a significant 

achievement in the reform agenda of the United States, which had pressed for 
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an overhaul of the former Center after the 1996 Habitat II Conference in 

Istanbul and had cut off voluntary contributions. Following the complete 

restructuring of the organization by new management, the United States

supported the granting of program status and resumed voluntary contributions.

UN-HABITAT is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and is led by 

Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka (Tanzania). Mrs. Tibaijuka was re-elected 

by the General Assembly to a second four-year term in 2006 after having 

served since September 2000 as Director of the Center on Human Settlements. 

UN-HABITAT’s Governing Council meets every two years, most recently in 

April 2007, and UN-HABITAT sponsors the World Urban Forum in the 

intervening years. The next World Urban Forum will take place in Nanjing, 

China, in November 2008. States are elected to the Governing Council 

through regional groups for four-year terms. The United States was re-elected 

in 2006 for another term by the Western Europe and Other Group.

UN-HABITAT’s activities in 2007 were aligned with U.S. foreign 

policy objectives pertaining to economic freedom, good governance, 

democracy building (through decentralization of power to local authorities), 

gender equality, and the mobilization of domestic resources. The United 

States worked to clarify UN-HABITAT’s role as a catalyst to advance work on 

human settlements through normative (research and data-collection) and 

capacity-building work, supplemented by operational activities, including pilot 

projects. Overall, UN-HABITAT performed its role as a catalyst well and 

continued to focus more on operational activities such as the Slum Upgrading 

Facility and the Experimental Reimbursable Seeding Operation, which aims to 

strengthen national human settlement programs by providing seed capital and 

other credit enhancements, as well as technical assistance to mobilize domestic 

resources for housing and related infrastructure services.

To assist developing countries in managing urbanization, UNHABITAT gathers data on cities and promotes best practices in fields related 

to human settlements and the role of local authorities. Its technical arm works 

with local authorities and national governments to develop and decentralize 

services. During 2007, with the active collaboration of the Committee of 

Permanent Representatives based in Nairobi, UN-HABITAT developed a 

Medium Term Strategic and Institutional Plan (MTSIP) for 2008-2013. The 

MTSIP aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness by establishing ResultsBased Management and implementing other important internal and UN-wide 

reforms, including developing clearly defined indicators, targets, and priorities 

for UN-HABITAT’s work in the six focus areas established in the MTSIP. 

The MTSIP also provides for experimental financial mechanisms for pro-poor 

housing.

The April 2007 Governing Council (GC) adopted a resolution 

approving the MTSIP. The GC also approved resolutions on: sustainable 

public-private partnerships to catalyze private sector activity and to energize 

housing markets; a feasibility study on an African fund/financing mechanism 

on slum prevention and upgrading; guidelines on decentralization and 
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strengthening local authorities; and on women’s land and property rights and 

access to finance. UN-HABITAT has been working to put these GC requests 

into action. During the year, UN-HABITAT’s Slum Upgrading Facility and 

Water and Sanitation programs showed good progress in their pilot phases.

Environment

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was created 

in 1988 as a joint effort of the World Meteorological Organization and the UN 

Environment Program. The IPCC conducts periodic assessments of studies on 

the science of climate change, its potential impacts, and ways countries adapt 

and seek to mitigate climate change. The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report 

(AR4), involving contributions from several hundred experts, was issued in 

2007.

UN Convention to Combat Desertification

The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) rose out of 

the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and entered into force on December 26, 1996. 

With 193 parties, this convention is designed to combat desertification and 

mitigate the effects of drought on arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid lands, 

particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by 

international cooperation and partnership arrangements. The UNCCD is 

unique because it addresses the problem of desertification through a bottom-up 

approach, by empowering local people to take the lead in identifying 

innovative approaches to sustainable agricultural development. The 

Convention aims to achieve these goals by reprioritizing existing aid resources 

to make them more effective in addressing desertification issues. In particular, 

the UNCCD is intended to address the fundamental causes of famine and food

insecurity by stimulating more effective partnerships among governments, 

local communities, non-governmental organizations, and aid donors and by 

encouraging the dissemination of information derived from new technologies.

The United States has been a party to the UNCCD since 1996 and 

actively engaged in its activities. The United States recently served as chair 

for one of the subsidiary bodies of the Convention, the Committee on Review 

of Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) for a two-year term. In 2007, 

the United States served as the Japan/United States/Canada/Australia/New 

Zealand (JUSCANZ) group representative on the Convention's governing 

Bureau, as well as actively participated in all eight of the Conference of the 

Parties meetings and played a prominent role in the other subsidiary body, the 

Committee on Science and Technology (CST). Continued U.S. participation 

in, and support for, the UNCCD helps to advance U.S. approaches to 

sustainable land management issues and sustainable agriculture practices for 

arid, dry, and sub-humid lands. In particular, interventions by the United 

States were critical for the Convention’s movement into an effective new 

implementation phase. In the 10-Year Strategic Plan approved during the 

Eighth Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP 8) in Madrid, Spain in 
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September 2007, parties stressed the need to move the Convention to a resultsbased management approach. To implement the Strategic Plan, the Secretariat 

is currently preparing a multi-year strategic work plan, under the guidance of 

the Bureau, on which the United States has a seat, and a costed out biennial 

work program. In fall 2008, the subsidiary bodies of the UNCCD, the CST,

and the CRIC will meet to review these work plans and discuss how best to 

capture success on the ground and scale-up the many on-going local, national, 

and regional efforts to combat desertification. The United States actively 

engages in both the CST and CRIC meetings, which provide opportunities to 

emphasize effectively implementing the results-based management approach 

outlined by the Strategic Plan and to review thoroughly its implementation 

with other Parties.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 

entered into force in March 1994. The ultimate objective of the UNFCCC is 

to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at 

a level that would prevent dangerous human interference with the climate 

system. The United States ratified the UNFCCC in 1992; today, 191 countries 

have ratified the Convention. The Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC entered 

into force in February 2005. This Protocol requires developed nations to 

reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2 percent 

below 1990 levels during the period 2008–2012 (The United States would 

have had to reduce its emissions by seven percent below 1990 levels had it 

ratified the Protocol). As the Kyoto Protocol exempts developing countries 

from binding emission targets, including some of the world’s largest emitters 

of greenhouse gases, and would harm the U.S. economy, President Bush said 

in March 2001 that the United States would not ratify the Protocol, a decision 

consistent with the recommendation of Senate Resolution 98, approved in July 

1997, by a vote of 95-0.

During the 13th Conference of the Parties (COP 13) in December 

2007 in Bali, Indonesia, parties adopted the ―Bali Roadmap,‖ launching 

negotiations for a post-2012 climate framework, to be completed by 2009. 

The Roadmap achieves key U.S. objectives, including the establishment of a 

negotiating process with a clear end date and of securing a commitment from 

developing as well as developed countries to consider meaningful actions to 

reduce emissions. Further, the United States initiated the Major Economies 

Process, which will feed into the UNFCCC negotiations, helping to ensure that 

the 2009 agreement is environmentally effective and economically sustainable. 

The Bali outcome also allows for input from the President’s Major Economies 

Process. Leading up to the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP 14) in Poznan, 

Poland in December 2008, the UNFCCC planned to convene a series of global 

meetings to address specific issues. 

The United States is engaged in extensive domestic and international 

efforts on climate change. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 

December 2007 introduced substantial new mandatory domestic programs to 
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address energy security and climate change; these measures will reduce CO2

emissions by six billion metric tons by 2030. Fifteen bilateral climate change 

partnerships encompass over 450 activities with countries and regional 

organizations that, together with the United States, represent over 80 percent 

of the world’s emissions. Since 2002, the U.S. Government has initiated 

multiple international partnerships to promote development and deployment of 

key climate change-related energy technologies. These include the AsiaPacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, the Carbon 

Sequestration Leadership Forum, the International Partnership for the 

Hydrogen Economy, the Methane-to-Markets Partnership, and Gen IV 

International Forum. Continued U.S. participation in, and support for, the 

UNFCCC help to advance U.S. approaches to climate change issues.

UN Environment Program

The UN Environment Program (UNEP), founded in 1972, is 

headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and has six regional offices (Europe, Africa, 

North America, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and 

West Asia). Its Governing Council consists of 58 member states, including the 

United States. The United Nations General Assembly elects members from 

different regional groupings for four-year terms. UNEP’s Executive Director 

(ED) Achim Steiner was elected in June 2006 by the General Assembly after 

being nominated by the UN Secretary-General. ED Steiner undertook 

program-wide reform and reorganization within UNEP, including the drafting 

of a results-oriented Medium-Term Strategy to focus UNEP’s work and 

transform UNEP into a more effective and accountable organization. The 10th

Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial 

Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) in Monaco scheduled for February 2008 was 

set to adopt several decisions, including endorsement of the Medium-Term 

Strategy and its thematic priorities as a basis for the 2010-2011 Program of 

Work and Budget to be adopted at the February 2009 Governing Council.

UNEP sets the environmental agenda within the UN system, 

addressing environmental problems that transcend borders and potentially 

affect the health and prosperity of U.S. citizens. Active involvement in UNEP 

helps the United States promote sustainable development and protect the 

environment by combating global environmental degradation. Involvement in 

UNEP also promotes the interests of U.S. industry, which is directly affected 

by evolving international environmental standards. Chemicals are an area of 

particular interest. In 2006, the United States negotiated the Strategic 

Approach for International Chemicals Management (SAICM), establishing 

broad voluntary standards for producing and transporting chemicals 

worldwide. The United States has also provided funding to support operation 

of the Secretariats of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic 

Pollutants, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 

and the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (for the 

international movement of chemicals). In addition, the United States has been 

the main supporter of the UNEP Mercury Program, which is aimed at helping 
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countries reduce global mercury. UNEP also contributes to regional stability 

through work in areas affected by conflict.

The United States strongly supports work done in UNEP’s core 

programs, such as early warning and assessment of environmental threats, the 

regional seas program, capacity-building for domestic environmental 

governance in developing countries, and the global program of action to 

combat land-based sources of marine pollution. The United States values 

UNEP’s monitoring and assessment activities, as well as its work to publicize 

emerging environmental trends, especially in regional fora where national 

responsibilities do not take precedence.

The United States was instrumental in the negotiations culminating in 

the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-Building in 2005 

and is working with UNEP and its members to mainstream capacity-building 

within the regular programs of UNEP. As a part of this effort to focus 

UNEP’s programs on implementation, the United States has encouraged 

UNEP to strengthen its linkages with scientific institutions and is assisting 

developing nations to improve their ability to monitor and assess 

environmental change and implement multilateral environmental agreements. 

As prescribed by paragraph 169 of the World Summit Outcome Document of 

September 2005, the United Nations in 2006 initiated a two-track review to 

improve coordination and efficiency of its environmental activities. This 

process has resulted in an ongoing debate within the General Assembly on 

―International Environmental Governance,‖ which could affect UNEP and its 

program of work.

Population

UN Commission on Population and Development

The UN Commission on Population and Development (CPD) advises 

the UN Economic and Social Council on population changes, including 

migration, and their effects on economic and social conditions. It is also 

charged by the General Assembly to monitor, review, and assess 

implementation of the Program of Action of the International Conference on 

Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in 1994.

The CPD held its 40th Session on April 9-13, 2007, in New York on 

the theme of ―The Changing Age Structure of Populations and Implications for 

Development.‖ UN Population Division Director Zlotnik’s opening statement 

focused on how the demographic transition in which a population goes from 

high fertility and high mortality to low fertility and low mortality leads to 

many other changes in societies. Developed countries are well advanced in 

this transition, with aging populations and decreasing numbers of working age 

persons. In contrast, many of the least developed countries are at the earliest 

stages of this transition, with several still experiencing high fertility and 

mortality – the latter due primarily to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. UN 

Population Fund Director Obaid emphasized the importance of including the 

interests of young people when making policy decisions, especially in 
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developing countries. The U.S. National Institute of Aging hosted a highly 

praised and well-attended side event entitled ―Comparative Global Research 

on Aging.‖ The United States joined consensus on the two resolutions 

adopted at the session on the theme and the Commission’s method of work. 

The U.S. delegation delivered an Explanation of Position on references in the 

resolution to reproductive health and the ICPD.

UN Population Fund

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) provides funding for population 

and reproductive health care programs in over 140 countries. UNFPA 

supports maternal, child, and reproductive health care and family planning 

programs worldwide and works on issues of gender empowerment, child 

marriage, and violence against women. UNFPA provides assistance in the 

framework of 3-to-5-year country plans, developed jointly with the recipient 

country and approved by the Executive Board.

The United Nations Secretary-General appointed Thoraya Ahmed 

Obaid (Saudi Arabia) to be the Executive Director of UNFPA in 2001. The 

Secretary-General extended her tenure for another term, which will end in 

December 2008. The United States is a member of UNFPA’s Executive 

Board and participates actively in the decision-making processes to safeguard 

U.S. interests.

In recent years, the United States determined that UNFPA’s support 

of and involvement in China’s birth-planning activities facilitated the practice 

of coercive abortions. Under the Kemp-Kasten Amendment, this situation 

precludes U.S. funding for UNFPA.

The United States worked closely with UNFPA management in 2007 

to improve the organization’s transparency and accountability to ensure the 

effective use of resources and program monitoring. The United States 

launched the UN Transparency and Accountability Initiative (UNTAI) to 

strengthen governance and oversight throughout the UN system, including 

UNFPA.

UNTAI is drawn from existing reforms of the UN Secretariat to apply 

common standards throughout the UN system in eight areas:

 Operational independence of the internal oversight function;

 Disclosure of internal audit and oversight reports to member 

states on request;

 Public access to relevant information related to the organization’s 

operations, including program and budget documents, 

information on procurement activities, and administrative 

policies;

 Independent ethics function;

 ―Whistleblower‖ protections against retaliation for reporting 

misconduct and/or cooperating with the internal oversight

function;

 Financial disclosure program; 
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 Full implementation of International Public Sector Accounting 

Standards; and

 Transparent administrative support costs.

Social Issues

Commission for Social Development

The Commission for Social Development (CSocD), a functional 

commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), consists of 

46 member states. It meets annually in New York and held its 45th session 

from February 7-16, 2007. CSocD is the United Nations body charged with 

follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Platform of 

Action, adopted at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development.

In Resolution 2005/11, ECOSOC decided that CSocD would be 

organized as a series of two-year action-oriented implementation cycles, 

beginning with the 2007 session. The sessions would include a policy 

segment and the Commission would continue to review programs of action 

pertaining to social groups. The theme for the 2007-2008 review was 

―Promoting Full Employment and Decent Work for All.‖ Member states 

reviewed documents on the World Program of Action Concerning Disabled 

Persons, the World Program of Action for Youth, the Madrid International 

Plan of Action on Aging, and family issues, policies, and programs.

At its 2007 session, CSocD adopted resolutions on ―Social 

Dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development,‖ ―Modalities 

for the First Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action 

on Aging, 2000,‖ ―Youth,‖ and ―Supplement to the World Program of Action 

for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond.‖ Under the topic of emerging issues, 

it discussed ―Youth Employment, Impacts, Challenges, and Opportunities for 

Social Development.‖ The United States gave an explanation of position 

regarding the Supplement to the World Program of Action for Youth. The

statement addressed, among other things, the necessary conditions to promote 

job creation, decent work, and economic growth; U.S. commitment to 

integrating persons with disabilities into the workplace and the community; 

and the importance of giving youth access to education and training.

The Commission also considered the proposed program of work for 

the 2008-2009 biennium and heard statements from the Director of the United 

Nations Research Institute for Social Development and its Special Rapporteur 

on Disability.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with 

Disabilities

Negotiations on the draft UN Convention on the Rights of Persons 

with Disabilities (Disabilities Convention) began in 2003. Early during the 

negotiations on the Convention, the U.S. delegation stated that given the 

complexity of regulations and enforcement mechanisms needed to ensure 

equal opportunity for persons with disabilities, it would be more productive for 
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nations to strengthen their domestic legal frameworks related to nondiscrimination and equality rather than to negotiate a new UN convention. For 

this reason, the United States made clear that it did not intend to become a 

party to the treaty, and the executive branch has not conducted a careful 

review of the text to determine whether it is consistent with existing U.S. law.

At the same time, the United States clarified that it would join 

constructively in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on Disabilities, which 

negotiated the language of the treaty. The United States was very active in 

negotiations, in fact contributing to the strength of sections on political 

participation of persons with disabilities and on end-of-life issues.

The concluding five weeks of negotiations on the draft Disabilities

Convention took place January-February and August 2006. At the August 

2006 session, the United States called for a vote on a preambular paragraph, 

forced into the text by the Arab Group, containing a reference to protecting 

persons with disabilities from the impact of ―foreign occupation.‖ The vote 

was 102 – 5(U.S.) – 8. Australia, Canada, Israel, and Japan voted with the 

United States. Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya, Korea, Niger, 

Nigeria, and Serbia abstained. The United States then joined consensus on 

moving the text forward to the fall 2006 UN General Assembly (UNGA) for 

action.

At the UNGA on December 13, 2006, the United States joined 

consensus on adopting the Convention with an Explanation of Position (EOP) 

on the preambular paragraph citing foreign occupation and the article on 

health containing the term ―reproductive health.‖ The EOP stated that the 

reference in this human rights convention to armed conflict and foreign 

occupation, which are governed by international humanitarian law and not 

human rights law, would create legal confusion. It also stated that the United 

States understood the phrase ―reproductive health‖ did not include abortion, 

did not create any abortion rights, and could not be interpreted to constitute 

support, endorsement, or promotion of abortion.

The active U.S. role in the disabilities negotiations was aimed at 

advancing U.S. policy interests, including promoting democratic values such 

as non-discrimination and equal treatment, condemning torture, and promoting 

health and U.S. values on social issues. The United States was pleased to have 

contributed to improving the Convention, recognizing that there was much 

good in it. The treaty emphasizes the principles of equality and nondiscrimination, and contains important provisions on a variety of important 

subjects, including opposition to torture and degrading treatment of persons 

with disabilities; informed consent for genetic testing, medical research, and 

scientific experimentation; prohibition against involuntary sterilization; access 

to justice; political participation; health; the crucial role of the family; and endof-life issues. In 2007, while the United States continued to believe that 

efforts on domestic legal regimes were a more fruitful focus and that its own 

domestic standards were a useful model, the United States fully understood
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that other nations may wish to commit to these worthy provisions in the form 

of ratification.

The Convention will enter into force on May 3, 2008. The 

Convention received its 20th ratification on April 3, 2008, triggering the entry 

into force of the Convention and its Optional Protocol 30 days later.

UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal 

Justice and UN Office on Drugs and Crime

The UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

(Crime Commission) is the principal United Nations policy-making body on 

criminal justice issues. The 40-member Commission convenes annually at the 

UN Office in Vienna. Many decisions from these annual sessions are 

forwarded to the UN Economic and Social Council for endorsement. The 

United States is an active member of the Crime Commission and is 

substantially engaged in both the plenary discussions and the resolution 

negotiations in the Committee of the Whole.

The 16th session of the UN Crime Commission convened April 23-

27, 2007. The United States proposed and facilitated a thematic discussion of 

commercial sexual exploitation of children as well as introduced and cosponsored a resolution on ―Effective Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice 

Responses to Combat Sexual Exploitation of Children‖ that received wide 

support from other member states. Additionally, the United States and the UN 

Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) co-sponsored a screening of the movie 

―Human Trafficking,‖ followed by expert discussion attended by over 500 

people. The Commission adopted a total of 13 resolutions, including 

approving the UNODC Strategy for 2008-2011, which the United States was 

instrumental in creating. This strategy will enable UNODC to focus its efforts 

on agreed priorities and enhance the ability of the U.S. and other member 

states to monitor better the implementation of UNODC programs. The 

strategy was also approved by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

U.S. efforts to work with countries such as Brazil and Indonesia

before the start of the Commission were critical to the success of an 

Indonesian resolution regarding illicit trafficking in forest products, including 

timber and wildlife, which had failed to achieve consensus during the previous 

year’s meeting. Active outreach by the U.S. delegation before and during the 

Commission brought the various points of view to agreement on a resolution 

that served to raise awareness of this important issue. The United States was 

forced to disassociate from consensus on one resolution related to the 12th UN 

Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (Crime Congress) due to 

potential financial implications on the UN regular budget. This resolution 

established regional preparatory meetings in advance of the 12th Crime 

Congress. The U.S. delegation expressed the view that these preparatory 

meetings did not reflect an efficient utilization of the resources of the regular 

budget of the United Nations.
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The United States used its statements at the Commission to voice its 

strong support for implementing and ratifying the UN Convention against 

Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the UN Convention against 

Corruption (UNCAC), as well as the universal legal instruments against 

terrorism, and it urged other states to join the United States in contributing 

resources for technical assistance in implementing the conventions.

UNCAC entered into force on December 14, 2006. In 2007, the 

United States played an instrumental leadership role in a number of areas and 

helped increase the level of international attention to this important instrument. 

Working closely with UNODC, the United States drafted a self-assessment 

checklist to assist with information gathering from parties to the Convention 

regarding its implementation. This checklist was extremely well-received and 

over 50 countries responded in less than one year. The United States helped 

create and participated in a pilot review project to test various methods for 

reviewing implementation of the UNCAC. In addition, the United States

attended UNCAC working groups on asset recovery, technical assistance, and 

review of implementation.

The U.S. Department of Justice is using the UNCAC as a mechanism 

for mutual legal assistance in at least four pending cases involving countries in 

Asia and Africa.

UNTOC entered into force in 2003. During 2007, the United States

participated in UNTOC expert working groups on special investigative 

techniques and a working group on technical assistance. Also in 2007, the 

U.S. participated in a Steering Group Committee on International Cooperation 

to advance the extradition and mutual legal assistance provisions of the 

UNTOC. The Steering Group approved and contributed to the design of a 

series of workshops to provide countries with practical application of the 

UNTOC in the area of international cooperation. The 4th UNTOC Conference 

of the Parties will be held in October 2008. The United States has used the 

UNTOC as a basis for mutual legal assistance and extradition in at least 15 

cases around the world.

In its role as Secretariat to the UNTOC and its protocols, UNODC

also promotes the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and 

Punish Trafficking in Persons. During 2007, the United States was heavily 

engaged in the development of UNODC’s United Nations Global Initiative to 

Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT), a project initiated as a result of a 

contribution by the United Arab Emirates. The United States specifically 

provided guidance and recommendations on various regional events and 

suggested speakers.

Commission on Narcotic Drugs

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International 

Narcotics Control Board (INCB), both based in Vienna, support U.S. drug 

control objectives. The UN drug control conventions (the 1961 Single 

Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 1972 Protocol, the 1971 

Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 UN Convention against 
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the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) provide the 

framework for international drug control. This framework includes: 

prohibiting the cultivation of opium, coca and marijuana; targeting drug 

traffickers and their proceeds; promoting national campaigns on drug abuse 

prevention and treatment; and regulating precursor chemicals used in the 

production of many illicit drugs.

The 53-member UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), of 

which the United States has been a member since 1946, is the central policymaking body within the UN system for dealing with drug-related matters. The 

CND held its 50th session in Vienna on March 12-16, 2007. As a result of 

extensive outreach to member states in the months leading up to the 

Commission, the United States succeeded in garnering wide member-state 

support to reject a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation to 

downgrade the international controls on dronabinol, the principal active 

ingredient in cannabis. The recommendation was returned to the WHO for 

further review, with a request that it not be re-sent to the Commission until 

further scientific evidence was available.

Building on a 2006 resolution, sponsored by the United States, the 

2007 Commission saw an increased focus on precursor chemical control. The 

Commission approved a total of four resolutions related to precursors dealing 

with increased monitoring, law enforcement, and directing the work of the 

International Narcotics Control Board. The United States co-tabled a 

resolution with the European Union on precursor chemical control for 

synthetic drugs. This resolution addressed the growing need to identify and 

react to non-controlled substances being used as substitutes for controlled 

chemicals in illicit drug manufacture.

The United States also co-sponsored a resolution related to the 10-

year review of progress achieved since the 1998 UN General Assembly 

Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem. This resolution 

established 2008 as a ―year of review,‖ which will allow UNODC to gather 

relevant information and to hold expert working groups to discuss the way 

forward.

U.S. financial support to UNODC in 2007 had significant impact on 

the operations and expansion of UN counter-narcotics programs and policy. 

UNODC used funds provided by the United States to enhance global programs 

that work to reduce precursor chemical control, combat money laundering and 

terrorist financing, provide legal advice on treaty implementation of the UN 

drug conventions, prevent drug abuse and HIV/AIDS, and augment an 

international network of treatment and rehabilitation centers. Notably, the 

United States continued its funding support for the work of the International 

Narcotics Control Board to advance implementation of a 2006 U.S.-sponsored 

resolution that sought to prevent the diversion of precursor chemicals to the 

illicit market. U.S. funds also supported numerous regional projects, including 

strengthening precursor control in East Asia and increasing border control in 

Central Asia. U.S. funds also supported country-specific programs that 
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included those in Afghanistan providing for eradication verification activities, 

in Laos providing for alternative development, in Cambodia supporting efforts 

to clean-up and dispose of seized chemicals in an environmentally sound 

manner, in Peru implementing a program to facilitate effective anti-money 

laundering and asset forfeiture laws, as well as monitoring illicit drug crops, 

and in Ecuador providing drug prevention in urban communities.

The United States used the back-to-back reconvened sessions of the 

50th Commission on Narcotic Drugs and 16th Commission on Crime 

Prevention and Criminal Justice, as an opportunity to spur discussion on the 

10-year review of the UNGASS on the World Drug Problem. The United 

States held extensive meetings on the margins to engage with other member 

states to ensure that the review was thorough and produced concrete outcomes 

without re-negotiating the drug conventions.

International Narcotics Control Board

The 13-member International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is an 

independent quasi-judicial control body that has a mandate to promote 

governments’ compliance with the provisions of international drug control 

treaties and to assist governments in this effort. Board members from 13 

different countries serve in their personal, not national, capacity. The Board 

meets three times annually to monitor the implementation of drug control 

treaties and the international movement of narcotic drugs and psychotropic 

substances.

The INCB presented its annual report to the UN Commission on 

Narcotic Drugs (CND) in March 2007. The 2007 report focused on 

unregulated drug markets, specifically internet pharmacies and the increasing 

problem of counterfeit drugs. The INCB report also criticized injection and 

consumption rooms. The report’s conclusions are in line with the United 

States’ global drug-control policies and help strengthen U.S. efforts 

worldwide. In addition, the 2007 report criticized Bolivia for allowing coca 

cultivation for purposes outside those specified in drug control treaties and 

called on Bolivia to live up to its obligations under the 1961 and 1988 

Conventions. The United States used the INCB agenda item at the CND to 

warn against the perils of expanding coca cultivation under the guise of licit 

consumption.

Human Rights

Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO 

Committee), part of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), is the 

UN body that adjudicates requests by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) 

for accreditation to participate in meetings of ECOSOC and its subsidiary 

bodies. The member states of the NGO Committee for 2007 were Angola, 

Burundi, China, Colombia, Cuba, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Egypt, 
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Guinea, India, Israel, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Romania, the Russian Federation, 

Sudan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Because the NGO Committee is a highly politicized technical 

committee, the most frequently attacked and scrutinized NGOs are those 

working in the areas of human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. The 

U.S. presence and participation on the Committee helps these NGOs to obtain 

and maintain ECOSOC accreditation status. The U.S. delegation also 

exercises crucial oversight of the administration of the Department of 

Economic and Social Affairs’ NGO Section.

At its July 2007 meeting, the Committee granted consultative status 

to 89 NGOs, while denying it to others, as described below.

Liberal International is an NGO based in London. Its members 

consist of liberal and democratic parties, including from Taiwan. Because of 

China’s complaint that Liberal International took part in a World Health 

Organization (WHO) meeting, the Committee suspended the consultative 

status of Liberal International for one year. The United States opposed that 

decision. During the debate, the United States acknowledged that there is one 

China and encouraged a peaceful resolution on longstanding differences 

between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. Although the United 

States does not support Taiwan’s full membership in organizations such as the 

UN which have statehood as a prerequisite, the United States supported its 

meaningful participation in appropriate technical activities of international 

organizations. The United States believed that Taiwan’s participation in the 

WHO meeting was not a politically motivated act against China, but was 

connected to the international community’s public health interests.

The NGO Committee did not grant consultative status to the Jewish 

National Fund. The United States also opposed that decision.

The Committee granted consultative status to the Swedish Federation 

for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights, a decision the United 

States supported.

Democracy Caucus

The UN Democracy Caucus (UNDC) is a network of democratic 

nations through which the United States can advance the work of the United 

Nations in areas such as human rights, democracy, women’s rights, and 

economic development. The United States believes that democratic nations 

must work more closely together in order to help the United Nations live up to 

its founding principles. The Democracy Caucus is comprised of the 

approximately 126 countries that participate in the Community of 

Democracies, whose participants meet the criteria set out during the 

Community of Democracies Seoul Ministerial in 2002. The Democracy 

Caucus is not intended to supplant long-standing regional or other groupings, 

but rather to provide an added mechanism that like-minded democratic nations 

can use to cooperate on resolutions and other initiatives to promote democratic 

practices and principles. The United States participates in the Convening 
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Group of the Community of Democracies, which is comprised of 16 countries 

and provides leadership for the Caucus.

The Chair of the Community of Democracies serves as the de facto

Chair of the Democracy Caucus in New York. Mali, host of the 2007 

Community of Democracies Ministerial, served as the Caucus chair from 

2006-2007; Portugal is chair from 2008-2009. In May 2007, the Community 

of Democracies Convening Group issued a statement, which the United States 

supported, encouraging states to support candidates with good human rights 

records in the Human Rights Council election. The Community of 

Democracies Ministerial during the UN General Assembly focused on 

furthering democracy and development in preparation for the Ministerial 

meeting in Bamako, Mali with the same theme. The U.S. delegation to the 

Ministerial in Bamako, led by Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte, also 

highlighted the need to support the UN Democracy Fund and urged that the 

Community work together to forge common positions at the United Nations.

The U.S. Mission to the UN in New York consults closely with key 

Community of Democracies members, including India and Portugal, to 

identify concrete steps to further the Caucus’ work. In 2007, the U.S. Mission 

succeeded in gaining support from democracies across regional groups for 

several important democracy and human rights resolutions, including one in 

support of the UN’s elections assistance work, another calling attention to and 

condemning the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence, as well as a 

resolution that called on the Government of Belarus to immediately cease its 

ongoing and systemic violations of the human rights of its people. The United 

States also assisted in securing cross-regional support for the resolutions on 

the human rights records of Iran, Burma, and North Korea.

In 2007, the Community of Democracies continued its institutionbuilding work. A planned secretariat for the Community was officially 

announced at the 2007 Bamako Ministerial meeting. Working groups were 

established to focus on tangible activities that could be accomplished before 

the conference. Among the outcomes of these working groups was the 

production of a ―Diplomat’s Handbook for Democracy Development 

Support,‖ which is being distributed globally and will become a standard 

training tool for diplomats from several governments, including the U.S.

Holocaust Remembrance

The UN General Assembly observed the second International Day of 

Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust on January 29, 

2007. The observance focused on the importance of infusing today’s youth 

with the lessons of the Holocaust so that future generations may work to 

prevent hatred, bigotry, racism, and prejudice. UN General Assembly 

President Sheikha Haya Rashed al Khalifa (Bahrain), recalling in her 

statement the needless deaths of millions of Jews in the Holocaust, noted that 

―the Holocaust was a historical event, which cannot be denied.‖ During the 

observance, as part of its ―Holocaust and the United Nations‖ outreach 

program, the UN Department of Public Information launched a new website 
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and resource for member states, educators, and NGOs, ―Electronic Notes for 

Speakers,‖ developed by Yad Vashem, the University of Southern California 

Shoah Foundation Institute, and the Memorial de la Shoah in Paris.

Israel introduced a resolution establishing the International Day of 

Commemoration during the 60th UN General Assembly, which adopted it by 

consensus on November 1, 2005, with 104 member states co-sponsoring. This 

resolution built on the successful December 2004 request of the United States, 

the European Union, Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, and the Russian

Federation to convene a special session of the General Assembly in January 

2005 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi 

concentration camps.

In December 2006, in direct contravention of the 2005 resolution, the 

Iranian government sponsored an international conference entitled ―Review of 

the Holocaust: Global Vision,‖ specifically aimed at denying the existence of 

the Holocaust as an historical event. Reflecting the widespread condemnation 

of the international community, the United States pressed for a UN General 

Assembly resolution reiterating the General Assembly’s rejection of Holocaust 

denial.

On January 26, 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted by 

consensus Resolution 61/255 entitled ―Holocaust Denial,‖ which was cosponsored by the United States and 102 other member states. Resolution 

61/255 condemned ―without any reservation any denial of the Holocaust‖ and 

urged all member states ―unreservedly to reject any denial of the Holocaust as 

an historical event, either in full or in part, or any activities to this end.‖

Noting that January 27 had been designated by the United Nations as 

an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of 

the Holocaust, Resolution 61/255 also welcomed the Secretary-General’s 

establishment of an outreach program on ―The Holocaust and the United 

Nations‖ and the inclusion by member states in their educational programs of 

―measures to confront attempts to deny or minimize the importance of the 

Holocaust.‖ Finally, Resolution 61/255 recalled that Resolution 60/7 declared 

that remembrance of the Holocaust ―is critical to prevent further acts of 

genocide‖ and that, ―for this reason, Resolution 60/7 rejects efforts to deny the 

Holocaust which, by ignoring the historical fact of those terrible events, 

increases the risk they will be repeated.‖

In introducing Resolution 61/255, Ambassador Alejandro Wolff, 

Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, declared that 

―The resolution we are introducing builds on the strong foundation of 

Resolution 60/7 of 2005 in making clear that all people and all states have a 

vital stake in a world free of genocide.‖ He went on to say, ―Those who would 

deny the Holocaust—and, sadly, there are some who do—reveal not only 

ignorance but their moral failure as well.‖ He concluded by reminding the 

General Assembly that ―The United Nations was founded in the immediate 

aftermath of the Second World War and of the Holocaust. It is particularly 

fitting to remember this legacy.‖
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All subsequent speakers supported the resolution, except Iran, which 

disassociated itself from the consensus on the resolution, described it as a 

―hypocritical political exercise,‖ and said the focus should be on Israel’s 

conduct today. Ambassador Wolff concluded his response to Iran with the 

following words: ―To deny the events of the Holocaust is tantamount to the 

approval of genocide in all its forms. Today, we stand together, saying to the 

world that we will not allow that to happen.‖

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the principal UN

official responsible for advancing human rights and reports directly to the 

Secretary-General. Under the High Commissioner’s leadership, the Office of 

the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) works to ensure the 

practical implementation of human rights obligations and carries out the tasks 

requested by UN human rights bodies. The United States, through the U.S. 

Permanent Mission to the UN Office and other international organizations in 

Geneva, has worked with the High Commissioner to build a strong cooperative 

relationship.

The Office of the High Commissioner has gradually expanded its 

presence in the field in recent years. In 2007, the High Commissioner’s Office 

maintained eight regional offices and 11 country offices. It also supported the 

human rights components of United Nations peacekeeping operations 

worldwide and deployed human rights officers to support the UN Country 

Teams in Ecuador, Guyana, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, the Maldives, Pakistan, 

Rwanda, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and the South Caucasus. The work of the High 

Commissioner’s Office in 2007 included provision of technical assistance and 

advisory services activities, such as monitoring human rights situations, 

assisting human rights capacity building of governments in host countries, 

building networks with local and regional civil society groups, and promoting 

ratification and implementation of key human rights treaties. The Office of 

the High Commissioner is seeking to open some additional regional offices in 

2008.

In addition to carrying out its operational work in the field, the Office 

of the High Commissioner provides staff for the secretariat of the UN Human 

Rights Council (HRC), the human rights treaty implementation bodies, the 

advisory committee, and the UN’s human rights special procedures, including 

special rapporteurs and independent experts. It does not control and does not 

have great influence over either the HRC or the special procedures. Louise 

Arbour, the High Commissioner in 2007, strongly defended her independence 

in the face of efforts by some, most notably China and the Non-Aligned 

Movement, to have the HRC exercise greater control over the work of the 

High Commissioner’s Office.

Status of Women

The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), established in 

1946 as a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), 
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seeks to improve the situation of women in the areas of political participation, 

economic opportunity, social development, health, and education. Following 

the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing Women’s 

Conference), the General Assembly mandated that the CSW institute a followup process to the Conference by regularly reviewing the 12 critical areas of 

concern in the Beijing Platform for Action and mainstreaming a gender 

perspective in UN activities. The United States regards the CSW favorably 

and is active in the Commission’s work. We have successfully used the 

annual CSW meetings to highlight U.S. Government activities to improve 

conditions for women throughout the world, including through U.S.-

introduced resolutions and U.S.-sponsored panel discussions and other types 

of side events.

The CSW convened its 2006 session in New York from February 26 

– March 9, 2007. At the conclusion of the two-week session, member states 

adopted the following resolutions by consensus: ―Women, the Girl Child, and 

HIV/AIDS‖ (Southern African Development Community resolution), ―Ending 

Female Genital Mutilation‖ (Africa Group resolution), and ―Forced Marriage 

of the Girl Child‖ (U.S. resolution). On each of the above, the United States

joined consensus with an Explanation of Position (EOP) on reaffirmation of 

the outcomes of the Beijing women’s conference and its follow up sessions, as 

well as health-related wording. On the forced marriage resolution, the 

European Union submitted an amendment from the floor ―reaffirming‖ the 

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on the 

Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. Because the United States

could not accept that wording in UN documents without an EOP, it withdrew 

co-sponsorship of the resolution, but decided not to withdraw the resolution 

completely in order to have the first UN resolution raising awareness on this 

topic adopted as part of the UN record. El Salvador, Angola, Benin, Panama, 

Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, and Togo co-sponsored the resolution, which was 

adopted by consensus.

A U.S.-introduced resolution on ―Prenatal Sex Selection and Female 

Infanticide‖ was withdrawn; language on these issues was incorporated into 

the agreed conclusions on ―Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination 

Against the Girl Child.‖

The United States called for a vote on and voted against the 

resolution on ―Situation of and Assistance to Palestinian Women.‖ Each year 

the United States opposes this unbalanced and one-sided resolution that 

criticizes Israel while failing to note that the Palestinian side and Arab states 

also have responsibilities to meet in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

The resolution addresses a number of issues, including territory and refugees, 

which must be resolved by negotiations between the parties.

Member states adopted by consensus agreed conclusions on 

―Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against the Girl Child,‖ which 

was the main theme of the CSW 2007 session. The United States joined 

consensus with an EOP on references to ―sexual and reproductive health,‖ 
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―reaffirming‖ the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and ―foreign 

occupation.‖

The United States held a side event on ―State Sanctioned Mass Rape 

in Burma and Sudan,‖ which U.S. Representative to the CSW Ambassador 

Patricia Brister moderated.

UN Democracy Fund

The UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), which grew out of an idea 

presented by President Bush at the United Nations in 2004 and was established 

in 2005, had a successful third year. The United States’ goals of recruiting a 

well-qualified Executive Director, assuring final disbursement of all firstround grants, announcing a second call for proposals to include increased 

emphasis in reaching applicants from civil society, and reinforcing UNDEF’s 

independence from host governments were achieved. In 2007, UNDEF 

disbursed approximately $36 million to over 120 projects in over 75 countries, 

with a majority going to pro-democracy civil society organizations. UNDEF 

is completely voluntarily funded. By the end of 2007, countries as diverse as 

Ecuador, Cyprus, Georgia, France, India, Lithuania, Mongolia, Bulgaria and 

Australia had pledged or contributed a total of over $80 million. During its 

Ministerial Meeting in Mali, the Community of Democracies once again 

expressed support for UNDEF and urged all members to contribute to the 

fund.

A major focus of the United States in 2007 was to ensure the 

appointment of a strong Executive Director. In October, the SecretaryGeneral appointed as UNDEF’s Executive Director a former Australian

diplomat, Roland Rich, who had exceptional credentials, including a tour as a 

fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy. Rich brought on board a 

new staff and focused immediately on executing a second call for proposals. 

The Fund’s second call for proposals, which closed on December 31, resulted 

in over 1,800 applications primarily from civil society.

As an outcome of UN reform, the Democracy Fund represents the 

possibility for new thinking on the use of technical assistance to build 

democratic institutions. While the political climate in the UN human rights 

institutions worsens, the Democracy Fund stands out as a symbol of what the 

UN can do when properly mobilized. The United States has been integral in 

the formation of this innovative institution and, with our continued 

participation, we can help sustain its achievements over the long term.

UN Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council held four regular sessions (March 12-

30, June 11-18, September 10-28, and December 10-14) and one special 

session on Burma (on October 2) during 2007. It also met informally 

throughout the year. Despite the Council’s successful special session on 

Burma, its performance in 2007 was extremely disappointing. The Council 

pushed through, despite a lack of consensus, a resolution establishing its 

flawed institutional procedures and agenda; continued its unbalanced treatment 
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of Israel, including by establishing a permanent agenda item on the situation in 

Palestine; eliminated the Cuba and Belarus human rights special rapporteurs; 

and took only weak measures on Sudan.

Between January and June, Council President de Alba (Mexico) held 

several ad hoc meetings to further negotiations on the Council’s new agenda 

and institutional procedures, which had to be established by the end of the 

Council’s first year (June 18, 2007). He created four working groups to 

address each major institutional issue: Universal Periodic Review, the Human 

Rights Advisory Committee (which would act as an advisory body for the 

Council), the Council’s individual complaint procedure, and the mandates of 

over 40 UN human rights special procedures.

The U.S. Mission to the UN in Geneva participated actively in 

institution-building negotiations and worked very closely with members of the 

Western European and Others Group (WEOG), among others, to develop joint 

positions on key issues, including on the importance of maintaining a clear 

distinction between the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High 

Commissioner for Human Rights and the retention of all country-specific UN 

special rapporteurs or special representatives. Despite significant efforts to 

forge a consensus on each institutional question, no agreement was reached by 

all Council members. In the last hours of the Human Rights Council session 

on June 18 (the final day of the Council’s first year), despite a lack of 

consensus, the Council President pushed through a final institution-building 

package that eliminated the Cuba and Belarus mandates and established a 

permanent agenda item on Israel.

The Council’s performance on substantive issues in 2007 was, with 

few exceptions, similarly discouraging. The United States supported the 

Council’s special session on Burma and helped to ensure that the technical 

cooperation mandates for Liberia, Haiti, and Burundi were renewed in the 

Council’s September session (though only after intense lobbying and, in the 

case of Liberia, after a visit to Geneva by a senior Liberian official). The 

Council passed only weak resolutions on Sudan and took no action on North 

Korea, Iran, Cuba, or Belarus. Violence in Zimbabwe in March 2007 resulted 

in a statement by some Council members and observers (including the United 

States) but no resolution. During the December session, the Council adopted a 

resolution on religious intolerance that called on all states to criminalize 

―incitement to hatred,‖ which is an amorphous and problematic concept that 

has been used by some UN member states to justify restrictions on freedom of 

religion and expression. The Council also passed routine resolutions in 

support of the Durban review preparatory process and held the first 

preparatory meetings for the Durban review conference, now scheduled for 

April 2009 in Geneva.

UNGA Third Committee

The United States succeeded in accomplishing several key objectives 

in the Third Committee in 2007. With active lobbying and global demarches 

by the United States and its allies, three procedural no-action motions were 
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defeated and four significant country-specific resolutions, focusing attention 

on human rights violations in Belarus, Burma, Iran, and North Korea, were 

adopted. After several weeks of difficult negotiations, the United States also 

succeeded in passing by consensus a resolution on the elimination of rape and 

other forms of sexual violence, including in conflict and related situations. 

These successes were tempered by a disappointing United Nations General 

Assembly (UNGA) vote adopting a resolution calling for a moratorium on the 

death penalty, which the United States voted against (99-52(U.S.)-33).

A top priority of the United States, the resolution on the human rights 

situation in Iran, passed in a vote of 72(U.S.)-50-55 after only narrowly 

defeating a motion for no-action. North Korea and Burma resolutions passed 

by 97(U.S.)-23-60 and 88(U.S.)-24-66, respectively. The U.S.-sponsored 

resolution on Belarus was adopted (68(U.S)-32-76), again after defeating a noaction motion.

The annual resolution on Palestinian self-determination passed by a 

vote of 172-5(U.S)-5, a slightly larger majority than last year’s resolution, 

which had 162 votes in favor. The resolutions on the Right to Development 

and the Rights of the Child, neither of which the United States supported, 

passed again by a large majority. The United States and the European Union

both opposed a resolution calling on the Secretary-General to provide support 

to the Durban follow-up conference, but the resolution passed by a wide 

majority (119-45(U.S)-6). The United States was able to co-sponsor 

Denmark’s resolution against torture, which passed by consensus, and was 

able to join consensus on a resolution on the protection of migrants after 

several weeks of difficult negotiations.

The United States worked extensively on negotiating consensus 

resolutions regarding international cooperation against the scourges of drugs 

and crime. Ultimately, the United States co-sponsored both the Mexicansponsored resolution strengthening international drug control and the Italiansponsored resolution strengthening the United Nations crime prevention and 

criminal justice program. The United States joined consensus on Res. 61/144 

―Trafficking in Women and Girls,‖ Res. 61/143, ―Intensification of Efforts to 

Eliminate All Forms of Violence Against Women,‖ and Res. 61/106, 

―Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.‖ A resolution on the 

elimination of all forms of religious intolerance was adopted by consensus –

preserving important language on anti-Semitism over calls from some other 

countries to eliminate any references to specific religions.

Humanitarian Affairs

Disaster and Humanitarian Relief Activities

In 2007, the United States and the United Nations cooperated 

extensively on disaster response and humanitarian relief activities. The United 

States provided leadership as a member of UN agency governing bodies and 

support groups, including the Donor Support Group for the Office for the 

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The United States also 
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continued to be actively engaged in initiatives to reform the UN humanitarian 

system, including through its participation in the Advisory Group of the 

Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and in providing funding and 

guidance to the UN cluster initiative as well as in strengthening the 

Humanitarian Coordinator system.

John Holmes (United Kingdom) succeeded Jan Egeland as Under 

Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief 

Coordinator in January 2007. OCHA also underwent internal restructuring 

(―realignment‖) in 2007, including by consolidating the country desk structure 

of the Coordination and Response Division (CRD), originally split between 

New York and Geneva, in a single location (New York). With the 

consolidation, the CRD assumed full responsibility for substantive support of 

humanitarian coordination for OCHA’s field and regional offices, as well as 

for overall management of the response to both natural disasters and complex 

emergencies.

In 2007, the United States continued to provide substantial support to 

UN humanitarian operations throughout the world in response to natural 

disasters, as well as to ongoing relief efforts in areas of protracted crisis such 

as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Horn of Africa.

OCHA estimated that 134 million people suffered from the effects of 

hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters in 2007. 

During this time period, a total of 14 UN Disaster Assessment and 

Coordination (UNDAC) missions were deployed, 12 of which focused on 

emergency response, and two on disaster preparedness. The United States 

Government has several personnel who have undergone UNDAC training and 

are on the UNDAC roster for participation in missions.

As the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and neighboring Chad continued 

in 2007, the United States remained the largest bilateral donor of assistance as 

well as the largest single donor multilaterally. A significant portion of U.S. 

assistance was channeled through UN operational agencies such as the World 

Food Program (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Food and 

Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, the UN High 

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the UN Department of Safety and 

Security. In fiscal year (FY) 2007, the United States contributed more than 

$308 million to the WFP for food commodities and humanitarian air 

operations in Darfur and eastern Chad and more than $16 million to UNICEF 

programs in Darfur and eastern Chad for health, emergency relief 

commodities, protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene. The United States

also gave more than $25 million to UNHCR, including $4.9 million for Darfur 

and $20.5 million for Chad in FY2007. Overall, the United States is the 

world’s largest food aid donor, providing half of all food aid internationally 

and 40 percent of total resources contributed to the WFP.

The United States actively engaged the United Nations and its 

member states on humanitarian- and disaster-related resolutions in the UN 

General Assembly and its Economic and Social Council. The United States
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supported resolutions on improving the International Strategy for Disaster 

Reduction, strengthening UN coordination of emergency humanitarian 

assistance, improving the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and 

protection of UN personnel, and several country-specific resolutions 

pertaining to humanitarian situations.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Since its inauguration January 1, 1951, the office of the UN High 

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), based in Geneva, Switzerland, has led 

and coordinated international efforts to protect and provide durable solutions 

for the world’s refugees. It also plays a key role in providing for refugees’ 

basic needs, such as food, shelter, health care, and education. UNHCR has 

over 6,200 staff operating in 116 countries. Antonio Guterres (Portugal) has 

served as High Commissioner since June 15, 2005. In 2007, issues that High 

Commissioner Guterres focused on include managing large refugee 

repatriation efforts, including to Afghanistan, Southern Sudan, and Burundi; 

UNHCR structural and management reform (field and headquarters); United 

Nations reform, including where UNHCR agreed to take the lead for 

protection, camp coordination and camp management, and emergency shelter 

for internally displaced persons (IDPs); and strengthening partnerships with 

international and non-governmental organizations. The United States 

continued to support these priorities, at the same time stressing to UNHCR 

that it should not over-extend itself and should continue to prioritize its 

mandate for refugee protection.

In 2007, the global refugee population protected and/or assisted by 

UNHCR increased to an estimated 11.4 million (the number does not include 

the 4.6 million Palestinian refugees under the mandate of UN Relief and 

Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). Due to changes in 

methodology the number is not fully comparable with figures from earlier 

years (for example, UNHCR statistics no longer count resettled refugees), but, 

as a point of reference, the refugee total for 2006 was 9.9 million. UNHCR 

provides humanitarian assistance under both the Cluster Approach and other 

arrangements as either the lead agency or a partner for IDPs, estimated to 

number 13.7 million in 2007, up one million from 2006. Total numbers of 

IDPs for both conflict-generated and natural disaster crises are at 51 million. 

The number of stateless persons was cut almost in half from 5.8 million in 

2006 to nearly 3 million in 2007 – in large part due to breakthroughs in Nepal

and Bangladesh. The change in numbers of stateless persons led to a decrease 

in the overall population of persons of concern to UNHCR from 32.9 million 

to 31.7 million.

Approximately one-third of refugees are from UNHCR’s Asia Pacific 

region, which includes Afghanistan. Afghanistan and Iraq account for nearly 

half of all refugees under UNHCR’s responsibility worldwide, with almost 3.1 

million Afghan and 2.3 million Iraqi refugees. An estimated 731,000 refugees 

were repatriated voluntarily in 2007, almost the same number as in 2006. 

Voluntary repatriation of refugees to southern Sudan, the Democratic Republic 
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of Congo (D.R.C.), Liberia, and Burundi reduced the overall number of 

refugees in Africa by six percent, but armed conflict and human rights 

violations also led to greater displacement from the Central African Republic, 

Chad, the D.R.C., Somalia, and Sudan. Pakistan continued to be the asylum 

country with the largest number of refugees, with Syria second.

Resettlement traditionally is a solution for a small percentage of all 

refugees: from 1998-2007, 821,000 refugees were resettled to a third country, 

less than one percent of all refugees. In 2007, the number of those resettled 

with UNHCR assistance was 49,600 worldwide; most were from Burma, 

Burundi, Somalia, Iraq, the D.R.C., and Afghanistan. The United States 

admits more refugees than the other 25 resettlement countries combined. 

Other major resettlement destinations include Canada, Australia, and Sweden. 

The United States admitted 48,281 refugees in fiscal year (FY) 2007. Most, 

but not all, were through UNHCR referrals.

The UNHCR Executive Committee (EXCOM), which is responsible 

for approving UNHCR’s budget and advising UNHCR on issues of concern, is 

comprised of 76 member states, including the United States. In October 2007, 

the 58th Session of EXCOM met to discuss protection programs and policy,

management and oversight, finance, and human resource issues. High 

Commissioner Guterres spoke about the increasing number of refugees and the 

growing challenge posed by mixed migration flows, where economic migrants 

cross borders along with people in need of protection, including refugees and 

asylum seekers and victims of trafficking. He noted that for the first time in a 

decade, UNHCR reversed the trend of rising global staff costs, with more 

money spent on operations than staff during the first eight months of 2007.

To enhance transparency and elicit generous contributions, UNHCR

restructured its budget from an annual to a biannual one with four core 

components: refugee assistance, re-integration assistance, IDPs, and 

statelessness. The revised structure is intended to mesh with UNHCR’s 

planning categories which are based on populations of concern. The refugee 

and stateless budgets would be program budgets, while the IDP and 

reintegration budgets would be project-based. While the United States 

approved the budget redesign, it expressed concern that the project approach 

taken in the IDP and reintegration budgets could lead to greater earmarking, 

reduce flexibility, and impair efforts of burden-sharing. The proposed 

redesigned budget structure was not adopted at the 2007 EXCOM due to 

ongoing concerns from some member states; UNHCR is actively consulting 

member states with the aim of presenting a viable new budget structure at the 

2008 EXCOM meetings. In July 2007, UNHCR also introduced a Revised 

Framework for Resource Allocation and Management designed to improve 

needs/priorities-based resource allocation, management, and accountability.

In FY 2007, the United States contributed $363,255,625 to UNHCR

to help refugees, internally displaced persons, stateless people and other 

populations of concern to UNHCR. In addition, United States funding 

supported UNHCR's ongoing reform process aimed at improving its capacity 
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to address new and ongoing crises. Of the total U.S. contribution, 

$232,487,452 went toward the annual budget, representing 23.8 percent of the 

total appeal. In addition, the United States contributed over $105 million 

towards UNHCR’s Supplementary Budgets in the D.R.C., Sudan, Darfur, 

Western Sahara, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen, Mauritania, Iraq, 

and Sri Lanka; and over $8 million towards UNHCR’s IDP Supplementary 

Budgets. The remaining $14 million in funding supported additional key 

activities that the United States asked UNHCR to undertake, including 

resettlement and referral activities; strengthening UNHCR’s protection 

capacity; protecting women and children; aiding stateless Rohingyas for 

temporary assistance and schools; expanding protection and assistance in 

China and Mongolia; expanding the Health Information System (HIS); 

developing refugee law courses; addressing gender-based violence in 

Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador; reducing statelessness in Kosovo and 

Georgia; expanding HIV/AIDs programs; and supporting American Junior 

Professional Officers with UNHCR. Overall, donor contributions met 91 

percent of UNHCR’s Annual Budget of $1.033 billion for 2007, with $34.4 

million coming from the UN General Budget (representing another three 

percent).

In addition to addressing budget issues during EXCOM in 2007, the 

United States delegation worked to advance a number of other interests. 

These included strengthening efforts by the international community to 

address protection and the pursuit of durable solutions for refugees; 

maximizing UNHCR’s operational performance; increasing coordination and 

strengthening partnerships among UNHCR, its donors, refugee hosting 

countries, and UNHCR’s implementing and operational partners; and 

improving emergency preparedness and response capacity. The United States 

also focused on refugee and humanitarian worker security issues, the 

protection of refugee women and children, improving UNHCR’s approach to 

durable solutions, management reform, emergency response and camp 

management, and clarifying UNHCR’s role with IDPs.

In addition to the annual Executive Committee meeting, UNHCR

holds three Standing Committee meetings each year. At all meetings and in 

bilateral negotiations with relevant governments, the United States reiterated 

the need for greater information-sharing and transparency in areas of human 

resources, management, and operations. The United States stressed the need 

to support the High Commissioner’s management reforms and called for 

increased donor support for the work of UNHCR.

Domestic and overseas personnel of the State Department’s Bureau of 

Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) worked in concert with UNHCR

field and headquarters staff to ensure UNHCR’s effective and comprehensive 

execution of its mandate. The importance the United States places on refugee 

protection is reflected in its funding of UNHCR through its targeted support 

for the special needs of refugee women and refugee children, a Surge 

Protection project, and additional protection staffing.
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Since 2001, the relationship between State/PRM and UNHCR has 

been governed by a Framework for Cooperation which sets forth priorities and 

shared goals. In 2007, Framework priorities included strengthening 

performance indicators under the Results-Based Management framework and 

decentralization and regionalization reforms intended to support operations 

and beneficiaries in the field and bring decision-making and support as close 

as possible to delivery points. The United States also sought to ensure that 

regionalization and decentralization also incorporate appropriate budgetary 

authority and clear lines of accountability. Other Framework priorities relate 

to staffing policies such as: gender balance, workforce strengthening, and 

improving the representation of Americans in UNHCR’s workforce.

To ensure accountability and effectiveness in the field, State/PRM 

provides annual monitoring and evaluation (M&E) training covering both 

international organizations and NGOs for incoming officers in Washington 

and refugee coordinators posted overseas. PRM also provides expanded M&E 

sessions for Washington staff in order to enhance and strengthen M&E 

concepts throughout the year. In addition, refugee coordinators are requested 

to participate and report on UNHCR’s Country Operations Plans (COPs) for 

the coming year. UNHCR’s COP process provides an ideal opportunity for 

the United States Government to gain valuable insight into UNHCR’s 

planning process as well as the overall direction of its programs. It also 

provides an opportunity to influence policy and resource decisions in the field 

and to monitor and evaluate UNHCR’s progress toward its goals and 

objectives, as well as those agreed to in the PRM-UNHCR Framework for 

Cooperation.

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees 

in the Near East

Since 1950, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees 

in the Near East (UNRWA) has provided education, health, and social services 

to Palestinian refugees and their descendants who reside in the West Bank, 

Gaza, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. In 2007, these refugees numbered over 4.5 

million. UNRWA, led by Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd (United 

States), had a split headquarters between Gaza and Jordan and maintained five 

field offices located in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. It 

had a staff of more than 29,000, most of whom are Palestinian refugees.

In 2007, UNRWA dedicated approximately 55 percent of its regular 

budget to education, including schools and teachers. UNRWA allocated 19 

percent of its 2007 regular budget to health services and another nine percent 

to relief and social services. UNRWA allocated nearly 30 percent of its 

regular budget to Gaza and 18 percent to the West Bank.

In 2007, the United States continued to fund UNRWA’s corps of 

independent inspectors, known as Operation Support Officers (OSO), through 

its contribution to UNRWA's Emergency Appeal for West Bank and Gaza. 
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OSO systematically monitors UNRWA’s operations and help ensure its 

facilities are not being used for political purposes or militant activity.

Also in 2007, UNRWA introduced e-learning to its highly regarded 

tolerance education program, including the creation of a human rights website 

and production of interactive CDs containing human rights material. In 2007, 

all of UNRWA's 684 schools, nine vocational training centers, and three 

educational sciences faculties participated in the tolerance education, conflict 

resolution, and democracy training programs.

UNRWA's Emergency Appeal for Gaza/West Bank went from $171 

million in 2006 to $246.16 million in 2007 in light of the increased needs for 

food, temporary employment, and relief. Through the Emergency Appeal, 

UNRWA provided food assistance to 260,000 refugee families in West Bank 

and Gaza (approximately 1.4 million individuals) and created over 6.4 million 

workdays for 98,000 unemployed refugees.

In 2007, UNRWA's three-year Organizational Development Plan 

(ODP) continued as an initiative to implement reforms in service delivery and 

program management, including strategic planning, resource management, and 

accountability. A specific achievement of the ODP is UNRWA's ongoing 

development of a medium-term strategy for 2010-2015, which focuses on

needs-based planning, while strategically prioritizing UNRWA policy and 

programming in the face of chronic funding shortfalls.

The UN Board of Auditors, Board of Examiners, and the Office of 

Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) scrutinize UNRWA’s operations and fiscal 

practices to ensure accountability. In 2007, UNRWA included for the first 

time external members to its OIOS. In 2006, the UN Board of Auditors 

(BOA) released the results of its UNRWA audit led by the Auditor-General of 

the Republic of South Africa for the biennium ending 2004-2005. UNRWA is 

fully in line with other UN agencies in implementing BOA recommendations.

In Fiscal Year 2007, the United States contributed $154.15 million of 

UNRWA’s total general and emergency budgets of approximately $819.17 

million. This contribution included $90.65 million to UNRWA’s General 

Fund to provide health care, education, and relief and social services to 

Palestinian refugees. It also included $50 million for food, short-term 

employment, and emergency health needs in response to UNRWA’s 

emergency appeal for the West Bank and Gaza, and $13.5 million for food and 

shelter in response to UNRWA's Flash Appeal and Emergency Appeal in 

Lebanon, following the 2007 destruction of Nahr al-Bared Camp due to 

fighting between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the terrorist group Fatah alIslam.

World Food Program

The World Food Program (WFP) is the UN’s front-line agency in the 

fight against global hunger. Despite rising food and fuel costs that added on 

average 50 percent to the cost of feeding the world’s hungry in 2007, WFP 

delivered 3.3 million metric tons of food to 86.1 million beneficiaries, of 
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115

whom 62 percent were children. WFP’s governing body, the Executive Board, 

has 36 members, including the United States. Overall, the United States was

the world’s largest food aid donor, providing half of all food aid 

internationally and approximately $1 billion to the WFP, which represents 

roughly 40 percent of total resources contributed to the WFP.

WFP’s Strategic Plan for 2004–2007 contained the following five 

strategic priorities: to save lives in crisis situations; to protect livelihoods in 

crisis situations and enhance resilience to shocks; to support improved 

nutrition and health for children, mothers, and other vulnerable people; to 

support access to education and reduce gender disparity in access to education 

and skills training; and to help governments establish and manage national 

food-assistance programs. The WFP Executive Board will approve in 2008 a 

new strategic plan for the period 2008-2011.

WFP is an important partner to the United States in achieving our 

humanitarian and development goals. In 2007, WFP carried out programs in 

80 countries, of which the United States was a partner in 47. The bulk of U.S. 

assistance, over $1 billion in 2007 from the U.S. Agency for International 

Development and the State Department, went to emergency and protracted 

relief and recovery food and logistics operations. Sudan was the largest 

single-country operation in 2007, receiving 20 percent of overall WFP 

resources and targeting approximately six million beneficiaries, including 2.5 

million people in Darfur. Kenya and Ethiopia were the second- and thirdlargest beneficiaries, respectively. In addition, WFP launched 44 single 

country and regional emergency operations benefiting 15.3 million victims of 

natural disasters and conflict situations. WFP also implemented 33 special 

operations and 69 protracted relief and recovery operations that reached 47 

million beneficiaries.

In 2007, WFP had school feeding operations in 71 countries and 

provided school meals and/or take-home rations to 19.3 million children. 

Working with national governments, local authorities, and other aid groups, 

WFP uses food to attract children to school in areas where enrollment ratios 

are lowest and where feeding schoolchildren will have the greatest impact. 

Since 2001, the United States has been the largest single donor to WFP school 

feeding activities. U.S. contributions to WFP’s global school feeding 

programs come from the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education 

and Child Nutrition Program, administered by the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture. This program provides for donations of U.S. agricultural

products, as well as financial and technical assistance, for feeding 

schoolchildren and maternal and child nutrition projects in low-income, fooddeficit countries that are committed to universal education. In 2007, WFP was 

the implementing partner for McGovern-Dole programs in Guinea, Cambodia, 

Malawi, Kenya, and Pakistan.

Throughout 2007, WFP continued to focus on ways to become more 

effective, efficient, and responsive through the use of the Immediate Response 

Account and Operational Reserve Account for emergencies. WFP also 
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concentrated on improving fundraising and broadening its donor base. 

Donations from the private sector have increased since 2003, reaching $55 

million in cash, commodities, and services from nearly 100 organizations.

In 2007, WFP significantly increased its work with other UN 

organizations. The UN Children's Fund remained WFP’s largest UN partner, 

primarily in projects to overcome child hunger, reduce the impact of 

HIV/AIDS, and improve education. The UN Food and Agriculture 

Organization was WFP’s second largest partner, primarily collaborating on 

food security assessments. WFP also developed close working relations with 

the World Health Organization (on health, nutrition, and HIV/AIDS) and with 

the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (to ensure the distribution of food

rations for 1.9 million refugees and 800,000 returnees in 30 countries). 

Partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also increased, as 

3,264 NGOs handled half of all WFP food in 2006.

WFP operates exclusively from voluntary contributions of 

commodities and cash donated by governments and other donors. WFP’s

overhead is one of the lowest among aid agencies (seven percent), which 

means that 93 cents of every dollar goes to feed the hungry. In 2007, WFP 

had 9,139 employees (down from 10,587 in 2006) and had approximately $2.9 

billion in direct expenditures.
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Part 3

Specialized Agencies and Other Bodies

Food and Agriculture Organization

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), established in 1945, 

is a UN specialized agency that provides global data, technical expertise, and a 

venue for policy coordination and setting of international standards in 

agriculture and nutrition, fisheries, forestry, and other issues related to food

and agriculture. FAO is the UN system’s largest technical agency, with 

headquarters in Rome. It employs more than 3,600 staff members, about 

1,600 professional and 2,000 general service staff, and maintains five regional 

offices, nine sub-regional offices, five liaison offices, and 74 country offices.

Dr. Jacques Diouf (Senegal) has been Director-General of FAO since 

1994, being re-elected to a third term in January 2006. FAO’s highest policymaking body, the biennial Conference, comprises all 189 FAO member 

nations plus one member organization, the European Community. The 

Conference determines FAO policy and approves FAO’s regular program of 

work and its budget. Each biennial Conference elects a 49-member Council 

that meets at least three times between regular Conference sessions to make

recommendations to the Conference on budget and policy issues. The North 

America region, which comprises the United States and Canada, is allocated 

two seats on the Council and one seat each on FAO’s Program, Finance, and 

Constitutional and Legal Matters Committees. In 2007, the United States held 

the North America seat on the Finance Committee and the Constitutional and 

Legal Matters Committee; Canada held the North America seat on the 

Program Committee. The United States also participates actively in other 

major governing bodies and technical committees.

At the November 2007 FAO Conference, member states passed a 

2008-2009 budget of $939 million, a 21 percent increase over the previous 

biennial budget in U.S. dollar terms. The United States, Canada, Switzerland, 

and Japan voted against the budget, and Australia and Korea abstained. The 

four ―no‖ votes and the two abstentions account for 42 percent of FAO’s 

donor base.

Despite the large budget increase, the United States and other major 

donors managed to secure the adoption of a reform package that included 

acceptance of the recommendations of an independent external evaluation 

(IEE) that began in 2006. Among other issues, the IEE stressed increasing the 

efficient use of scarce resources, improving program effectiveness, dropping 

programs that were not in the core mandate of FAO, and supporting FAO’s 

standards-setting and other normative work. A November 2008 special 

session of the FAO Conference will review progress on reform. Achieving 

fundamental and lasting reforms at the FAO remains a key policy goal of the 

United States in its dealings with the organization.
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Of particular importance to the United States are the internationally 

recognized standards for food safety and plant health developed by the joint 

FAO/World Health Organization (WHO) Codex Alimentarius Commission 

and the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International 

Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The work of these bodies facilitates trade 

and protects consumers in both developed and developing countries. In 2007, 

the United States continued to work with other countries in the FAO policymaking bodies to ensure greater financial support from the overall FAO 

budget for Codex and IPPC.

The United States values FAO's expertise in agricultural commodity 

and trade issues and continued to press in 2007 for more active roles by the 

FAO Committee on Commodity Problems and the Consultative Committee on 

Surplus Disposal. The United States continued to look to FAO as the 

international organization with the membership, the mandate, and the expertise 

to tackle global sustainable forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture problems.

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and 

Agriculture entered into force in June 2004. The United States signed the 

treaty in 2002, but has not yet ratified it. The treaty establishes a transparent 

system to facilitate access to plant genetic resources and to share the benefits.

In 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recognized the 

importance of the FAO Conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies for 

Developing Countries planned for 2008 and made an initial contribution of 

$80,000 towards conference preparations. The conference will provide an 

important stock-taking exercise, looking at the past and current experiences of 

applying biotechnologies in developing countries, to determine where they 

worked or are working, where they don't, and what factors made the 

difference. The U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome, working with the 

U.S. Embassies to Italy and to the Holy See, have proposed a tri-mission joint 

sponsorship of a meeting of a Steering Committee of Experts and a half-day 

seminar to prepare issues for the agenda at the 2008 conference.

The U.S. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza called for 

participation in multilateral mechanisms for rapid response to highly 

pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks. The U.S. Agency for 

International Development (USAID) has provided more than $63 million to 

date, including $38 million in 2007, to FAO for avian influenza control in 

some 20 countries, and for regional and global initiatives. From 2006-2008, 

USDA and USAID accordingly contributed a combined total of $9.4 million to 

FAO to support the establishment and operation of such a multilateral 

mechanism: the Crisis Management Center – Animal Health. In addition, 

FAO attracted approximately $3.5 million in non-U.S. donor funding for the 

Center, which is now established with protocols in place for coordination with 

the Organisation Mondiale de la Sante Animale (World Organization for 

Animal Health, or OIE) and WHO on responses to zoonotic disease outbreaks 

such as HPAI. To date, the Center has conducted 23 assessment or response 

missions in affected countries; 12 of these missions focused on HPAI and 
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several of the missions involved USDA-loaned experts. In 2007, FAO had 

three USDA-loaned specialists assigned to the Center’s core staff in Rome.

International Atomic Energy Agency

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established in 

1957, serves critical U.S. interests in the promotion of peaceful applications of 

nuclear energy, nuclear nonproliferation, safety, counterterrorism, and national 

security. It conducts a broad array of technical cooperation programs to assist 

in the application of nuclear technologies to agriculture, medicine, and 

industry. It provides important guidance to countries seeking to develop the 

infrastructure for the responsible development of nuclear power. Its activities 

in implementing international nuclear safeguards, promoting physical 

protection of nuclear and radiological material, and promoting nuclear safety 

are critical in both supporting the development of these peaceful applications 

and in ensuring against the potentially detrimental effects of such 

development. In 2007, IAEA membership rose to 144 countries. The 35-

member Board of Governors, where the United States holds a de facto

permanent seat, is responsible for directing and overseeing the Agency’s 

policies and program implementation. The Board holds regular meetings in 

Vienna five times a year: March, June, twice in September, and November, 

with additional meetings as needed. The General Conference in September is 

open to all IAEA member states and conducts broad oversight of the IAEA’s 

work by approving the recommendations and decisions of the Board. The 

fourth Director General of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei (Egypt), assumed 

office on December 1, 1997, and was appointed to a third term in September 

2005. ElBaradei’s term will expire December 2009.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Since North Korea (also known as the Democratic People’s Republic 

of Korea or D.P.R.K.) expelled IAEA inspectors in December 2002, and 

announced its withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in January 

2003, the United States has sought a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the 

situation through Six-Party Talks with China, Japan, North Korea, South 

Korea, and Russia. In September 2005, the Six Parties unanimously adopted a 

Joint Statement in which North Korea committed to abandon all nuclear 

weapons and existing programs and to return, at an early date, to the NPT and 

to IAEA safeguards. The other parties agreed to economic cooperation, 

energy assistance, and steps toward normalization of relations, provided that 

matters of bilateral concern were addressed, including human rights and North 

Korea’s missile programs. Under the February 13, 2007 Initial Actions for the 

Implementation of the Joint Statement, North Korea committed in the first 

phase to ―shut down and seal for the purpose of eventual abandonment the 

Yongbyon nuclear facility, including the reprocessing facility, and invite back 

IAEA personnel to conduct all necessary monitoring and verification as agreed 

between the IAEA and the D.P.R.K.‖ North Korea also committed to the 
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120

provision of a ―complete declaration of all nuclear programs and disablement 

of all existing nuclear facilities‖ during the subsequent phase.

IAEA Director General ElBaradei visited Pyongyang March 13-14, 

2007, at the D.P.R.K.’s invitation for preliminary discussions on the IAEA’s 

prospective return to the country. Following the resolution of the Banco Delta 

Asia issue in June, a team of IAEA personnel visited the D.P.R.K. from June 

26-29, 2007. During the visit, the D.P.R.K. and IAEA reached an 

understanding on an ad hoc arrangement to begin monitoring and verification 

at five nuclear facilities that would be shut down and sealed pursuant to the 

Initial Actions agreement: the 5-MW(e) Experimental Nuclear Power Plant, 

the Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Plant, the Radiochemical Laboratory 

(reprocessing plant), and the unfinished 50-MW(e) Nuclear Power Plant, all at 

Yongbyon, as well as the unfinished 200-MW(e) Nuclear Power Plant at 

Taechon. The two unfinished reactors required no shut-down.

Under the arrangement, the IAEA was to be given access, for the 

purpose of monitoring and verification activities, to all the facilities and 

equipment that have been shut down and sealed in the D.P.R.K. In addition, 

the IAEA was to be permitted to install and service, as necessary, appropriate 

containment and surveillance devices to monitor and verify the status of the 

shut down and sealed facilities and equipment. The D.P.R.K. was to inform 

the IAEA in advance of any changes to design or status of facilities and 

equipment, as well as the removal of any equipment, so that consultations 

could take place on the impact such changes might have on the IAEA’s 

monitoring and verification work.

At its July 9, 2007, meeting, the Board of Governors authorized the 

IAEA, subject to the availability of funds, to implement the ad hoc

arrangement. On July 14, 2007, an IAEA team arrived at Yongbyon to 

implement the arrangement. On July 17, 2007, following initial verification, 

the IAEA stated that the five installations specified in the arrangement had 

been shut down. Since July 17, 2007, the IAEA – in cooperation with the 

D.P.R.K. – has continued to monitor and verify the shutdown status of the five 

facilities and has implemented appropriate monitoring and verification 

measures at each of the five facilities. The IAEA also applied seals at each of 

the five facilities. IAEA officials informally expressed satisfaction with the 

level of cooperation provided by the D.P.R.K. in enabling the IAEA to 

properly monitor and verify the shutdown and sealing of the five facilities.

The October 3, 2007, Second-Phase Actions for the Implementation 

of the Joint Statement issued by the Six Parties provided that the disablement 

of the 5 megawatt Experimental Reactor at Yongbyon, the Reprocessing Plant 

at Yongbyon, and the Nuclear Fuel Rod Fabrication Facility at Yongbyon 

would be completed by December 31, 2007. At the request of the other 

parties, the United States led the disablement activities at these three core 

facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear complex and provided the initial funding for 

those activities. Roughly half a dozen U.S. experts have been present 

continuously at Yongbyon since November 4, 2007 to monitor the completion 
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of the 11 agreed-upon disablement measures. The disablement plan was 

shared with all Six Parties and IAEA leadership, but it was not distributed 

more broadly, though all of the agreed disablement activities, including 

photos, have been described in American and international press accounts. 

Due to health, safety, and verification concerns, the Parties agreed that the fuel 

discharge (consisting of approximately 8,000 rods in the reactor core) would 

need to continue even after these other tasks were completed. The October 3 

Second-Phase Actions agreement provided that the United States would begin 

the process of removing the designation of North Korea as a state sponsor of 

terrorism and advance the process of terminating the application to North 

Korea of the Trading with the Enemy Act ―in parallel with the D.P.R.K.'s 

actions based on consensus reached at the meetings of the Working Group on 

Normalization of D.P.R.K.-U.S. Relations.‖

While disablement activities continued to proceed, as of December 

31, 2007, North Korea had not yet provided a complete and correct declaration 

of its nuclear program. The United States has been working with the other 

parties to press North Korea to submit its declaration to the Chinese chair as 

soon as possible. The declaration must be subject to a rigorous verification 

regime.

The United States continues to emphasize U.S. support for an 

appropriate role for the IAEA in all stages of implementation of North Korean

denuclearization and the country’s early return to the NPT and IAEA 

safeguards as contemplated in the September 19, 2005, Joint Statement, 

including verification of the D.P.R.K.’s declaration.

Iran

Throughout 2007, the United States and its allies were actively 

engaged in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to pressure Iran

to comply with its United Nations Security Council, Non-Proliferation Treaty, 

and IAEA safeguards obligations.

During the March 5-9, 2007 meeting of the IAEA Board of 

Governors, the Board considered two reports provided by Director General 

ElBaradei. The first reflected his recommendations as to how to best 

implement the provisions suspending IAEA technical cooperation and limiting 

overall IAEA technical assistance per the provisions of Resolution 1737. The 

second contained his assessment of Iran’s compliance with Resolution 1737 

(adopted in December 2006) and its provisions mandating full cooperation 

with the IAEA and suspension of all uranium enrichment-related, 

reprocessing, and heavy water-related activities. ElBaradei underscored the 

existence of several outstanding issues regarding the IAEA’s understanding of 

Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s failure to comply with its suspension 

requirement. The Board concurred with Director General ElBaradei’s 

recommendations in the first report and took note of the second.

On 23 May 2007, ElBaradei released a report to the IAEA Board of 

Governors and the Security Council (as requested in Resolution 1747, adopted 
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March 2007) detailing Iran’s failure to comply once again with its Security 

Council-imposed suspension requirement or to provide full cooperation to the 

IAEA. The Director General also noted Iran’s decision, following the 

adoption of Security Council Resolution 1747 on March 24, 2007, to suspend 

the implementation of Code 3.1 of the Subsidiary Arrangement to its 

Safeguards Agreement, which required the early provision of design 

information for new nuclear facilities or the decision to modify existing ones. 

Finally, the Director General noted Iran’s refusal to accept Design Information 

Verification inspections at the Arak Heavy Water Research Reactor (HWRR), 

pursuant to that decision. The IAEA Board met the week of June 11, 2007 to 

discuss the implementation of safeguards in Iran, and many Board members 

expressed serious concern with Iran’s noncompliance with Resolutions 1737 

and 1747 and decision to scale back its cooperation with the IAEA.

On June 22, 2007, the IAEA and Iran announced their intention to 

develop a ―Plan of Action‖ to address all outstanding IAEA issues. The IAEA 

and Iran proceeded to negotiate the ―Plan‖ during July and August, concluding 

with an agreement on the modalities of this cooperation on August 21. On 

August 27, 2007, the IAEA and Iran released a document entitled: 

―Understandings of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA on the 

Modalities of Resolution of the Outstanding Issues.‖ This agreement, 

commonly referred to as the Work Plan, established the manner and sequence 

in which Iran and the IAEA Secretariat committed to resolve all outstanding 

verification issues with Iran’s nuclear program.

On August 30, the Director General released his report to the Board 

on the implementation of safeguards since May 23, 2007. In it, he noted that 

Iran was continuing to install and operate centrifuges at Natanz, as well as to 

construct the Arak HWRR. The Director General also relayed additional 

details on the Work Plan and its implementation to date.

On November 15, the Director General released another report to the 

Board on the Implementation of IAEA Safeguards in Iran, as well as 

Resolutions 1737 and 1747 and the IAEA-Iran Work Plan. The report 

described Iran’s cooperation under the Work Plan thus far, which was limited. 

The report indicated further that while Iran continued to refuse to acknowledge 

its continuing obligations under Code 3.1 of the Subsidiary Arrangement to its 

Safeguards Agreement, a Design Information Verification visit to the Arak 

reactor had taken place as requested. At the Board of Governors meeting on 

November 22-23, several IAEA member states urged Iran to cooperate fully 

with the IAEA and to comply with its suspension obligations as established in 

Resolutions 1737 and 1747.

Promotion of the Benefits of Nuclear Energy

The United States strongly supported the efforts of IAEA’s Technical 

Cooperation (TC) Program to help member states use nuclear technologies to 

pursue sustainable development, while ensuring that all nuclear activity is safe, 

secure, and does not contribute to proliferation. In 2007, the United States 

contributed over $19 million to the TC Fund and provided over $4 million in 
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other cash and in-kind contributions. One example of using such technical 

cooperation to benefit human development was the design and application of 

the sterile insect technique (SIT) to eliminate the scourge of the tsetse fly in 

Ethiopia and other African member states. The United States provided the TC 

Program with the services of a cost-free expert with extensive experience in 

the technical and managerial aspects of large-scale SIT efforts. The United 

States expects that such efforts could lead eventually to the complete 

eradication of the tsetse fly from Africa.

Since 2006, the IAEA has taken on an increasing role in assisting

developing countries interested in pursuing nuclear power to do so in a safe, 

secure manner. The role of the IAEA in this area was highlighted in General 

Conference resolutions in 2006 and 2007. In September 2007, the IAEA 

published a guidance document entitled ―Milestones in the Development of a 

National Infrastructure for Nuclear Power,‖ building on an earlier Board 

document called ―Considerations to Launch a Nuclear Power Program.‖ The 

IAEA is currently in the process of producing an assessment tool to help states 

determine their infrastructure development needs, developing a program to 

help states meet those needs, and conducting other infrastructure developmentrelated activities. The United States has been a strong supporter of IAEA 

activities in infrastructure development, viewing this as an important means of 

responding to the desires of developing countries to pursue nuclear power 

while helping them understand and overcome the inherent challenges in 

running a nuclear power program. The United States has also made significant 

financial contributions to the IAEA’s infrastructure development activities. 

Secretary of Energy Bodman pledged $1,000,000 in support in 2007.

Assurance of Supply of Nuclear Fuel

An international mechanism for reliable access to nuclear reactor fuel 

can be an important incentive for countries considering nuclear energy to rely 

on international markets for nuclear reactor fuel rather than pursuing 

indigenous sensitive fuel cycle activities. At the United States’ initiative, six 

nations that supply enriched uranium to the international market (France, 

Germany, The Netherlands, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United 

States) provided to the IAEA on May 31, 2006, a Concept for a Multilateral 

Mechanism for Reliable Access to Nuclear Fuel. This and other mutually 

compatible proposals were considered at a September 2006 special event at the 

IAEA on Assurances of Supply and Assurances of Nonproliferation.

On June 13, 2007, the IAEA Secretary-General provided a report to 

the Board on a Possible New Framework for the Utilization of Nuclear 

Energy: Options for Assurance of Supply of Nuclear Fuel. The DirectorGeneral’s report outlined the evolution of proposals that have been put 

forward for assuring the supply of nuclear fuel, and suggested a possible 

framework based on common themes. Following up on the Director-General’s 

report, the United States is working closely with other supplier states and with 

states which are potential beneficiaries of fuel-supply assurances to develop an 

international mechanism at the IAEA for reliable access to nuclear fuel.
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Safeguards

The United States believes it is important that all NPT non-nuclear 

weapon states adopt the stronger safeguards provisions included in the 

Additional Protocol. At the end of December 2007, 116 states had signed the 

Additional Protocol, and 86 had ratified and brought it into force. During the 

year, the G-8 (comprised of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, 

the United Kingdom, and the United States, with participation of the European 

Union) continued a diplomatic effort begun during the U.S. presidency in 2004 

to encourage all states that had not yet done so to sign and ratify safeguards

agreements and additional protocols.

To demonstrate U.S. leadership on safeguards, the United States 

worked steadily to prepare for ratification and entry into force of the U.S. 

Additional Protocol.

Nuclear Security and Safety

In 2007, the IAEA continued to provide guidance, technical support, 

and training programs in the prevention of nuclear terrorism. The United 

States was a primary supporter of IAEA training programs in physical 

protection and nuclear security, having developed the training curricula and 

presented the courses and workshops on behalf of the Agency in eight training 

events in eight countries.

Under the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Action Plan, the Agency 

accelerated its activities to prevent, detect, and respond to illicit activities 

involving nuclear and other radiological materials and facilities. With U.S. 

encouragement, the IAEA began to develop Integrated Nuclear Security 

Support Plans with individual states. The plans provide an important tool for 

improved coordination with bilateral donor-state programs.

The IAEA also further developed its new and more encompassing 

International Nuclear Security Advisory Service (INSServ) to help states 

evaluate and strengthen their overall nuclear security posture to include 

radioactive sources and border controls. The IAEA Board of Governors made 

substantial strides in the security of radioactive sources when it approved the 

revised Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources 

(Code) in September 2003 and supplemental Guidance on the Export and 

Import of Radioactive Sources (Guidance) in September 2004. The United 

States took a leadership role in promoting the Code and Guidance as global 

benchmarks for controlling sources throughout their life cycle. By the end of 

2007, over 90 member states had written to the IAEA Director General 

expressing their support for the Code. The United States continued its 

longstanding support of the IAEA’s Model Project, which promotes the 

development of domestic infrastructures for the long-term management of 

radioactive sources, and other efforts through the Nuclear Security Action Plan 

to consolidate and protect vulnerable and orphan sources.

As a result of a joint U.S.-IAEA initiative in 2004, the Agency’s 

appraisal tool for assessing the ability of states to manage radioactive sources 
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was enhanced to incorporate security as well as safety, in the Radioactive 

Source Safety and Security Infrastructure Appraisal (RaSSia).

In May 2004, the U.S. Secretary of Energy announced an ambitious 

new Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) to identify, secure, recover, 

and/or facilitate the disposition of high-risk, vulnerable nuclear and 

radiological materials around the world that pose a threat to the United States 

and the international community. Since its inception, the GTRI has worked in 

coordination with the IAEA to accelerate removal of high-risk, vulnerable 

nuclear materials around the world, speed up the global conversion of research 

reactor fuel from high-enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium, accelerate 

the securing or removal of vulnerable radiological materials worldwide, and 

address security ―gaps‖ for nuclear and radiological material not yet covered 

by existing threat reduction programs.

The United States also continued to play a key role in the multi-year 

effort to amend the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. 

On July 8, 2005, a diplomatic conference of states parties adopted an 

amendment to the Convention. Among other provisions, the amendment 

extended the scope of the physical protection obligations in the unamended 

Convention by requiring each state party to the amended Convention to 

establish, implement, and maintain an appropriate physical protection regime 

applicable to nuclear material and nuclear facilities used for peaceful purposes 

under its jurisdiction. The amendment also extended the scope of cooperation 

among states parties on physical protection matters and included new criminal 

offenses in the criminal regime established by the unamended Convention.

Finally, the IAEA continued its leadership role in strengthening 

international nuclear safety practices and standards. The IAEA Department of 

Nuclear Safety and Security formulated and implemented the IAEA’s program 

on nuclear safety to fulfill statutory requirements, in cooperation with other 

departments within the IAEA, including the Department of Technical 

Cooperation. As is the case with other IAEA programs, the United States was 

an active participant in and supporter of efforts to enhance nuclear safety in all 

member states. During 2007, the United States allocated funds for priority 

nuclear safety-related projects. These projects included upgrading the 

Regulatory Authority Information System, which addresses member states’ 

need for a radioactive source inventory management system, and the continued 

work of the IAEA International Expert Group on Nuclear Liability.

The United States continued to support the development of a robust 

international response system for radiological emergencies, notably the 

establishment of the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Center (IEC). The IEC 

provides a notification system for two conventions: the Convention on Early 

Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the 

Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency.
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20/20 Initiative

IAEA Director-General ElBaradei initiated a study in 2007 on the 

nature and scope of the Agency’s program over the next decade and resources 

required to sustain that program looking at the year 2020. To assist in this 

work, the Director-General set up a high-level panel of experts (Commission 

of Eminent Persons), to be led by former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo

and including former U.S. Senator Samuel Nunn. The Secretariat is expected 

to release a background report in early 2008 for the Commission’s 

consideration, and the Commission is expected to release its own report and 

recommendations in May 2008 for IAEA member states’ consideration.

International Civil Aviation Organization

Established in 1944 and designated a UN specialized technical 

agency in 1947, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 

promotes international cooperation for the safe and orderly growth of 

international civil aviation with the objectives of security, safety, and 

environmental protection. Today’s air transport industry includes nearly 900 

scheduled air carriers worldwide operating about 21,500 aircraft. The United 

States has a vital interest in keeping civil aviation secure, safe, and efficient. 

ICAO is instrumental in achieving these objectives. It sets international 

standards and recommended practices for civil aviation, and offers technical 

assistance to enhance aviation safety and security worldwide. The United 

States strongly supports the work of ICAO.

ICAO had 190 members in 2007. The United States has been elected 

to ICAO's governing Council every third year since the organization was 

founded. The most recent Council election took place during the triennial 

Assembly in September 2007. Dr. Taïeb Chérif (Algeria) has served as 

Secretary-General since 2003 and was re-elected in 2006 to a second threeyear term, which expires July 2009. Roberto Kobeh (Mexico) was elected 

President of the Council of ICAO in February 2006 and took office in August 

2006, following the retirement of Assad Kotaite, who had served as Council 

President since 1976. The next triennial ICAO Assembly will be held in 

September 2010.

A primary U.S. objective is to improve ICAO’s ability to coordinate 

technical assistance from donors to developing states, focusing on safety and

security deficiencies, in addition to ICAO’s role setting standards for civil 

aviation.

In 2007, ICAO gave civil aviation security substantial focus. ICAO 

continued implementation of its Aviation Security Plan of Action, originally 

adopted following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Council 

committed ICAO to funding Security Plan implementation from ICAO's 

regular budget, rather than rely on voluntary contributions. It also requested 

greater transparency and sharing among contracting states of data obtained 

from audits performed under the ICAO Universal Security Audit Program. In 

2007 ICAO continued the cycles of security audits begun in 2002.
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The United States actively participated in an ICAO legal 

subcommittee that produced draft amendments to The Hague and Montreal 

aviation counter-terrorism conventions to address new and emerging threats to 

civil aviation, such as the use of civil aircraft as weapons or the release of 

biological, chemical, or nuclear substances from or within an aircraft.

ICAO is shifting its focus from developing new standards to assisting 

member states with implementation of existing standards and from detailed 

technical specifications to performance-based standards. The Assembly 

endorsed a comprehensive safety plan for Africa. The Assembly also 

endorsed the substance of a U.S. proposal on a risk-based, continuous 

monitoring approach for the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program 

(USOAP) after 2010. ICAO carried out 41 USOAP audits in 2007, including 

the assessment of the U.S. national aviation system. ICAO developed 

guidance material for implementing performance-based navigation, a new 

system that will improve safety and efficiency and also have environmental 

benefits. The Assembly passed a resolution urging states to adopt the 

guidance material as quickly as possible.

On environmental issues, the Council established a high-level group 

at the Assembly’s request -- the Group on International Aviation and Climate 

Change (GIACC) -- to develop a comprehensive plan on international aviation 

and climate change. The GIACC plan will include a framework to achieve 

emissions reductions through voluntary measures, technological advances, 

operational measures, positive economic incentives, and market-based 

measures. The GIACC will consider possible establishment of a global 

aspirational goal for energy efficiency in the aviation sector. A majority of 

states at the Assembly supported implementation of greenhouse gas charges or 

emission trading schemes only on the basis of mutual consent. How to best 

address aviation greenhouse gas emissions will remain an important and 

contentious debate in ICAO.

During 2007 ICAO undertook important management reform

initiatives, including adoption of a maximum of two three-year terms for the 

Council President, an important U.S. priority. (The Council limited the 

Secretary General to two three-year terms in 2006.) The Assembly also 

requested the Council to consider changing the term of the external auditor 

from three years to six years, as the United States had suggested. The 

Assembly adopted ICAO’s first results-based budget, which reallocated

resources from administrative overhead to the strategic objectives of safety 

and security. Less critical activities would be placed in a new Ancillary 

Revenue Generating Fund and would continue only on a cost-recovery, breakeven basis. This triennial budget (2008-2010) of Canadian $245.5 million 

projected elimination of 111 posts (recently estimated to result in actual 

termination of about 30 employees after attrition and reassignment). The 

Assembly directed the Council to consider a split assessment, i.e., collection of 

assessments in Canadian and U.S. dollars, a change the United States strongly 
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supported, to minimize exchange rate risk by collecting currencies roughly in 

the proportion that the Organization expends them.

International Health Organizations

International Agency for Research on Cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a 

subsidiary body of the World Health Organization (WHO), is a leading cancer 

research institute that monitors global cancer occurrence, identifies causes of 

cancer, and develops scientific strategies for cancer control. The IARC 

Governing Council, with 19 member states, including Ireland which became a 

new member in 2007, met at IARC headquarters in Lyon, France, on May 10-

11, 2007. The Governing Council discussed IARC’s program of work in 

cancer prevention and its various collaborative research efforts and took action 

on various administrative issues. Dr. Peter Boyle (United Kingdom), a cancer 

epidemiologist and biostatistician, continued his fourth year as IARC Director.

U.S. regular budget contributions to IARC (based on a 9.88 percent 

assessment) were $1.84 million in 2007. The U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services provided voluntary contributions. IARC had a total staff of 

166, of which 57 were professional posts; of those, 6 or 10.5 percent were held 

by U.S. citizens.

Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS

The Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) began formal 

operations in 1996. UNAIDS is comprised of a Geneva-based Secretariat and 

10 co-sponsoring bodies: the World Health Organization, the UN

Development Program, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the UN 

Children’s Fund, the UN Population Fund, the UN Educational, Scientific, and 

Cultural Organization, the International Labor Organization, the World Food 

Program, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the World Bank. 

UNAIDS also has a cooperation agreement with the Food and Agriculture 

Organization. UNAIDS has a field-based staff and works directly in 75 

countries, dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic primarily through countrycoordination theme groups that seek to mobilize all sectors to address AIDS. 

Dr. Peter Piot (Belgium) has been the Executive Director of UNAIDS since its 

inception. His current term will expire in December 2008.

UNAIDS’ governing body is the Program Coordinating Board (PCB), 

which meets three to four times per biennium. The PCB oversees UNAIDS’ 

all-voluntary budget and acts on issues concerning policy, strategy, finance, 

monitoring, and evaluation. The PCB is comprised of 22 member states, 

distributed by region and elected from among the member states of the 

cosponsoring organizations; six representatives from the cosponsoring 

organizations; and five representatives from nongovernmental organizations 

(NGOs), including three from developing countries and two from developed 

countries. Representatives from the UNAIDS cosponsoring organizations and 

NGOs serving on the PCB have the right to participate fully in PCB 
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deliberations, but do not have the right to vote. The PCB seeks to operate by 

consensus whenever possible. Member states are elected by the UN Economic 

and Social Council (ECOSOC) for three-year terms, but can choose to cede a 

portion of their term to another member state, subject to ECOSOC approval. 

The United States was re-elected to the PCB in 2007 and will serve through 

2010. The United States was also elected to the position of PCB Vice-Chair in 

2007 and, per UNAIDS tradition, will become Chair of the PCB in 2008.

The PCB met twice in 2007 (June 25-27 and December 17-18). The 

PCB approved a core program and budget for the 2008-2009 financial period 

of $469 million and agreed to focus UNAIDS’ resources on supporting 

country-driven efforts to scale up towards universal access to comprehensive 

prevention programs, treatment, care, and support by 2010; mobilizing 

political and financial support for the global effort to fight HIV/AIDS; and 

combating stigma, discrimination, and gender inequities. Through active 

participation in the PCB meetings and diligent intercessional work with the 

UNAIDS Secretariat and PCB members, the United States successfully 

ensured that PCB decisions endorsed the need for the international response to 

HIV/AIDS to remain country-driven and emphasized the key role of the UN 

system in advocating for development of national strategies through inclusive, 

transparent processes and in providing technical support to countries in key 

areas such as monitoring and evaluation. The United States also supported 

UNAIDS’ efforts to shift from an emergency response paradigm to ensuring a 

sustained response to the AIDS pandemic.

In 2007, the UNAIDS PCB continued to consider ways to enhance 

the meaningful participation of civil society representatives in the PCB 

meetings and in UNAIDS’ work more broadly. The United States backed a 

PCB decision that affirmed the essential role of NGOs in PCB discussions 

without fundamentally altering the formal decision-making processes used 

across the UN system. The PCB also agreed to initiate an independent 

evaluation of the functioning of UNAIDS, to be completed by June 2009. The 

evaluation is a major opportunity to refocus the work of the Joint Program in 

light of the evolving epidemiological and development landscape. Another 

important PCB decision in 2007 concerned the UN system’s provision of 

technical support to countries. There is widespread recognition that 

developing countries need technical support on system strengthening and 

administration, as well as clinical expertise. In 2005, UNAIDS established the 

Global Joint Implementation Support Team (GIST) to coordinate multilateral 

technical support. The United States joined the GIST in 2006 and continued to 

support its work in 2007. In 2007, the PCB determined that the GIST should 

focus solely on coordinating technical support provided by others to ensure 

consistency of guidance and avoid duplication of donor efforts, rather than 

providing direct technical support to countries. The effects of this change in 

mandate will be analyzed at the 23rd meeting of the PCB in December 2008.

The United States worked closely with UNAIDS during 2007 to 

highlight the importance of voluntary HIV testing and counseling and to 
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support national testing day initiatives. In an excellent example of the Joint 

Program in action, experts from the UNAIDS Secretariat and World Health

Organization worked with U.S. Government staff to develop a tool kit of best 

practices and assessment tools that countries could use in implementing the 

UN General Assembly decision calling for voluntary counseling and testing 

events. Throughout 2007, members of this multi-agency team of experts 

helped countries implement national HIV counseling and testing events. As 

one example of the team’s success, Malawi set a target of testing 130,000 

people during its national testing week campaign and by the end of the event 

more than 186,000 people chose to be tested. Events such as this one

successfully raised AIDS awareness, reduced stigma and, most importantly, 

helped individuals and couples learn their HIV status and take control of their 

personal responses to HIV/AIDS.

The UNAIDS core budget for 2006-2007 was $406.7 million, 

comprised completely of voluntary contributions. The United States continued 

to be among the major donors to UNAIDS and provided approximately 20 

percent ($29.7 million) to UNAIDS’ 2007 core budget. The United States 

provided an additional $4.5 million in 2007 to support UNAIDS’ technical 

support facilities and $158,000 for UNAIDS staff support.

In 2007, American citizens held four Director-level positions in the 

UNAIDS Secretariat: Director of the Department of Evidence, Monitoring 

and Policy; Director of the Department of Resource Management; Director of 

the Washington, D.C., Liaison Office; and Director of the Global Coalition of 

Women and AIDS.

Pan American Health Organization

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), established in 1902 

as the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, is the world’s oldest intergovernmental 

health organization. The Pan American Sanitary Conference of PAHO 

convened at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., on October 1-5, 2007. U.S. 

officials, including U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O. 

Leavitt, participated in that meeting, as well as in meetings of the 

Subcommittee on Planning and Programming in March and the PAHO 

Executive Committee in June.

The Director of PAHO, Dr. Mirta Roses (Argentina), who took office 

in February 2003, continued to focus on the priorities of creating greater health 

equity for the poor, forging new alliances and strengthening regional 

solidarity, tackling the emerging health challenges in the Americas, and 

advocating for continued improvements in the region’s health systems.

PAHO’s strategies and work with countries of the Americas in 2007 

focused on the importance of achieving the health-related development goals 

of the Millennium Declaration, such as reducing child mortality, improving 

maternal health, strengthening preparedness for and response to disasters, 

increasing access to safe drinking water, improving immunization coverage, 

and controlling HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
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The Pan American Sanitary Conference discussed and adopted 

resolutions on pressing health issues: avian and pandemic flu preparedness, 

malaria, a regional action plan on human resources for health, dengue 

prevention and control, elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome 

in the Americas, strengthening health statistics, immunizations, maternal and 

child health, and patient safety. The Conference also discussed PAHO’s 

Strategic Plan 2008-2012, and the Program Budget for 2008-2009. 

Representatives of PAHO’s 38 member states participated, mostly at the 

ministerial level. A new Subcommittee on Program, Budget, and 

Administration, as approved by the 2006 Directing Council, met for the first 

time in 2007 and considered a range of budget, management, and 

administrative issues.

The United States pays over 59 percent of the PAHO budget with a 

scale of assessments that is based on that of the Organization of America 

States, adjusted for membership. The United States provided $57 million to 

the PAHO regular assessed budget in 2007, as well as voluntary contributions 

of approximately $16.5 million. In 2007, PAHO had a total staff of 1,618, of 

which 516 were professional posts. U.S. citizens filled 76, or 14.7 percent, of 

the professional posts.

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO), based in Geneva, 

Switzerland, was established in 1948 with the objective of ―the attainment by 

all peoples of the highest possible level of health.‖ In 2007, WHO worked in 

close partnership with its 193 member states, two associate members, many 

international organizations, more than 180 nongovernmental organizations, 

and nearly 1,200 leading health-related institutions around the world 

designated as ―WHO collaborating centers.‖ WHO representatives in 142 

countries worked with health ministries as advisors and managers of technical 

cooperation programs.

During 2007, U.S. representatives participated in meetings of the 

World Health Assembly; the WHO Executive Board; Regional Committees 

for the Americas, the Western Pacific, and Africa; and the Governing Council 

of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. U.S. officials also 

participated in meetings of the management committees of WHO’s major 

voluntarily-funded programs, the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public 

Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property, and the Intergovernmental 

Meeting on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness.

Dr. Margaret Chan (Hong Kong) assumed the leadership of WHO on 

January 4, 2007, following her election in November 2006 as WHO DirectorGeneral for a term of office of 5.5 years. Dr. Chan’s extraordinary election 

took place due to the death of former Director-General Dr. Jong-Wook Lee

(South Korea) in May 2006. Dr. Chan was one of 13 candidates nominated, 

and on November 9, 2006, an extraordinary World Health Assembly convened 

to elect her formally. In an address to staff on her first day in office, Dr. Chan 
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gave highest priority to improving the health of women and the health of 

people in Africa. She also emphasized the importance of the entry into force 

of International Health Regulations (IHRs) and WHO’s actions in support of 

the IHRs. Such actions are proactive risk management measures that aim to 

stop serious disease outbreaks or other public health events at the source, 

before they can become an international threat.

The IHRs entered into force in June 2007. All WHO member states 

agreed to become States Parties to the IHRs, which have the force of 

international law. During 2007, WHO and the States Parties began the work 

of implementation, including surveillance and reporting of incidents to the 

WHO and developing the core capacities necessary for full compliance with 

the IHRs. The United States brought its procedures for notification of 

potential public health emergencies of international concern into alignment 

with the requirements of the IHRs. The IHRs establish an international legal 

framework for States Parties to notify the WHO and respond to a public health 

emergency of international concern. The IHRs obligate States Parties to 

strengthen their ability to detect, respond to, reduce or eliminate the spread of 

public health emergencies, and to report in a timely way to WHO. The IHRs 

also authorize the WHO Director-General to issue non-binding 

recommendations on measures that affected States Parties should take, 

including, if necessary, restrictions on travel and commerce to and from 

affected areas. During 2007, the WHO Secretariat noted it was taking steps to 

accelerate IHR implementation to be able to provide immediate assistance to 

affected countries on effective control measures, laboratory support, and 

outbreak communications.

The 2007 World Health Assembly also addressed a number of issues 

important to the United States. Principal among them was the adoption of a 

resolution on pandemic influenza preparedness that focused on the sharing of 

influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits. A drafting group 

met 13 times over the course of the Assembly to reach agreement on a 

consensus resolution. The key disagreement related to how to address the 

demands of Indonesia to promote mechanisms for sharing benefits that arise 

from the provision of viruses by countries to the WHO Global Influenza 

Surveillance Network (GISN), as well as fundamental changes to the network, 

such as the requirement for prior informed consent before viruses could pass to 

public or private sector entities for research or commercial purposes. The 

United States and other like-minded countries sought to improve access to 

vaccines for developing countries while preserving the GISN and reaffirming 

the importance of unencumbered sharing of viruses within the network. The 

consensus resolution called on the Director-General to organize an 

interdisciplinary working group to revise the terms of reference of laboratories 

associated with the GISN. In addition, the resolution instructed WHO to 

develop mechanisms for benefit-sharing, to develop a pandemic vaccine 

stockpile, to commission an expert report on patent issues related to influenza 

viruses, and to convene an intergovernmental meeting to consider the work 

being done by WHO and that of the interdisciplinary working group. While 
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the resolution was adopted by consensus, the United States issued an 

Explanation of Position that reaffirmed the U.S. view that governments have 

an obligation to share viruses, that under the International Health Regulations 

withholding viruses constitutes a threat to global health, and that vaccine 

development is a critical part of response activities.

The Assembly reached agreement on a resolution on public health, 

innovation, and intellectual property, with the United States disassociating 

from the resolution due to language that sought to dictate the outcome to the 

WHO Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation, and 

Intellectual Property, set up in 2006 to draw up a global strategy and plan of 

action to provide a medium-term framework based on the recommendations of 

the 2006 Report of the Commission on Innovation, Public Health and 

Intellectual Property. The IGWG convened several times during 2007. The 

United States sought a pragmatic focus on research and development into 

needs-driven essential health research rather than compulsory licenses and 

other issues relating to patents.

The World Health Assembly also adopted a resolution on smallpox. 

It called for a major review in 2010 of progress on research on the variola 

virus for better vaccines, anti-viral drugs, and other diagnostics at the two 

official repositories in the Russian Federation and the United States before the 

World Health Assembly in 2011 considers whether to seek a consensus 

decision to set a destruction date of the official virus stocks. With this 

resolution South Africa and several other African countries dropped their 

earlier calls for the immediate destruction of the authorized smallpox stocks 

held at the official repositories.

The Assembly also considered a variety of substantive topics such as 

the progress on polio eradication, malaria, tuberculosis, prevention and control 

of non-communicable diseases, maternal and newborn and child health, health 

systems, rational use of medicines, and health technologies.

The Assembly rejected a proposal by several countries with 

diplomatic relations with Taiwan for granting membership to Taiwan. There 

was a limited debate on the proposal, with the Assembly president allowing no 

more than two countries to speak in favor of the proposal and two countries to 

speak against. Following an objection from Belize against closure of the 

debate, the issue of whether to close the debate and delete an agenda item on 

―Admission of New Members‖ was put the vote. The vote was 148 (U.S.) in 

favor, 17 against, and 2 abstentions.

Once again, the Assembly took up the long-standing agenda item on 

―Health conditions of, and assistance to, the Arab population in the occupied 

Arab territories, including Palestine.‖ The draft resolution proposed by a 

number of Arab states was extremely unbalanced in its references to Israel. 

The United States requested a roll-call vote; the resolution was adopted, with 

the United States and seven other countries voting against it, and a number of 

abstentions and absences. The United States emphasized the humanitarian and 
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medical assistance going to the Palestinian people and opposed the use of the 

Assembly as a political forum.

The Assembly adopted by consensus the 2008-2009 WHO budget. It 

totaled $4.2 billion, a nearly $1 billion increase from the $3.3 billion approved 

for 2006-2007. The Assembly also adopted the six-year Medium-Term 

Strategic Plan, which is subject to review every two years. The United States 

expressed strong support for the budget and the Medium-Term Strategic Plan 

as part of WHO’s results-based management framework. The total WHO 

budget for 2008-2009 is $4,227,480,000. This amount includes $928,840,000 

in the regular assessed budget (a four percent increase), $3,268,640,000 in 

anticipated extra-budgetary income, and $30,000,000 in estimated 

miscellaneous income. The Program, Budget, and Administration Committee 

also met prior to the Assembly and considered in depth management and 

reform issues, results-based management initiatives, and the development of 

the Global Management System, an integrated program-management and 

administration system. The Assembly also considered reports from the 

external and internal auditors and human resources.

In 2007, the United States provided $101.4 million (22 percent) to the 

WHO regular assessed budget, as well as approximately $166.7 million in 

voluntary contributions.

Within the WHO staff, there were more American citizens in 

professional posts than citizens of any other country. During 2007, U.S. 

citizens held the senior posts of Assistant Director-General for Health 

Technologies and Pharmaceuticals, Assistant Director-General for 

Communicable Diseases, Assistant Legal Counsel, Director of Internal Audit 

and Oversight, and Director of Security and Staff Services. In 2007, the WHO 

had 1,745 posts subject to geographic distribution; of those, U.S. citizens held 

152 posts, or 8.7 percent. The total WHO staff on long-term appointments 

was 5,253. In addition, the WHO employs 2,779 individuals on short-term 

contracts.

International Labor Organization

The International Labor Organization (ILO), founded in 1919, 

promotes humane labor conditions. The organization’s core mission is to 

foster respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, such as freedom 

of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective 

bargaining, prohibitions on forced labor and child labor, and nondiscrimination in employment. It also seeks to assist states to create greater 

employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen social 

dialogue among governments, employers, and workers, with the goal of 

contributing to poverty alleviation and increased social stability around the 

world.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the ILO has 182 member 

states. Juan Somavia (Chile) was elected Director-General of the ILO in 1999 

and re-elected to a second five-year term that began in March 2004. 
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Representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations participate as part 

of each national delegation at the Governing Body, the ILO’s executive board, 

and at the annual International Labor Conference (ILC). This tripartite 

structure is unique to the ILO. As one of the 10 countries of ―chief industrial 

importance,‖ the United States has a permanent government seat on the ILO’s 

56-member Governing Body. In addition, the AFL-CIO represents U.S. 

workers and the New York-based U.S. Council for International Business 

represents U.S. employers in the Governing Body. These representatives 

speak and vote independently of the U.S. Government.

In 2007, the ILO advanced U.S. policy priorities for universal human 

rights and economic growth and development. The ILO also helped to 

advance U.S. interests in the key areas of fundamental principles and rights at

work, eradication of forced labor and child labor, education on HIV/AIDS in 

the workplace, and technical assistance in Afghanistan, China, Africa, Latin 

America, and the Middle East.

Also in 2007, the ILO continued to focus international attention on 

forced labor in Burma, which a 1998 ILO Commission of Inquiry found to be 

widespread and systematic. The ILO also cited major offenders of labor 

rights, which supports U.S. efforts to further democratic changes and promote 

human rights.

The ILO plays a key role in combating exploitative child labor 

worldwide, a U.S. priority. The year 2007 marked the 15th year of operation 

for the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC), the 

largest technical cooperation program in the ILO. In 2007, IPEC removed or 

prevented nearly 130,000 children from exploitative work through the 

provision of educational and training opportunities in ongoing projects funded 

by the U.S. Department of Labor. From 1995 to 2007, the Department of 

Labor provided close to $300 million to ILO/IPEC to remove or prevent some 

740,000 children from the worst forms of child labor in 79 countries.

The ILO provided advice and/or technical assistance to constituents 

in areas including labor law reform, modernization of labor ministries, skills 

training and development, entrepreneurship training, and HIV/AIDS in the 

workplace. The ILO has been particularly helpful in the negotiation and 

implementation of labor clauses in free trade agreements signed by the United 

States by providing expert analysis of labor law and practice and 

implementing programs to build the capacity of tripartite partners in the labor 

area.

International Maritime Organization

The mission of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is to 

foster international cooperation to promote maritime safety, security, and the 

protection of the marine environment. International trade is critical to the U.S. 

economy, and shipping carries nearly 90 percent of the world's trade. The 

United States strongly supports IMO's work. The IMO develops conventions 

and treaties on international shipping, facilitates international maritime trade, 
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and provides technical assistance in maritime matters to developing countries. 

The IMO also develops standards and practices to protect against oil spills and 

pollution from hazardous and noxious cargo, ship waste, ballast water, and 

emissions.

The United States has been elected to the IMO's 40-member 

Governing Council every two years since the organization was founded in 

1948. Efthimios Mitropoulos (Greece) is the Secretary-General of the IMO. 

He served an initial four-year term (2004-2007), and in November 2006 the 

Council approved him for a second four-year term. The IMO has 167 full 

IMO members and three associate members (Hong Kong, Macao, and the 

Faroe Islands).

The IMO supports U.S. interests by enhancing maritime safety, 

security, and environmental protection. Significantly, the IMO created the 

International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which incorporated 

U.S.-sponsored amendments into universal international standards that parallel 

U.S. domestic maritime security requirements. The IMO also adopted 

regulations and guidance on implementing Long Range Identification and 

Tracking of Ships, a U.S. initiative, to enhance maritime domain awareness 

and security. IMO has also focused on protecting vital shipping lanes of 

strategic importance. After IMO-coordinated action helped suppress piracy in 

the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, IMO turned to the rapidly increasing 

problem of piracy off Somalia against commercial ships, humanitarian 

shipments, and other maritime traffic. At its November 2007 session, the IMO 

Assembly adopted a resolution outlining steps to be taken by IMO and other 

relevant stakeholders to address piracy off Somalia. This IMO resolution led 

the UN Security Council to adopt Resolution 1816, which facilitated the 

authorization of states cooperating with Somalia’s Transitional Federal 

Government to enter Somalia’s territorial waters for six months and use ―all 

necessary means‖ to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, in a 

manner consistent with relevant provisions of international law.

The 2007 Assembly adopted a resolution that delayed the application 

of ballast water control standards for ships built in 2009 in response to the lack 

of immediately available, approved technologies to prevent the transfer of 

invasive alien species in ballast water. The U.S. Government successfully 

sought to have the delay limited both in time and in application (only to ships 

built in 2009).

Other Assembly resolutions concerned guidelines on voyage planning 

for passenger ships operating in remote areas, provision of mobile satellite 

communications systems in the maritime distress and safety system, and 

amendments to regulations for preventing collisions at sea.

In 2007, the IMO continued the audits of member states begun in 

2006 under the IMO Voluntary Audit Scheme (Audit Scheme). The Audit 

Scheme helps to promote maritime safety, security, and environmental 

protection by assessing how effectively member states are implementing and 

enforcing IMO Convention standards. The audits also provide feedback to the 
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member states with advice on how to improve their performance. Eventually 

33 countries will be audited each year on a five-year, rotating basis. The Audit 

Scheme should bring about many benefits, such as identifying where capacitybuilding activities would have the greatest effect.

The IMO identified the Papahanaumokuakea (formerly 

Northwest Hawaiian Islands) Marine National Monument as a particularly 

sensitive sea area, with associated protective measures.

On management, the 2007 Assembly approved the change in the 

Organization’s accounting standards from the United Nations Accounting 

System to the new International Public Sector Accounting Standards, from 

2010.

International Telecommunication Union

Established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, the 

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) serves as a forum for 

governments and the private sector to facilitate the operation of international 

telecommunication networks and services. In 2007, there were 191 member 

states and over 700 sector and associate members in the ITU. Dr. Hamadoun 

Touré (Mali) began his first term as Secretary-General of the ITU on January 

1, 2007. ITU activities touch on areas of fundamental importance for U.S. 

national and commercial security, particularly those related to radio spectrum 

allocation, setting of global telecommunication standards, and consideration of 

global telecommunication policy.

The 46–member ITU Council, of which the United States is a 

member, is the governing board of the ITU between plenipotentiary 

conferences. The Council is comprised of representatives from five regions: 

the Americas, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia elected at 

plenipotentiary conferences. It meets annually to address management and 

other issues. The Geneva-based ITU held its annual Council meeting 

September 4-14, 2007. The United States was particularly interested in:

 Approval of the ITU budget for 2008-2009 (the United States

stated that relying on the reserve account to balance the budget 

was not a viable long-term strategy); 

 A proposed model agreement for countries that want to host an 

ITU meeting (the United States successfully deferred the 

adoption of the model agreement until the next Council pending 

clarification of legal points); and 

 The Global Cybersecurity Agenda (the United States wanted to 

link it to the cybersecurity work ongoing in the ITU

Development Sector, where the United States has been very 

active).

The Council strengthened the Union’s mandate for implementation of 

the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), establishing a WSIS 

Task Force under the chairmanship of the Deputy Secretary-General. At the 
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urging of the U.S. delegate, the Council also decided to delay implementation 

of new contractual arrangements for ITU staff until such time as the UN 

General Assembly takes a final decision on the approach to be taken by the 

entire UN Common System.

ITU took several steps to further cybersecurity, a priority issue for the 

United States. On May 17, 2007, the ITU Secretary-General launched the 

Global Cybersecurity Agenda. An ITU study group developed a ―Report on 

Best Practices for a National Approach to Cybersecurity.‖ The ITU 

Cybersecurity Work Program released a national self-assessment toolkit on 

cybersecurity and critical information infrastructure protection, as well as a 

botnet mitigation toolkit.

The United States has considerable interests in all areas of ITU

activities. The Radiocommunication Sector’s treaty-level World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is central to U.S. national security and 

commercial interests. The WRC is held every 3 - 4 years and last met October 

22 - November 16, 2007. These conferences allocate scarce frequency bands 

to radio services and assign equally scarce orbital slots to member states, 

which in turn make decisions about their use for radio and other services. The 

U.S. private sector is very engaged in the Standardization (T) and 

Radiocommunication (R) Sectors. The standardization activities of the ITU 

are indispensable to U.S. Government and commercial interests to ensure 

world-wide compatibility and interoperability of global networks.

UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural

Organization

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) was established in 1945 with the primary objective of contributing 

to peace and security worldwide. Since rejoining UNESCO on October 1, 

2003, the United States continues to promote U.S. priorities at UNESCO in 

each of the Organization’s five sectors: education, culture, communication 

and information, natural sciences, and social and human sciences. By 

promoting collaboration among nations, UNESCO strives to further universal 

respect for justice, the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. 

Priority programs foster and defend the free flow of ideas and open access to 

education for all, build understanding of democratic principles and practice, 

promote scientific knowledge, and protect the cultural and natural heritage of 

humankind. UNESCO, which has a Secretariat headquartered in Paris, has 

193 member states and has been led since 1999 by Director-General Koichiro 

Matsuura (Japan).

The General Conference, UNESCO’s supreme governing body, 

consists of all UNESCO member states. The General Conference meets every 

two years and has primary responsibility for approving the program and 

budget, the medium-term strategy, and elections to UNESCO committees and 

organs. A U.S. delegation participated in the 34th General Conference in Paris 

in October 2007. The General Conference adopted a biennial budget of $631 
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million and a new mid-term review for 2008-2013 that includes new language 

holding the Secretariataccountable for achieving certain specified outcomes by 

the end of the biennium. The mid-term review was also adopted as a ―rolling‖ 

strategy, which allows the member states and the Secretariat the flexibility to 

amend the document when major reforms are implemented in the UN system 

or within UNESCO.

The General Conference also adopted a U.S.-initiated resolution on 

Holocaust Remembrance, which was co-sponsored by 69 member states. The 

consensus resolution asked the UNESCO Director-General to consult the UN 

Secretary-General on how UNESCO could promote Holocaust Remembrance 

through education and combat all forms of Holocaust denial. The Secretariat 

will report to the 179th Executive Board (Fall 2008) on the consultations with 

the UN Secretary-General and with a list of proposed follow-on activities. 

During the 34th General Conference, the United States was re-elected to the 

Executive Board and elected to the Legal Committee, the Intergovernmental 

Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of 

Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation, the Intergovernmental 

Council of the International Program for the Development of Communication, 

and the Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee.

The Executive Board, one of UNESCO’s governing bodies, consists 

of 58 member states with four-year terms of office. It examines the program 

of work and corresponding budget proposals and ensures the effective and 

rational execution of the program by the Director-General. A U.S. delegation 

participated in the semiannual Board Session in Paris in April 2007 (176th

Session) and September 2007 (177th Session). The main focus in the run-up to 

the 34th General Conference was the preparation and final acceptance of the 

proposed $631 million budget. Additionally, member states made a strong 

push for greater involvement by UNESCO in efforts to combat climate 

change. The Asia-Pacific group proposed a resolution on climate change 

during the 177th Executive Board, which was adopted by consensus after much 

debate as to UNESCO’s proper role in the global effort to combat climate 

change. Member states eventually agreed that UNESCO has a role to play, but 

that it should not go beyond its area of expertise and should not duplicate 

efforts of other UN bodies. The resolution also included language that called 

upon the Secretariat to develop a climate change strategy.

In 2007, UNESCO had several successes in the area of education, a 

main priority for the United States at UNESCO. The United States worked 

with other member states to advance a General Conference resolution 

strengthening UNESCO's Teacher Training Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa 

and continued to promote results-based education programs at the country 

level. UNESCO co-hosted four regional literacy conferences to help raise 

awareness and promote best practices in fighting illiteracy. These conferences 

took place in Qatar, Mali, China, and India. UNESCO continued to increase 

the number of countries implementing the Literacy Initiative for 

Empowerment (LIFE) program, a literacy strategic framework with the goal of 
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achieving concrete, measurable results in 35 countries with the highest rates of 

illiteracy. UNESCO also continued to make progress on its ground-breaking 

literacy measurement tool, the Literacy Assessment and Monitoring Program 

(LAMP).

Since 1986, the United States has regularly made voluntary 

contributions to UNESCO. The 2007 contribution totaled $990,000 and was 

used to support UNESCO-related international educational, scientific, cultural, 

and communications activities considered to be in the U.S. national interest. 

The UNESCO regular budget for 2007 was approximately $305 million; the 

U.S. assessment was $80 million. Of the 742 positions subject to geographic 

distribution, Americans held 35 posts in 2007. The United States is 

aggressively promoting the hiring of qualified Americans by UNESCO.

UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of 

Atomic Radiation

The UN General Assembly established the UN Scientific Committee 

on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) in 1955 to provide 

continuous review and evaluation of the effects of ionizing radiation on 

humans and their environment. Governments and international organizations 

around the world rely on UNSCEAR evaluations for estimating radiological 

risk, establishing protection and safety standards, regulating radioactive 

materials, informing policy decisions, and targeting international assistance 

programs. UNSCEAR’s work is of significant interest to many U.S. agencies, 

including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Protection 

Agency, and the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, and 

Energy.

The 55th session met in Vienna May 21-25, 2007. The U.S. 

delegation, led by Dr. Fred Mettler of the University of New Mexico and the 

Veterans Administration, included seven other advisors from academia, the 

private sector, and the U.S. Government. The Scientific Committee reviewed 

advanced versions of documents on radiation exposures of the public and 

workers, accidental exposures to radiation, exposures resulting from medical 

uses of radiation, effects of ionizing radiation on non-human biota, radiation 

health effects due to the Chernobyl accident, and a summary report on the 

sources and effects of radiation exposure.. These documents were considered 

at previous sessions of the Scientific Committee.

UNSCEAR is an independent UN advisory body and reports its 

findings directly to the UN General Assembly. The UN Environment Program

(UNEP) provides administrative support for UNSCEAR, and funding for the 

UNSCEAR Secretariat and operations are included in the UNEP program and 

budget. Communication and coordination between UNSCEAR and UNEP 

have greatly improved in recent years, and the United States continues to 

encourage cooperation between UNEP and the UNSCEAR Secretariat to 

maintain recent improvements in UNSCEAR administration.
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The Secretariat of UNSCEAR continued its efforts to raise awareness 

of the work and relevance of UNSCEAR outside of the traditional scientific 

community. UNSCEAR products are available electronically on its website 

for access by the public. In light of U.S. and international efforts to prevent, 

manage, and mitigate radiological incidents and considering the burgeoning 

interest in nuclear energy, the United States has supported UNSCEAR’s 

continuing to operate as an effective, credible, and independent scientific body 

and that its findings be widely disseminated.

Universal Postal Union

The Universal Postal Union (UPU), with headquarters in Bern, 

Switzerland, facilitates the efficient operation of postal services across national 

borders and serves as a forum for regulatory and customer issues related to 

postal and express delivery markets. The United States joined the UPU at its

founding in 1874. The UPU has since grown to encompass 191 member 

countries. In recent years, the United States has successfully encouraged the 

UPU to maintain fiscal discipline and advance strategic planning, 

measurement of the service performance of individual postal administrations, 

and innovative voluntary organizations known as ―cooperatives‖ that have 

brought to the UPU corporate-like structures that feature weighted voting, 

targeted business plans, and boards whose directors are elected ad personam.

Edouard Dayan of France is the current Director General of the UPU

Secretariat (International Bureau). Romania chairs the Council of 

Administration, and the United States chairs the Postal Operations Council 

(POC). Michael Regan of the U.S. Postal Service currently serves as POC 

Chairman.

In 2007, U.S. policy goals continued to focus on re-designing how the 

various postal administrations pay one another for the handling and delivery of 

international mail. The new design for such fees, otherwise known as 

―terminal dues,‖ more closely aligns payments to the actual costs incurred. 

U.S. policy goals also focused on improving operations, refining 

methodologies for measuring performance by postal administrations in 

delivering international mail, and linking inter-administration payments to 

performance. Other goals included solidifying private-sector participation in 

the UPU and strengthening the UPU’s strategic planning capabilities.

Work on terminal dues progressed with a strong show of support for 

changes in the methodology used to calculate payments and how and when 

member countries would transition from the old payment system to the new. 

The recommended changes will be voted upon at the 2008 Congress held in 

Geneva.

During 2007, the UPU continued to refine its plans for implementing 

a ―global monitoring system‖ to measure the performance of postal 

administrations in delivering inbound international mail. A system for 

measuring performance in industrialized countries was deployed in 2005, as 

was linking performance to terminal dues payments. The UPU is attempting 
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to deploy more widely performance measurements as technology becomes 

more affordable.

The UPU drafted a new international agreement governing the 

exchange of electronic money transfers. The draft agreement contains 

provisions that address money laundering and anti-terrorism activities, as well 

as the settlement of accounts between postal administrations. The draft 

agreement will be considered during the 2008 Congress and, if adopted, enter 

into force in 2010.

The UPU’s Consultative Committee, which was formed by the 2004 

Bucharest Congress and whose members include private sector associations of 

mailers, express delivery firms, trade unions, equipment manufacturers, and 

other postal stakeholders, pursued a work program focusing on trade matters 

and projects of particular interest to large mailers, such as cross-border 

address-forwarding and access models. The Chairman of the Committee, 

Charles Prescott of the Direct Marketing Association, is a U.S. citizen. The 

UPU is one of the few UN specialized agencies that allows such active 

participation by private sector representatives at its meetings.

Throughout 2007, the United States played a central role in 

innovative work carried out by the UPU’s Strategic Planning Group in the area 

of results-based management. The Group adopted a concept proposed by the 

United States under which the UPU produces ―report cards‖ showing the 

progress made by each member administration in achieving selected UPU 

strategic goals. The latter include service and tracking performance, access to 

postal services, and legislative reform of national postal services.

In 2007, the Strategic Planning Group, acting upon a recommendation 

by the United States, formally sought the views of member countries about 

UPU strategic and budgetary priorities through surveys containing specific 

lists of discretionary UPU activities. The intent was to prioritize the activities 

in the biennial UPU Program and Budget so that optimum use could be made 

of limited financial resources.

During 2007, the United States remained actively engaged in the 

efforts of several working groups of both the POC and the Council of 

Administration, whose overall purpose is to ensure high-quality international 

postal services at affordable prices.

In 2007, the United States chaired the POC. Within the POC, the 

United States continued to lead the Postal Security Action Group and 

Standards Board and served in key positions in the Telematics Cooperative, 

the Express Mail Service (EMS) Cooperative, the Terminal Dues Project 

Group, and the Quality of Service Fund Board of Trustees. Due to UPU

regulations requiring rotation among countries, the United States could not 

serve on the Council of Administration during the period 2005-2008.

The UPU operates under a biennial budget. The Bucharest Congress 

approved an overall budget ceiling of 148 million Swiss francs for the next 

two biennial UPU budgets (through 2008). The assessed UPU budget for 
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143

2007-2008 is 68.7 million Swiss francs. The UPU approved budget has 

remained constant since 1998.

Member country contributions to the UPU are determined according 

to ―contribution units‖ that each country volunteers to pay. The United States 

subscribes to 50 contribution units, which amounts to approximately 5.7 

percent of the UPU budget. The cost to the United States was approximately 

$1.6 million in 2007. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service made extrabudgetary contributions to UPU in 2007 amounting to $345,000 including the 

salary of a postal security consultant seconded to the UPU staff.

The UPU staff operating under the regular budget is comprised of 63 

professionals. At the end of 2007, one of these professionals was an American 

citizen. In addition, one American was working in the general services 

category and five Americans were employed using extra-budgetary resources.

World Intellectual Property Organization

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) promotes the 

protection of intellectual property rights throughout the world through 

cooperation among member states. Established by the WIPO Convention in 

1967, it became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1974. WIPO is 

headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and operates several offices around the 

world, including in New York, Washington, D.C., and Brussels, Belgium. Dr. 

Kamil Idris (Sudan) was the Director-General in 2007. There are 184 

members of the WIPO Convention. The United States is currently a party to 

14 WIPO treaties. Fees for service generate more than 90 percent of WIPO’s 

revenue, and fees paid by U.S. nationals comprise approximately 40 percent of 

WIPO’s fee revenue.

WIPO administers various treaties that deal with the legal and 

administrative aspects of intellectual property, which include patents, 

copyrights, and trademarks. The two principal treaties are the Paris and Berne 

Conventions (with, in 2007, 172 and 163 members respectively). WIPO also 

administers 20 multilateral ―unions‖ (the treaty administering organs).

The General Assemblies of WIPO Unions were held in Geneva from 

September 24-October 3, 2007. The WIPO General Assembly (GA), of which 

the United States is a member, addressed many important ongoing issues 

facing the organization, including efforts to strengthen accountability and 

oversight within the organization, the establishment of a constructive 

framework to assess further integration of a development dimension into 

WIPO’s work, and the need to improve WIPO’s services for users, including 

discussion of a reduction in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) fees.

A crisis of leadership at WIPO severely impaired its ability to 

function well. At the General Assembly, the United States successfully 

pushed for discussion of an internal audit report alleging misconduct by the 

Director-General. The United States helped block adoption of the 2008-2009 

WIPO budget during the Assembly because the internal audit report had not 
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144

been adequately addressed. The United States worked with other countries to 

restore accountability and transparency to the Organization.

Despite earlier efforts to curtail the Director-General’s ability to make 

personnel promotions and to fill positions through direct recruitment, highlevel promotions continued. A 2007 desk-to-desk audit recommended that a 

number of positions should be downsized and the role of certain staff clarified. 

The 2007 Assembly considered the audit, the Secretariat’s comments on it, 

and the Audit Committee’s observations and recommendations. The 

Assembly requested the Secretariat to develop a road map for implementation 

of the audit’s recommendations and requested the Audit Committee to review 

a proposal to implement the recommendations under an integrated 

organizational improvement plan and the Secretariat’s road map. Also, a 2005 

Joint Inspection Unit report noted budget concerns as the organization had 

been adjusting fees for projected needs rather than basing its budget on a 

human/financial needs assessment. While action on some measures, including 

the establishment of an internal audit committee (designed to improve internal 

accountability and management controls) has begun, several initiatives, 

particularly in the area of staff and human resource issues, remain outstanding.

The 2007 Assembly adopted new financial rules and regulations that 

enter into force on January 1, 2008. The Assembly also approved, in 

principle, WIPO’s adoption by 2010 of the International Public Sector 

Accounting Standards. The Assembly revised the terms of reference of the 

Audit Committee and the Internal Audit Charter, which is required, pursuant 

to the Charter, every two years.

The Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) on Intellectual Property and 

Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, of which the United 

States is an active member, continued its work. The 2007 Assembly extended

until 2009 the IGC’s mandate.

At the 10th meeting of the IGC in 2006, the United States successfully 

negotiated a new work plan for both traditional knowledge and traditional 

cultural expressions. At the 11th IGC in July 2007, there was discussion of a 

list of issues on traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions 

drafted by the Chairperson of the 10th IGC. In discussion of this list, the U.S. 

delegation and others called for deeper consideration of fact-based examples 

and national experiences to resolve concerns raised by Members.

The 2006 WIPO General Assembly agreed to an extension and a 

specific format for the work of the Provisional Committee on Proposals related 

to a WIPO Development Agenda (PCDA). The PCDA met twice in 2007, 

prior to the 2007 Assembly, to discuss proposals for elements of a WIPO 

development agenda. After lengthy negotiations, participants in the PCDA 

reached agreement on a package of 45 development-oriented proposals that 

were adopted by the 2007 General Assembly. These proposals are aimed at 

assisting and encouraging developing countries to take advantage of the 

intellectual property protection system to foster innovation and economic 

development in their countries. Member states also agreed to establish a 
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145

Committee on Development and Intellectual Property to develop a work 

program to implement the adopted proposals.

While the 2005 Assembly instituted a process to move forward on 

discussions on substantive patent law harmonization, WIPO members 

remained deadlocked in deciding on a work plan for the Standing Committee 

on Patents in both 2006 and 2007. The industrialized countries want to pursue 

harmonization of patent examination standards (so-called "prior art" issues), 

but several developing countries are opposed to this narrow focus and want to 

include numerous controversial topics in the discussions, such as a new patent 

disclosure requirement relating to genetic resources and traditional knowledge. 

At the 2007 General Assemblies, the International Bureau was mandated to 

produce a report on the international patent system, which would be the basis 

for discussion at a formal session of the Standing Committee on Patents to be 

held in 2008. The 2007 Assembly also approved an optional supplementary 

international search system to enable applicants for patents, copyrights, and 

trademarks to find prior art at an earlier stage, improving the basis for business 

decisions.

The 2006 General Assembly called for two more meetings of the 

Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) before the 2007 

Assembly to refine and finalize a draft Broadcasters Treaty text. If successful, 

a diplomatic conference was to be convened by the 2007 Assembly. 

Negotiations, however, were unsuccessful. In June 2007, at the second of two 

2007 meetings, the SCCR recommended moving talks on the proposed 

broadcasters’ and cablecasters’ treaty back to committee level after rejecting a 

proposal to elevate the issue to formal treaty negotiations. The move 

represented a shelving of the issue for the foreseeable future, some nine years 

after discussions first began.

World Meteorological Organization

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) facilitates free and 

unrestricted exchange of weather- and climate-related data, products, and 

services in real or near-real time among members, thus contributing to the 

protection of life and property from severe weather and enhancing economic 

interests of members, particularly in the agricultural, aviation, shipping, 

energy, and defense sectors. WMO also sponsors capacity-building initiatives 

that improve meteorological data collection and forecasting capacities around 

the world, thus enhancing the accuracy and timely delivery of weather-related 

services on a global scale.

The WMO membership includes 182 states and six member 

territories, all of which maintain their own meteorological services and collect 

meteorological and hydrological data within their domain. The WMO 

governing structure includes a quadrennial Congress comprised of member 

states and territories, which establishes the budget and overall priorities for the 

organization, and an annual Executive Council, which oversees administration 

of the budget and addresses technical and policy issues. The WMO Executive 
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Council is comprised of 37 Permanent Representatives to the WMO, typically 

heads of weather services, serving in their personal capacities. The Genevabased Secretariat is led by WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud (France), 

who was elected for a second four-year term in 2007. The U.S. Permanent 

Representative to the WMO was re-elected to the Executive Council in 2007 

for a four-year term.

In 2007, the United States participated in the quadrennial WMO

Congress, as well as a host of technical and expert-level meetings, ensuring 

that WMO operations are consistent with U.S. interests in meteorology, 

hydrology, and climate. The United States successfully negotiated a zeronominal-growth budget for the 2008-2011 financial period and associated 

program of work that directs resources to the key U.S. priorities of better 

integrating WMO Members’ observing systems in order to enhance data 

exchange capabilities, improving the prediction of and response to natural 

disasters, and building meteorological prediction and warning capabilities in 

the developing world. The WMO Congress approved amendments to the 

preamble of the WMO Convention that, as a result of diligent work by the 

United States, more precisely articulate WMO’s mandate and avoid infringing 

on the mandates and expertise of other international organizations. The WMO 

Congress also agreed that WMO should organize a World Climate Conference 

in 2009, with a focus on improving seasonal to decadal climate predictions and 

the communication of these predictions to policy makers. The conference will 

be funded solely by voluntary contributions.

The U.S. Permanent Representative to the WMO continued to chair 

the WMO Audit Committee and successfully pushed for increased financial 

accountability and transparency within WMO. The WMO External Auditors 

provided a clean audit report for the four-year financial period and 

complimented the WMO Secretariat’s efforts to tighten internal controls.

Throughout 2007, WMO continued to facilitate meteorological data 

collection and exchange through the World Weather Watch program and the 

Global Climate Observing System. These programs provide essential data that 

enable WMO members to provide weather-related forecasts and services of 

better quality and at lower cost than would be possible if each member acted 

alone. WMO continued to upgrade the Global Telecommunications Service, 

which serves as the communications backbone for the exchange of weather 

data, forecasts, and warnings, including tsunami and hurricane alerts. WMO 

also supported education, training, and technical cooperation programs aimed 

at enhancing the capacity of countries to provide weather forecasts for their 

own populations and to contribute to global data collection and forecasting 

efforts.

The United States was active in helping to focus WMO’s disaster risk 

reduction work, which provides government authorities and the natural 

disaster risk management community with access to critical scientific and 

technical data. The United States chaired the WMO working group 

responsible for directing WMO’s disaster risk reduction program and initiating 
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147

a series of pilot projects designed to reduce risk from natural disasters by 

improving multi-hazard early warning systems.

In addition to supporting WMO programs through our assessed dues, 

the United States is the largest donor to the WMO Voluntary Cooperation 

Program (VCP). Through this program, the United States supported the 

development of improved flash flood prediction and hurricane warning 

guidance, natural disaster prediction and preparedness initiatives, and training 

for national weather service staff around the world. This work benefits the 

United States by improving the quality of weather, water, and climate-related 

data needed to generate weather forecasts and severe storm warnings and by 

greatly enhancing U.S. influence within the WMO.

The Geneva-based Secretariat had 144 professional staff in 2007. 

Out of the 131 professional-level staff subject to geographical distribution, 

only eight were American citizens (6.1 percent).

149

Part 4

Legal Developments

Host Country Relations

The General Assembly established the Committee on Relations with 

the Host Country in 1971 to address issues concerning the presence of the 

United Nations and the UN diplomatic community in the United States. The 

Committee is composed of representatives of the Host Country and 18 other 

member states. The issues addressed by the Committee include the security of 

missions, the safety of their personnel, tax questions, visa issues, and 

privileges and immunities. The UN Headquarters Agreement and the 

Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations provide 

the legal framework for the work of the Committee.

In light of the enhanced national security requirements implemented 

in the United States following the events of September 11, 2001, and the effect 

of such requirements on representatives to the United Nations arriving and 

departing from the United States, the U.S. Mission again hosted a special 

briefing for all missions at the United Nations on August 21, 2007, in 

preparation for the 62nd General Assembly. The briefing included guidance 

on diplomatic overflight and landing clearances, expedited port courtesies, 

customs and immigration, the escort-screening program, and other related 

matters. Member states were encouraged to take their own initiative to make 

the processes work smoothly. As in previous years, the number of credible 

complaints from delegations to the 62nd General Assembly regarding arrivals 

and departures was small.

Host Country Committee members continued to express concern 

about implementation of the Parking Program for diplomatic vehicles, which 

became effective in November 2002. As part of a periodic review of this 

matter, the Committee reviewed the implementation of the program through 

use of a detailed questionnaire. The results of the review and Host Country 

comments were discussed in Committee meetings.

On December 6, the General Assembly adopted without a vote the 

―Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country‖ (Resolution 

62/72). The resolution requested that the Host Country continue to solve, 

through negotiations, problems that might arise and take all necessary 

measures to prevent interference with the functioning of the missions; noted 

that the Committee would continue to review periodically the implementation 

of the Parking Program; expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the 

Host Country; and noted that the Committee anticipated that the Host Country 

would continue to facilitate timely issuance of visas to representatives of 

member states for the purpose of traveling to New York on official UN 

business.
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International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the UN’s principal judicial 

organ based in The Hague. The Court decides cases submitted to it by states 

and gives advisory opinions on legal questions at the request of international 

organizations authorized to request such opinions. The ICJ is composed of 15 

judges, no two of whom may be nationals of the same state. The UN General 

Assembly and the UN Security Council vote separately to elect the Court’s 

judges from a list of persons nominated by national groups on the Permanent 

Court of Arbitration.

Judges are elected for nine-year terms, with five judges elected every 

three years. As of December 31, 2007, the Court was composed as follows: 

Rosalyn Higgins (United Kingdom, President), Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh

(Jordan, Vice President), Raymond Ranjeva (Madagascar), Shi Jiuyong

(China), Abdul G. Koroma (Sierra Leone), Gonzalo Parra-Aranguren

(Venezuela), Thomas Buergenthal (United States), Hisashi Owada (Japan), 

Bruno Simma (Germany), Peter Tomka (Slovakia), Ronny Abraham (France), 

Kenneth Keith (New Zealand), Bernardo Sepulveda Amor (Mexico),

Mohammed Bennouna (Morocco), and Leonid Skotnikov (Russian

Federation).

In 2007, the ICJ issued four judgments, held three hearings and 

denied one request for provisional measures. Judgments were rendered in the 

following cases: Application of the Convention on the Prevention and 

Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and 

Montenegro); Ahmadou Sadio Diallo (Republic of Guinea v. Democratic 

Republic of the Congo); Territorial and Maritime Dispute Between Nicaragua

and Honduras in the Caribbean Sea (Nicaragua v. Honduras); and Territorial 

and Maritime Dispute (Nicaragua v. Colombia).

The court held three hearings: Territorial and Maritime Dispute 

Between Nicaragua and Honduras in the Caribbean Sea (Nicaragua v. 

Honduras), Territorial and Maritime Dispute (Nicaragua v. Colombia), and 

Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Putch, Middle Rocks and South 

Ledge (Malaysia v. Singapore). Finally, the Court denied a request by 

Uruguay for the indication of provisional measures in Pulp Mills on the River 

Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay).

International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is not a UN body, and the 

United States is not a party to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC. As in 

previous years, the United States dissociated itself from consensus on the 

annual resolution in the General Assembly on the ICC, which among other 

things, called on all states not parties to the Rome Statute to consider ratifying 

or acceding to it without delay. In its November 20, 2006 statement on the 

resolution in the General Assembly, the United States emphasized that it 

respected the rights of states to become parties to the Rome Statute, but asked 
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in return that other states respect our decision not to do so. The United States 

also stressed its commitment to ensuring accountability for perpetrators of 

genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and urged common efforts 

to advance these objectives and avoid divisiveness over the ICC.

In 2005, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1593, referring 

the situation in Darfur to the ICC. Pursuant to that resolution, in 2007, at the 

Prosecutor’s request, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Ahmad Muhammad 

Harun, the Sudanese Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, and Ali 

Kushayb, a leader of the Militia/Janjaweed, for crimes against humanity and 

war crimes. The Prosecutor briefed the UN Security Council on the arrest 

warrants and urged the Security Council to call upon Sudan to arrest the two 

individuals and ensure their appearance in Court.

Also in 2007, the ICC issued confidential arrest warrants for Germain 

Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui in the Situation of the Democratic 

Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.). Katanga, the alleged former Senior 

Commander of the Force de Resistance Patriotique en Ituri, and Ngudjolo 

Chui, the alleged former leader of the Front des Nationalistes et 

Intégrationnistes, were charged with three counts of crimes against humanity 

and six counts of war crimes. In October 2007, the Congolese authorities 

surrendered and transferred Katanga to the ICC detention center in The Hague.

Finally, on May 22, 2007, the Prosecutor opened an investigation in 

the Central African Republic, focusing on violence occurring in the region 

primarily in 2002 and 2003.

International Law Commission

The UN General Assembly established in 1948 the International Law 

Commission (ILC) to promote the codification and progressive development 

of international law. Its 34 members, each of a different nationality, are 

persons of recognized competence in international law who serve in their 

individual capacities. The General Assembly elects ILC members for fiveyear terms and held elections for the then-upcoming five-year term (2007-

2011) in 2006. Michael Matheson, a U.S. citizen and former Principal Deputy 

Legal Adviser (and Acting Legal Adviser) at the Department of State, served 

the remainder of his term during 2006 but was not elected to serve an 

additional term. During 2007, the ILC did not have a member from the United 

States.

The ILC addresses international law topics either referred to it by the 

General Assembly or that it decides are suitable for codification or progressive 

development. It usually selects one of its members (designated a Special 

Rapporteur) to facilitate the work on each topic. After discussion in the ILC, 

Special Rapporteurs typically prepare draft articles or reports. These are 

considered and refined in a drafting committee prior to formal adoption by the 

ILC. The ILC reports annually on its work to the Sixth (Legal) Committee of 

the General Assembly.
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At its 59th session in 2007, the ILC continued its work on a number 

of topics. The ILC considered the 11th and 12th reports of the Special 

Rapporteur on ―Reservations to Treaties,‖ which focused on the formulation 

and withdrawal of acceptances and objections and on the procedure for 

acceptances to reservations, referring to the drafting committee 35 draft 

guidelines on these issues. The Commission also adopted nine draft guidelines 

dealing with the reservations topic. On the topic of ―Shared Natural 

Resources,‖ the Commission considered the fourth report by the Special 

Rapporteur, which addressed the relationship between the work on 

transboundary aquifers and possible future work on oil and gas. The 

Commission also established a Working Group on Shared Natural Resources 

to address the substance and form of draft articles on the law of transboundary 

aquifers and issues relating to oil and gas. In relation to the topic of 

―Expulsion of Aliens,‖ the Commission considered the second and third 

reports of the Special Rapporteur and referred seven draft articles to the 

drafting committee.

The Commission also considered the third report of the Special 

Rapporteur on the ―Effects of Armed Conflicts on Treaties.‖ The Commission 

referred draft articles proposed by the Special Rapporteur and a Working 

Group to the drafting committee. On the topic of ―Responsibility of 

International Organizations,‖ the Commission considered the fifth report of the 

Special Rapporteur, which focused on the international responsibility of an 

international organization. The Commission later adopted 15 draft articles, 

together with commentaries. On the topic of ―The Obligation to Extradite or 

Prosecute,‖ the Commission considered the second report of the Special 

Rapporteur, containing one draft article on the scope of application, as well as 

a proposed plan for further development. The Commission also decided to 

include two new topics – ―Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters‖ and 

―Immunity of State Officials from Foreign Criminal Jurisdiction‖ -- in its 

current program of work and appointed Eduardo Valencia-Ospina (Colombia) 

as Special Rapporteur for the former topic and Roman Kolodkin (Russian

Federation) as Special Rapporteur for the latter topic. The Commission also 

established a working group on the Most-Favored-Nation Clause under the 

chairmanship of Donald McRae (Canada) to consider the subject as a possible 

topic.

During the annual consideration by the Sixth Committee of the UN 

General Assembly of the Commission’s report, the U.S. representative made 

detailed observations on various procedural and substantive aspects of the 

ILC’s work, including the following:

 As a general matter, it is important that the ILC proceed 

cautiously in the area of responsibility of international 

organizations and that it carefully assess the unique 

considerations relevant to this topic and not simply work to 

develop articles analogous to those developed for states;
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 It is important to bear in mind the unique legal and political 

issues implicated by the topic of expulsion of aliens as it moves 

forward;

 It is important to note that there is not a sufficient basis in 

customary international law or State practice to formulate draft 

articles that would extend an obligation to extradite or prosecute 

beyond binding international legal instruments that contain such 

obligations;

 As a general matter, it is important to approach the topic of the 

―Effect of Armed Conflicts on Treaties‖ in a manner that 

preserves the reasonable continuity of treaty obligations during 

armed conflict, while taking into account particular military 

necessities, and also providing practical guidance to states by 

identifying factors relevant to determining whether a treaty 

should remain in effect in the event of armed conflict;

 It was appropriate for the ILC to consider the relationship 

between regional and bilateral arrangements on transboundary 

aquifers if it intends to move forward with draft articles for a 

global treaty, despite U.S. reservations as to whether such a 

treaty would receive sufficient support from states;

 It would not be desirable for the Commission to consider the 

topic of transboundary oil and gas resources given its political 

and economic sensitivity; and

 It was appropriate for the ILC to study the topic ―Protection of 

Persons in National Disasters‖ as it has the potential to produce 

practical solutions to pressing problems.

The United States expected the ILC to take these observations into 

account in its work at its 60th Session in 2008.

International Rule of Law

The United Nations continued to pursue numerous activities relating 

to the rule of law at both the national and international levels.

For example, the General Assembly’s Sixth Committee put ―The 

Rule of Law at the National and International Levels‖ on its agenda for the 

second time in the 62nd session. The Committee approved a resolution, later 

adopted by the full General Assembly, that among other things asked the 

Secretary-General to prepare an inventory of the UN’s current activities 

devoted to the promotion of the rule of law at the national and international 

level and requested the Secretary-General to submit an additional report to the 

General Assembly identifying ways for strengthening and coordinating UN 

activities to promote the rule of law. The report also expressed support for the 

Rule of Law Coordination and Resource Group, supported by the Rule of Law 

Unit in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, which the SecretaryGeneral decided in 2006 to establish, and requested the Secretary-General to 
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provide details on the staffing and other requirements of the Unit to the 

General Assembly.

In 2007, the UN created the Office of the Rule of Law and Security 

Institutions (OROLSI) within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to 

provide an integrated and forward-looking approach to UN assistance in rule 

of law and security entities. OROLSI unifies police, judicial, legal, 

correctional units, and mine action, disarmament, demobilization and 

reintegration, as well as new security sector-reform functions, primarily in 

support of UN peacekeeping operations but also globally as regards police and 

corrections in the context of countries with no peacekeeping missions. 

OROLSI is led by an Assistant Secretary-General, who reports to the 

Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. OROLSI’s key task is 

to provide strategic advice and guidance to missions and to headquarters in the 

area of rule of law and security institutions. In close collaboration with other 

members of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department 

of Field Support, OROLSI units will also concentrate on planning field 

activities, doctrine development, screening, and deployment of personnel to 

identify the best qualified people, and identifying and disseminating lessons 

learned.

Special Committee on the Charter of the 

United Nations

In 1974, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 3349, which 

established an Ad Hoc Committee on the Charter of the United Nations. The 

Committee was mandated to consider, among other things, specific proposals 

from governments that might enhance the UN’s ability to achieve its purposes 

as well as suggestions for the more effective functioning of the United 

Nations. Since its 30th session, the General Assembly has reconvened the 

Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations (Special Committee) 

every year, considered its successive reports, and renewed and revised its 

mandate on an annual basis. Pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 50/52 

(1995), the Special Committee operates by consensus.

The Special Committee held its annual session February 7-15, 2007. 

The General Assembly’s Sixth Committee adopted a resolution accepting the 

report of the Committee’s work and establishing the mandate and schedule for 

the Special Committee’s 2008 meeting. The General Assembly subsequently 

adopted the Resolution by consensus on December 6, 2007 (Resolution 62/69).

Operative paragraph 3 of General Assembly Resolution 62/69 

mandated the Special Committee to continue consideration of all proposals 

concerning the maintenance of international peace and security in all its 

aspects to strengthen the role of the United Nations. It also required the 

Committee to continue its consideration on a priority basis of a working 

document submitted by the Russian Federation entitled ―Basic conditions and 

standard criteria for the introduction and implementation of sanctions;‖ to 
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continue to consider, also on a priority basis and in an appropriate substantive 

manner and framework, the question of implementing the provisions of the 

Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by 

the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter based on all 

related reports of the Secretary-General and the proposals submitted on the 

question; to keep on its agenda the question of the peaceful settlement of 

disputes between states; to consider, as appropriate, any proposal referred to it 

by the General Assembly in implementing the decisions of the High-level 

Plenary Meeting of the 60th session of the Assembly in September 2005 that 

concern the Charter and any amendments thereto; and to continue to consider, 

on a priority basis, ways and means of improving its working methods and 

enhancing its efficiency with a view to identifying widely acceptable measures 

for future implementation.

War Crimes and Other Tribunals

Cambodia Khmer Rouge Tribunal

The U.S. Cambodian Genocide Justice Act of April 30, 1994, 

committed the United States to support efforts to bring to justice members of 

the Khmer Rouge for crimes against humanity committed in Cambodia

between April 17, 1975 and January 7, 1979. Following the recommendation 

in 1999 by a United Nations-appointed panel to create a Khmer Rouge special 

tribunal, the United Nations, and the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) 

began discussions on establishing such a tribunal. After protracted 

negotiations, UN and Cambodian officials in June 2003 signed an agreement 

to establish Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a 

hybrid tribunal composed of international and Cambodian judges, to try senior 

leaders of the Khmer Rouge. The ECCC has dual administrations, reporting 

under one Cambodian Director, Sean Visoth. The UN Assistance to the 

Khmer Rouge Tribunal (UNAKRT) was represented by Michelle Lee (China), 

appointed Deputy Director of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT) in October 

2005.

The KRT consists of three chambers: Pre-Trial, Trial, and a Supreme 

Court. The Pre-Trial Chamber and the Trial Chamber have five judges each 

(three Cambodian and two international) and the Supreme Court Chamber has 

seven judges (four Cambodian and three international). In addition, there are 

two prosecutors (one from each group) and two investigating judges 

(likewise). The names of these officials and their deputies were announced on 

May 7, 2006, and include two Americans: Paul Coffey as a reserve coprosecutor, and Judge Martin Karopkin as a reserve judge in the Supreme 

Court Chamber. The Cambodian law implementing the 2003 UN-Cambodia

Agreement to establish the KRT provides that life imprisonment shall be the 

maximum sentence for anyone convicted by the KRT.

Donors were concerned by the initial cost estimate of almost $80 

million for the KRT; however, negotiations finally resulted in a budget of 

$56.3 million ($43 million to support the UNAKRT budget and $13.3 million 
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to support the Cambodian-side operations of the court). In January 2005, the 

UN issued a call for voluntary contributions. As of the end of 2007, Japan was 

the largest donor, with France, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, 

Australia, The Netherlands, Canada, and the European Union also contributing 

substantially. The court registered about $39.2 million in donations to 

UNAKRT, with pledges of $4.8 million outstanding and shortfalls in pledges 

of $2 million at the end of 2007. Cambodia contributed $1.5 million to the 

tribunal budget, and international donors contributed another $7.1 million to 

the Cambodian national component, with shortfalls in pledges amounting to 

$4.7 million. Cambodia has provided approximately $5 million as in-kind 

contributions to the Extraordinary Chambers. On May 1, 2006, the SecretaryGeneral announced that enough of the required funding had been received to 

begin organizing the tribunal.

As part of the funding process, the UN identified $6.9 million in three 

dormant Cambodian trust funds and asked if donors would allow this money to 

be transferred to the Cambodian national component of the KRT; of this, 

approximately $1 million was U.S.-donated. The United States determined 

that the funds were no longer available for further expenditure and thus could 

not be used in support of the Tribunal. This decision was communicated to the 

Office of the Controller of the United Nations, which agreed to arrange with 

the Department of the Treasury to return the sum in question for redeposit in 

the U.S. Treasury. Outstanding questions related to how this redeposit should 

occur have delayed the transfer and these monies remain in a UN account.

The KRT completed and issued its Internal Rules in June 2007. Five 

former Khmer Rouge leaders (Ieng Sary, Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, Ieng 

Thirith and Kaing Guek Eav (―Comrade Duch‖) were named in a sealed 

indictment handed by the KRT in 2007. All are in pre-trial detention in the 

ECCC detention center awaiting trials, and Duch’s trial is likely to begin in 

September, 2008.

U.S. Special Ambassador for War Crimes Clint Williamson visited 

KRT facilities in Phnom Penh in December 2007 to assess progress.

Congressional restrictions in 2004, 2005, and 2006 prohibited 

assistance to the central government of Cambodia and hence blocked a direct 

U.S. financial contribution to the KRT. The Senate Report (109-96) for Fiscal 

Year (FY) 2006 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs 

Appropriations Act (FOAA) directed that no funds be made available to the 

[Khmer Rouge Tribunal] unless the Secretary of State reported to the 

Committee that the tribunal was capable of delivering justice that meets 

internationally recognized standards of justice for crimes against humanity and 

genocide in an impartial and credible manner. The restriction on assistance 

was removed in FY 2007. The Administration is considering whether to 

contribute to the KRT in light of concerns that have been raised about possible 

corruption. While the 2006 Senate report language is not binding and would 

not apply to FY 2008 funds, Congressional staff have made clear their 
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continuing interest that the U.S. Government conclude that the Tribunal meet 

international standards before providing direct funding to the KRT.

Over the last decade the United States has contributed over $17 

million to the Documentation Center of Cambodia to support research and 

documentation of the crimes of the Khmer Rouge. This documentation 

already is helping the KRT in its work.

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

The UN Security Council established the International Criminal 

Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in November 1994 pursuant to Resolution 955 

(1994). The Tribunal prosecutes individuals accused of committing genocide 

and other serious violations of international humanitarian law in Rwanda from 

January 1 through December 31, 1994. Under the Tribunal’s Completion 

Strategy, as endorsed by the Security Council in Resolution 1503 (2003), the 

ICTR seeks to complete all trials by the end of 2008 and all of its work, 

including appeals, by the end of 2010. In compliance with Security Council 

Resolution 1503, the United States, the Tribunal, and various stakeholders of 

the justice sector in Rwanda have continued to work to strengthen the capacity 

of the Rwandan judicial system, in part so that Rwanda can receive/prosecute 

cases transferred to it from the ICTR. New arrests and the ICTR’s preliminary 

rulings against transferring cases to Rwanda have pushed the Tribunal’s target 

date for trial completion into 2009.

In August 2007, the ICTR issued one new indictment to prosecute a 

witness for giving false testimony. It was the first such case in the history of 

both the ICTR (and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former 

Yugoslavia) and was important to protect the integrity of the judicial process. 

To date, the ICTR has completed the trials for 35 defendants, five of which 

resulted in acquittals. Two convictions are currently being appealed. There 

are 29 defendants currently on trial and seven defendants in pretrial detention 

in Arusha. There are 13 fugitives at large.

The significant results of the Tribunal throughout 2007 are 

indisputably due to the coordinated efforts of all Tribunal organs and staff. 

The Tribunal has been working to persuade the Security Council and United 

Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to make special provisions to assist in 

retaining its staff. The UNGA passed by consensus Resolution 62/227, which 

decided to consider International Civil Service Commission recommendations 

to use existing benefits and other non-monetary incentives before special 

provisions were contemplated to assist in retaining staff. On September 14, 

2007, the Security Council passed Resolution 1774, reappointing Mr. Hassan 

Bubacar Jallow as Prosecutor of the ICTR for a four-year term.

The United States continued to monitor the Tribunal closely to ensure 

adherence to practices that improve efficiency and effectiveness. In 2007, the 

United States was assessed $34 million for the ICTR, approximately 24 

percent of the total costs.
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former 

Yugoslavia

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

(ICTY) was established in May 1993 pursuant to UN Security Council 

Resolution 808 to investigate and try individuals accused of committing 

genocide, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of 

international humanitarian law on the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

The apprehension and prosecution at the ICTY of persons indicted for 

war crimes, especially senior Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and 

Ratko Mladic, has long been a critical priority for the United States and the 

Security Council. The United States strongly urges all entities and states, 

particularly the Republic of Serbia, to cooperate by apprehending and 

transferring the remaining three fugitive indictees (Radovan Karadzic, Radko 

Mladic, and Goran Hadzic) to the Tribunal and freezing the assets and 

restricting the travel of those who support the fugitive indictees. The United 

States, along with the European Union, has made clear to authorities in the 

region that meeting their obligations to the ICTY is a prerequisite for full 

integration into the Euro-Atlantic family.

The United States continued to support domestic courts in the region 

in their efforts to adjudicate low- and mid-level war crimes cases and 

supported the processing of cases that had been transferred from the ICTY to 

domestic courts. The United States provided direct assistance to domestic 

judicial mechanisms and promoted regional cooperation among judicial 

professionals.

The ICTY issued eight final judgments in 2007 and referred to 

regional courts eight cases with multiple defendants, as well as 13 defendants 

accused in individual cases. At the end of 2007, the ICTY was conducting 

eight simultaneous trials. Of those who appeared before the Tribunal, 55 were 

convicted and nine acquitted. 

Special Court for Sierra Leone

In 2007, the United States continued to be a strong supporter of the 

Special Court, as it had been since the Special Court’s inception. The United 

States played an instrumental role in drafting and negotiating UN Security 

Council Resolution 1315 (2000), which called on the Secretary-General to 

conclude an agreement with the Government of Sierra Leone to create an 

independent special court to prosecute persons who bore the greatest 

responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian law and 

Sierra Leonean law committed in Sierra Leone since November 30, 1996. The 

successful completion of the Court's work remains a top U.S. priority and a 

key part of the reconciliation process in war-torn West Africa.

The United States contributed $13 million in 2007 to support the 

work of the Special Court; it has contributed approximately $48 million since 

the Court’s creation in 2002 and intends to make additional contributions to 

ensure that the Court completes its important work. More than 40 other States 
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also have provided funds to support the Court, which operates on voluntary 

funding. The United States has welcomed this broad base of past support, but 

continues to appeal to all governments to ensure, through additional 

contributions, that justice will be served, that impunity will not be tolerated, 

and that peace and stability can be sustained in Sierra Leone and in the region.

On July 20, 2007, the Special Court for Sierra Leone announced the 

appointments of a new Registrar and Deputy Registrar. The Court’s new 

Registrar, Herman von Hebel (The Netherlands), served as Deputy Registrar 

of the Court from July 2006 until March 2007, when he was named Acting 

Registrar. Succeeding Mr. von Hebel as Deputy Registrar was Binta 

Mansaray (Sierra Leone). Ms. Mansaray has served for the past four years as 

the Special Court’s Outreach Coordinator. She is the first Sierra Leonean to 

hold the post of Deputy Registrar.

The United States joined the Security Council in a June 28 

Presidential Statement that congratulated the Special Court on handing down 

its first trial judgment on June 21, 2007, in the Armed Forces Revolutionary 

Council, acknowledged the Special Court’s progress towards achieving its 

completion strategy., and underlined the expectation that all organs of the 

Special Court would do their utmost to finish the work of the Court in 

accordance with the completion strategy. The Special Court originally 

intended to complete its work in 2005, but is now aiming at a 2010 completion 

date.

The United States strongly supported the commencement of the trial 

of Charles Taylor on June 4, 2007, in The Hague in accordance with UN 

Security Council Resolution 1688 (2006).

161

Part 5

Reform of the UN System

Management Reform and Mandate Review

In 2007, the United Nations, supported actively by the United States 

and other member states, focused much attention on improving its 

management practices, including by following up on the management reform

agenda from the September 2005 UN World Summit. Delegations worked on 

a broad range of initiatives to modernize the UN Secretariat; strengthen 

oversight, ethics and accountability systems; and review UN program 

mandates. In addition, the United States launched a system-wide United 

Nations Transparency and Accountability Initiative (UNTAI).

Administration of Justice

General Assembly Resolution 59/283 called for the Secretary-General 

to form a panel of external and independent experts to consider redesigning the 

system of administration of justice for its 30,000 staff members. In July 2006, 

this expert body, now known as the Redesign Panel, published its report 

(A/61/205) containing over 30 recommendations intended to improve the 

UN’s internal justice system, which it found to be outmoded, dysfunctional, 

ineffective, and lacking independence. The Panel’s recommendations called 

for a decentralized, professional, well resourced, timely, and independent 

internal justice system, which the authors believed would reduce conflicts 

within the UN through informal dispute resolution and the expedited 

resolution of cases.

The current system of redress for UN employees’ grievances was 

instituted 50 years ago and has evolved into a system that is neither effective 

nor efficient. In the fall session of the 62nd General Assembly, the Fifth 

Committee considered numerous strategies for effecting meaningful reform

and ultimately reached consensus on the initial steps necessary to replace the 

existing system. The General Assembly adopted Resolution 62/228 by 

consensus based on the proposal put forward by the Fifth Committee.

Resolution 62/228 agreed to create a new formal system for 

adjudicating grievances that would consist of two tiers, an UN Dispute 

Tribunal (UNDT) and an UN Appeals Tribunal (UNAT). This new system 

would replace the current single United Nations Administrative Tribunal. 

There was substantial but not universal agreement with the U.S. proposal that 

the current system should clear the backlog of existing cases as opposed to 

transferring them to the new system. The issue of transitional arrangements 

will be taken up again and finalized during the latter part of 2008.
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Ethical Conduct and Integrity

On January 3, 2006, the UN Ethics Office began operations with a 

very small staff that included an American serving as interim director. The 

Office was not fully staffed until May 2007 when Robert F. Benson (Canada) 

assumed his duties as director. The 2007 annual report for the Ethics Office 

(A/61/274) covered the period from August 1, 2006, to July 31, 2007. It 

indicated that 2,584 staff participated in the financial disclosure program for 

the 2006 filing period. The Office also received 52 separate complaints of 

retaliation taken against whistleblowers (UN whistleblower protections are 

contained in ST/SGB/2005/21). Of these, 16 claims warranted further review. 

The Office found that a prima facie case of retaliation had been established in 

two cases and referred them to the UN Office for Internal Oversight Services 

(OIOS) for further investigation. A prima facie case could not be established 

in 10 instances, and four cases remain under review by the Office.

The 2007 annual report proposed extending the jurisdiction of the 

Office to encompass all UN agencies under the authority of the SecretaryGeneral. The issue of jurisdiction became apparent in June 2007 when the 

Office received a complaint from a former UN Development Program (UNDP) 

employee seeking protection from retaliation for reporting on problems at 

UNDP’s offices in North Korea. UNDP declined to cooperate with the 

investigation by the UN Ethics Office and instead announced that it would 

conduct its own review of the case. In an August 17, 2007, memorandum to 

the UNDP Administrator, the UN Ethics Director wrote: 

―When I undertook my review of this case, it was done within the 

parameters of ST/SGB/2005/21. Indeed, the Ethics Office received 

independent and corroborative information in relation to whether a 

prima facie case of retaliation had been established. While it is now 

understood that the case will not proceed any further within the 

parameters of ST/SBG/2005/21, I must advise that had the 

jurisdiction of the protection from retaliation bulletin applied, the 

information received by the Ethics Office would have supported a 

determination that a prima facie case [of retaliation] had been 

established in this case.‖

Once the details of this case became known, the United States 

immediately called upon UNDP to cooperate with the Ethics Office’s inquiries 

and urged the Secretary-General to instruct UNDP to accept the jurisdiction of 

the UN Ethics Office. In a statement to the UNDP Executive Board on 

September 10, 2007, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace emphasized, 

―Transparency is the foundation of accountability and any such accountability

framework must also include recognition by UNDP of the jurisdiction of the 

UN Ethics office for all UNDP personnel.‖

On December 3, 2007, the UN Ethics Director held a press 

conference to announce the Secretary-General’s decision to establish an 

organization-wide ethics framework for the UN Secretariat and UN funds and 

programs (ST/SGB/2007/11). The ethics framework requires all UN funds 
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and programs to establish independent ethics offices. At the time, UNDP, the 

World Food Program, United Nations Children’s Fund, and United Nations 

Population Fund had each already designated ethics officers. The SecretaryGeneral also established a UN Ethics Committee, chaired by the director of the 

UN Ethics Office, to unify ethical standards and provide a mechanism for staff 

to appeal ethics rulings and decisions by their organization. The ethics

framework does not apply to the UN specialized agencies. Nevertheless, some 

agencies have already decided to appoint independent ethics officers in 

response to the creation of the UN Ethics Office in 2006. The United States 

continues to encourage all UN entities to establish independent ethics

functions.

Independent Audit Advisory Committee

At the 2005 UN World Summit, heads of state and government called 

upon the Secretary-General to submit detailed proposals for the creation of an 

independent oversight advisory committee (paragraph 165(c) of General 

Assembly Resolution 60/1). The Secretary-General submitted provisional 

terms of reference for the establishment of the Independent Audit Advisory 

Committee (IAAC) in December 2005 (A/60/568, Annex III). In response to 

the General Assembly and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and 

Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), the Secretary-General submitted revised 

terms of reference in June 2006 (A/60/846/Add.7) and again in March 2007 

(A/61/812). Throughout this time, the United States actively engaged other 

delegations and the Secretariat to ensure that the mandate and composition of 

the IAAC would strengthen accountability and governance. The General 

Assembly used the Secretary-General’s March 2007 proposal as the basis for 

drafting the terms of reference. On June 29, 2007, the General Assembly 

adopted Resolution 61/275 by consensus, which established the IAAC as a 

subsidiary body of the General Assembly to provide expert advice on UN 

oversight functions, risk management, internal controls, and financial 

practices. The General Assembly will review the terms of reference in the fall 

of 2010.

On November 15, 2007, the General Assembly appointed the first 

members of the IAAC (General Assembly decision 62/413). Appointments 

were made on the basis of extensive senior-level expertise in audit, 

accounting, finance, and/or oversight, with due consideration given to 

geographic distribution. Vadim Vadimovich Dubinkin (Russian Federation), 

Vijayendra Nath Kaul (India), Adrian Patrick Strachan (Jamaica), and John 

F.S. Muwanga, (Uganda) were appointed by acclamation. The seat for the 

Western European and Other States was selected by secret ballot, which 

resulted in the appointment of David M. Walker, Comptroller-General of the 

United States. Out of 191 ballots cast, Walker received 99 votes.

The terms of reference established a three-year term of office, 

renewable once. By drawing lots, two of the initial appointments (Walker and 

Muwanga) were for four years to stagger the terms of office. All terms begin 

on January 1, 2008.
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Mandate Review

In early 2007, action on mandate review stalled as a result of the 

vacancy of the G-77 co-chair of the informal plenary. During this period of 

inaction, the United States discussed proposals to reenergize mandate review 

with other member states. However, the U.S. suggestions were met with little 

support from other member states. In early April, the President of the 61st

General Assembly, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa (Bahrain), appointed 

Ambassador Mbuende of Namibia to join Ambassador Cooney of Ireland as 

co-chair. Phase I of mandate review, which covered all mandates five years 

old or older and not renewed that originated from the General Assembly, was 

completed in November 2006. In late April, the Mandate Review Working 

Group began Phase II, the cluster-level review of mandates older than five 

years that had been renewed. At the urging of the Non-aligned Movement and 

the G-77, the Working Group decided to begin with the cluster of mandates on 

drug control, crime prevention, and combating international terrorism. Three 

meetings were held on this cluster but no mandates were formally reviewed. 

On September 17, 2007, the General Assembly adopted an oral decision to 

continue consultations on mandate review into its 62nd session.

On October 17, the President of the 62nd General Assembly, Srgjan 

Kerim (Macedonia), announced that New Zealand would replace Ireland and 

would join Namibia in co-chairing the mandate review process during the 62nd

session of the General Assembly. He also circulated a set of proposed 

parameters to advance the mandate review process. The parameters stated 

that, inter alia: politically sensitive mandates would be treated with caution; 

resources freed up from a review of the development mandates would be 

reinvested into other development activities; non-development savings would 

be optimally utilized, including for development activities; and the Secretariat 

would continue to play a crucial role in mandate review and its support would 

be essential. U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 

Ambassador Khalilzad accepted the parameters and underscored the vital role 

of the Secretary-General and the Secretariat in supporting mandate review. On 

November 6, 2007, General Assembly President Kerim sent a letter to all 

member states confirming their acceptance of the parameters.

Office of Internal Oversight Services

General Assembly Resolution 48/218B stated that the purpose of the 

Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) was to ―assist the SecretaryGeneral in fulfilling his internal oversight responsibilities in respect of the 

resources and staff of the Organization‖ through monitoring, internal audit, 

inspection, evaluation, and investigation. OIOS is based in New York, has 

offices in Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi, and has auditors and investigators 

resident in peacekeeping missions. In July 2005, Inga-Britt Ahlenius

(Sweden) was appointed by the Secretary-General, following consultation with 

the General Assembly, to a five-year non-renewable appointment as the Under 

Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services.
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OIOS reports to the General Assembly are available on its website.

Reports to program managers are made available to member states upon 

request, and a list of these reports can be found in the annual report and on the 

OIOS website.

In 2007, the Fifth Committee considered several OIOS reports 

including the annual report for the year ending June 30, 2007. Between July 1, 

2006 and June 30, 2007, OIOS produced a total of 268 reports containing 

1,792 separate recommendations aimed at improving the functioning of the 

UN. These reports identified $27.8 million in potential cost savings. Actual 

cost savings and recoveries during the reporting period were $12.8 million.

The Fifth Committee also considered reports by the Procurement 

Task Force (PTF). OIOS created the PTF in January 2006 to look into 

allegations of fraud and malfeasance in the procurement service revealed by 

the investigation of the Oil-for-Food program. By June 30, 2007, the PTF had 

completed 63 separate investigations and uncovered 10 different schemes to 

defraud the UN, tainting $610 million in procurement contracts and resulting 

in the misappropriation of more than $25 million. As a result of these 

investigations, six UN staff were charged with misconduct. The SecretaryGeneral recommended nearly $4.9 million in funding to permit the PTF's 16 

investigators to continue their work on the 287 open cases that remained. 

(A/62/520). Absent approval by the General Assembly, the PTF’s mandate 

was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007.

During negotiations in the Fifth Committee, members of the Group of 

77 (G-77) and China called for limiting the PTF’s mandate to six months. 

OIOS objected because the PTF would be unable to complete its open 

investigations by June 30, 2008, and would have difficulty retaining 

investigators if funding for its activities was limited to six months. After much 

deliberation, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 62/234 by consensus, 

which extended the PTF mandate through December 31, 2008. Resolution 

62/234 also noted the OIOS annual reports for 2006 and 2007.

Finally, the United States continued to press for strengthening OIOS’ 

operational independence. The current funding structure for OIOS limits its 

ability to determine where resources will be deployed, which can restrict the 

scope of its internal audit, investigation, monitoring, evaluation, and 

inspection functions, particularly in regard to UN funds and programs. In a 

statement to the Fifth Committee in October 2007, the U.S. delegate stressed 

that the United States believed it imperative that the operational independence 

of OIOS be guaranteed and that it had sufficient resources to perform its core 

functions ―free from any real or perceived influence by the very bodies or 

officials it was intended to oversee.‖ The General Assembly decided not to 

take action to strengthen OIOS’ operational independence until it could take 

into account the Secretary-General’s reports on internal controls, risk 

management, and accountability. These had been requested by General 

Assembly Resolution 61/245 ―no later than by the end of its sixty-first 
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session,‖ which ended on September 17, 2007. None of the reports were 

finished as of December 31, 2007.

Procurement

General Assembly Resolution 61/246 affirmed that procurement

reform was an ongoing process that should focus on ensuring the efficiency, 

transparency, and cost-effectiveness of United Nations procurement as well as 

strengthening internal controls, greater accountability to member states and 

full implementation of General Assembly resolutions on procurement reform.

During 2007, the UN continued to make improvements to its 

procurement practices, implementing about half of the measures recommended 

in the Secretary-General’s report of October 2006 (A/60/846/Add.5/Corr.1). 

The Secretary-General’s comprehensive report on UN procurement activities 

of November 2007 (A/62/525) recorded significant improvements during the 

previous year in staff training, vendor registration, and contracting 

opportunities for vendors from developing countries and countries with 

economies in transition. The November 2007 report indicated that the 

percentage of procurements from developing countries and countries with 

economies in transition reached 53 percent in 2006, compared to an average of 

45 percent over the previous four years. U.S. participation in UN contracting 

increased in terms of dollar value, but the percentage of contracts awarded to 

U.S. vendors declined.

Since the Secretary-General’s comprehensive report was issued late 

in 2007, the General Assembly did not have time to consider a resolution on 

procurement reform during its autumn 2007 session and deferred substantive 

discussion until spring 2008. The United States had hoped to see 

implementation of an independent bid protest system designed to promote 

transparency and fairness in the awarding of contracts. However, progress on 

this initiative was limited to a UN concept paper, with implementation of a 

pilot program scheduled to begin in 2008.

Future reports by the Secretary-General are expected to include 

proposals for improving the management and organizational structure of the 

UN procurement service, as well as clarifying the relationship between 

headquarters and peacekeeping procurement. In addition, the United States 

has been working with other member states and the UN Secretariat to improve 

the vendor registration process so that violators of the UN supplier code of 

conduct are disqualified from bidding.

Staff Contract Reform and Harmonization of 

Conditions of Service

During its 2007 fall session, the General Assembly had before it the 

Secretary-General’s proposals on contract reform and harmonization of 

conditions of services for UN staff members in the field. The proposals 

recommended that the General Assembly establish three types of contracts 

(continuing, fixed, and temporary) and increase the benefits available to field 

staff to equal the full benefits received at headquarters in New York. These 
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proposals aimed to address problems of recruitment, retention, and low morale

in the field. Owing to the lateness of the report by the Advisory Committee on 

Administrative and Budgetary Questions on this item and the tight Fifth 

Committee schedule, the discussion of this item was deferred to the March 

2008 session.

UN Transparency and Accountability Initiative

In 2007, the United States launched a United Nations Transparency 

and Accountability Initiative (UNTAI) to address systemic weaknesses in the 

management of UN resources and activities. UNTAI drew upon reforms

already adopted for the UN Secretariat and sought to apply them to the funds, 

programs and specialized agencies so that all UN entities would be held to the 

same standards. Specifically, UNTAI’s goals were and are:

 Operational independence of the internal oversight function;

 Disclosure of internal audit and oversight reports to the member 

states on request;

 Public access to relevant information related to the organization’s 

operations;

 Independent ethics function;

 ―Whistleblower‖ protections against retaliation for reporting 

misconduct and/or cooperating with the internal oversight

function;

 Financial disclosure program;

 Full implementation of International Public Sector Accounting 

Standards; and

 Transparent administrative support costs for voluntarily-funded 

projects.

Intensive diplomacy in fall 2007 resulted in an endorsement by the 

heads of UN agencies of the principle of disclosing internal audit reports to 

member states (CEB/2007/2). Although this was a needed first step, few 

agencies have taken action to put this principle into practice.

Security Council Reform

Throughout 2007, the United States reiterated its openness to 

consider proposals for a modest expansion of the UN Security Council that 

would contribute to its strength and effectiveness. During his address to the 

opening of the 62nd UN General Assembly in New York on September 17, 

President Bush noted that some had called for reform to the structure of the 

Security Council, including an expansion of its membership. The President 

stated that the United States was open to the prospect, adding that ―We 

believe that Japan is well qualified for permanent membership on the 

Security Council, and that other nations should be considered as well.‖ He 

also stated that reform of the Council must come in the context of broader 

reform of the United Nations.
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The UN General Assembly’s Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) 

on the Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the 

Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council, chaired 

by the President of the General Assembly, held debates on February 8, May 

3, July 19, and December 14, 2007. The UN General Assembly held an 

open debate on UN Security Council reform on November 12, 2007. All of 

these debates demonstrated continued widespread interest among UN 

members in increasing the size of the Security Council, although significant 

differences remained regarding the number of new members, whether the 

new members should be non-permanent or permanent, and whether any new 

permanent members should be extended the right of the veto. Differences 

among member states also emerged over the issue of an ―interim solution‖ to 

UN Security Council reform, whereby additional members could be elected 

for longer terms than the current two years for non-permanent members, 

with a review mechanism at the end of the period to consider their possible 

permanent membership.

At the February 8 meeting of the OEWG, President of the 61st UN 

General Assembly Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa (Bahrain) appointed five 

―facilitators‖ among the Permanent Representatives of member states to 

address five issues related to UN Security Council reform: categories of 

membership, the question of the veto, the question of regional 

representation, the size of an enlarged Security Council, and the working 

methods of the Security Council. The facilitators’ April 19 report discussed 

the fundamental differences of opinion on each of these issues and raised the 

possibility of an interim solution to Security Council reform as a way 

towards a future, more comprehensive Security Council reform. 

Reactions to the report, discussed during the OEWG debate on May 

3, varied widely, with members of the Group of Four (India, Brazil, Japan, 

and Germany) expressing doubts regarding an interim solution and urging 

the President of the General Assembly (PGA) to identify specific options for 

the OEWG to consider. Members of the United for Consensus Group 

(Mexico, Pakistan, Italy, and Canada, among others), who have supported an 

increase in the size of the Security Council but have long opposed the 

addition of new permanent members, expressed support for an interim 

solution. The discussion during the OEWG’s July 19 debate continued to 

reflect these fundamental differences of opinion.

Srgjan Kerim (Macedonia), President of the 62nd UN General 

Assembly, chaired the December 14 meeting of the OEWG. Aiming to 

break the stalemate that had characterized the OEWG’s recent debates, 

Kerim identified seven pillars to guide further OEWG discussion:

 Security Council reform must go hand in hand with the 

transformation of the wider UN system;

 The OEWG should be guided through a joint venture of the 

President of the UN General Assembly and the member states;
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 The OEWG should identify issues ready for negotiation that 

could be moved to intergovernmental negotiations;

 The OEWG should carry out consultations on the modalities for 

intergovernmental negotiations;

 Further steps should allow the members to reach agreement on 

all aspects of UN Security Council reform;

 UN Security Council reform should accommodate the interests 

and concerns of all sides; and

 Members should refrain from steps that would undermine 

current momentum and consensus.

President Kerim also announced the appointment of a Task Force, 

which replaced the facilitators and was comprised of the Permanent 

Representatives of Bangladesh, Portugal, and Chile, to consult further with 

members to identify points of agreement on which to base OEWG

discussion. The United States expressed support for the seven pillars and the 

Task Force.

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Part 6

Administration and Budget

Audit Reports

The Board of Auditors, based in New York, serves as the external 

auditor for the accounts of the United Nations, its funds and programs, and the 

International War Crimes Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. 

Members are elected to serve six-year, non-renewable terms. In 2007, the 

Board was composed of the Auditors-General (or national equivalent) of 

France, the Philippines, and South Africa. Additional information on the 

Board and its mandate is available online at: www.un.org/auditors/board/.

Because the Board of Auditors issues most of its reports in evennumbered years (in line with the financial periods of most of the organizations 

under its oversight which are biennial ending in odd-numbered years), the 

Fifth Committee only had three audit reports to consider in the fall of 2007. 

The Fifth Committee took up the Board’s reports on the voluntary funds 

administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

(A/62/5/Add.5), the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) 

(A/61/5/Add.10), and the implementation of recommendations from the 

biennium 2004-2005 (A/62/120). The Fifth Committee also reviewed the 

reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary 

Questions (ACABQ) on the Board’s audits (A/62/355 and A/61/350/Add.1) 

and the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of the Board’s 

recommendations for UNOPS (A/61/214/Add.2).

The U.S. delegate commended the Board for its helpful assessment of 

the financial statements and overview of key financial and management issues 

faced by UN organizations. The U.S. delegate also expressed concern about 

several longstanding recommendations that had not been fully implemented. 

In this regard, the U.S. delegate stressed the importance of improving the rate 

of implementation of the Board’s recommendations to achieve greater 

efficiencies in the work of the entities audited and to promote the effective use 

of member state resources.

On December 22, 2007, the General Assembly adopted by consensus 

Resolution 62/223, which endorsed the recommendations of the Board of 

Auditors and the ACABQ. The General Assembly called on the SecretaryGeneral and the executive heads of UN funds and programs to hold program 

managers accountable for the timely implementation of recommendations. 

Resolution 62/223 also called for the Secretary-General to provide 

explanations for delays in implementing the Board’s recommendations.

Committee for Program and Coordination

The Committee for Program and Coordination (CPC) is the main 

subsidiary organ of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the 
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General Assembly for planning, programming, and coordination. It is charged 

with reviewing and recommending priorities among UN programs, guiding the 

Secretariat on translating legislation into programs, developing evaluation 

procedures, and making recommendations on where duplication could be 

avoided. The CPC is comprised of 34 members elected by the General 

Assembly on the basis of equitable geographic distribution among regions. 

CPC members serve for a period of three years and may serve multiple 

successive terms. The United States, a member of the CPC from 1974 to 

2006, decided not to seek re-election to the CPC for the 2007-2009 term due to 

the Committee’s consistently ineffective, inefficient operation and continued 

lack of progress on reforming its working methods.

The CPC held its 47th session from June 11 to July 3, 2007, in New 

York. The United States participated during the session as an observer. The 

session primarily focused on reviewing evaluation and coordination reports, 

including a report by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services on Political 

Affairs, the report of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, 

and a report on UN system support for the New Partnership for Africa’s 

Development. During the session, the CPC accomplished little of substantive 

value. Further, minimal progress was made to improve the Committee’s 

working methods, as requested in past General Assembly resolutions. The 

only modest accomplishment CPC made was to decide to devote one or two 

meetings of its future sessions to a discussion by high level participants on 

coordination-related issues.

During the Fifth Committee’s consideration of the agenda item on 

Program Planning, under which the 2007 CPC report was discussed, the 

United States pressed other member states to reiterate the CPC’s responsibility 

to fulfill its primary function of coordinating the work of the UN, including by 

determining which UN activities were obsolete, of marginal usefulness, or 

ineffective, and to recommend, as appropriate, their curtailment or termination 

(as mandated in its terms of reference and GA Resolution 31/93) and to take 

steps to strengthen implementation of this function. The United States’ efforts 

were met with resistance. During informal negotiations, the G-77 essentially 

refused to engage in a meaningful dialogue on any of the U.S.-proposed 

resolution amendments. As a result of the absence of meaningful substantive 

recommendations in the 2007 CPC report and the lack of effective progress to 

improve the CPC’s working methods, the United States disassociated from 

consensus on the Program Planning resolution.

International Civil Service Commission

The International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), a 15-member 

body of recognized experts, is responsible for making recommendations on 

salaries, allowances, benefits, and other conditions of service for employees of 

the United Nations and its specialized agencies. In 2007, Lucretia Myers, who 

has been the U.S. member to the Commission for the last 15 years, served the 

third year of her current four-year term.
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In 2007, the Commission met in New York and Geneva for its 64th 

and 65th sessions, respectively. The Commissioners focused on a variety of 

issues during these sessions, including: monitoring the broadbanding/pay-forperformance pilot program, incentives to retain staff at the International 

Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and International Criminal Tribunal for 

the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and language incentives. The Commission 

made recommendations on the following limited areas: retention pay for the 

ICTR and ICTY; increasing the base/floor salary scale in 2007 for professional 

staff; and modernizing and simplifying the language incentive allowance.

With respect to the Tribunals, the Commission recognized their 

exceptional mission but advised against granting financial retention incentives 

to all staff on an ad hoc or exceptional basis. In the Commission’s opinion, it 

would set a precedent for the common system that should be avoided. Several 

peacekeeping operations, e.g., United Nations Interim Administration Mission 

in Kosovo, had sought approval to use various staff retention measures that 

went beyond the existing benefits in the common system. In the future, as 

other organizations face the need to phase out operations, an approach that 

targets key skill sets may be appropriate if staff retention becomes 

problematic.

The Commission’s observations on why the proposed retention 

system was not tenable included:

 Key staff necessary for an orderly phase out had not been 

adequately identified.

 There was no agreement that the required knowledge for both 

Professional and General Service categories of staff could be 

gained only through experience working in the Tribunals.

 With an average of five years of service, there was already a 

powerful incentive for both categories of staff to remain as long 

as possible in order to vest and build up years in the pension 

system. 

 Vacancy rates were relatively low compared, for example, to the 

30 percent vacancy rates in UN Peacekeeping Operations.

 The HR Network and Staff Associations had expressed doubts 

that recruitment, relocation, and retention bonuses should be used 

as they required discretion rather than being paid across the 

board.

The Commission reviewed practices with regard to the promotion of 

multilingualism. It noted that 2008 had been designated the ―Year of 

Languages‖ by the UN. It also noted that the General Assembly had, over the 

years, repeatedly allowed flexibility with regard to the specific tools governing 

bodies of UN organizations may use to best serve their language skill 

requirements. The organizations and staff supported the existing diversity of 

schemes used. The Commission recommended to the General Assembly that 

the long-standing flexibility to promote multilingualism should be maintained 
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because it had been found effective in meeting the organizations’ needs, and 

that organizations should be encouraged, within their budget considerations, to 

continue efforts to promote the use of additional foreign languages to further 

operational needs.

The Fifth (Administrative and Budgetary) Committee of the General 

Assembly discussed the 2007 report of the ICSC during the 62nd General 

Assembly. Based on the discussions in the Fifth Committee, the UN General 

Assembly adopted Resolution 62/227 ―United Nations Common System: 

Report of the International Civil Service Commission‖ on December 22, 2007. 

This resolution, in addition to covering retention and language incentives as 

previously mentioned, acted on the following issues:

 Decided that it was not appropriate at this time to consider 

financial retention incentives at the International Criminal 

Tribunals;

 Reaffirmed the use of a range of 110 to 120 for the margin 

between the net remuneration of professional staff in New York 

and staff in comparable positions in the comparator civil service 

(United States), on the understanding that the margin would be 

maintained at a level around the midpoint of 115 over a period of 

time;

 Approved 1.97 percent increase in the UN common system’s 

base/floor salary scale to be effective January 1, 2008, with this 

increase offset by the consolidation of post adjustment.

Joint Inspection Unit

The Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), based in Geneva, Switzerland, is an 

external oversight body for the entire UN system. The JIU produces reports, 

notes, and confidential letters detailing its findings and recommendations. It is 

accountable to member states through the UN General Assembly and through 

the governing bodies of UN specialized agencies. The JIU is funded from the 

UN regular budget and the budgets of UN specialized agencies.

The JIU is comprised of 11 inspectors, as well as research and 

support personnel. According to the JIU statute, the inspectors should be 

chosen ―from among members of national supervision or inspection bodies, or 

from among persons of a similar competence on the basis of their special 

experience in national or international administrative and financial matters, 

including management questions.‖ The inspectors are elected by the General 

Assembly and limited to serve two five-year terms. In 2007, M. Deborah 

Wynes (United States) was the Unit’s Chairperson and Juan Luis Larrabure

(Peru) was the Vice Chairperson.

The JIU produced 12 reports, two notes, and one management letter 

in 2007, as well as a separate document entitled ―Report of the Joint Inspection 

Unit for 2006 and Program of Work for 2007‖ (A/61/34). The following 

reports and information on the JIU are available at www.unjiu.org/.
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 Voluntary contributions in United Nations system organizations: 

impact on program delivery and resource mobilization strategies 

(JIU/REP/2007/1)

 United Nations system staff medical coverage (JIU/REP/2007/2)

 Review of the Working Capital Fund in the World 

Meteorological Organization (WMO) (JIU/REP/2007/3)

 Age structure of human resources in the organizations of the 

United Nations system (JIU/REP/2007/4)

 Review of management and administration at the International 

Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (JIU/REP/2007/5)

 Knowledge management in the United Nations system 

(JIU/REP/2007/6)

 Review of management and administration in the International 

Maritime Organization (IMO) (JIU/REP/2007/7)

 Funding and staffing of the Office of the United Nations High 

Commissioner for Human Rights (JIU/REP/2007/8)

 Review of the national competitive recruitment examination as a 

recruitment tool (JIU/REP/2007/9)

 Liaison offices in the United Nations system (JIU/REP/2007/10)

 Review of management and administration in the World 

Meteorological Organization (WMO) ( JIU/REP/2007/11)

 Review of the progress made by the United Nations system 

organizations in achieving Millennium Development Goal 6, 

Target 7, to combat HIV/AIDS (JIU/REP/2007/12)

 Review of management and administration of the United Nations 

Office at Geneva (JIU/NOTE/2007/1)

 Review of selected telecommunication issues and use of Voice 

Over Internet Protocol technologies in the United Nations system 

organizations (JIU/NOTE/2007/2)

 Headquarters agreements and other host country agreements: 

compliance issues (JIU/ML/2007/1)

In March 2007, the General Assembly considered the JIU’s program 

of work for 2007. This was a significant step forward for JIU’s annual 

planning process. In the past, the JIU provided the General Assembly with its 

program of work in the fall, by which time the Unit had nearly completed its 

work for the year. On April 2, 2007, at the urging of the U.S. delegate, the 

General Assembly adopted by consensus Resolution 61/260, which called for 

aligning the JIU’s annual reporting and planning processes. In March 2008, 

the Assembly will consider the 2007 annual report together with the 2008 

program of work.

In the fall of 2007, the General Assembly considered the JIU’s annual 

report for 2006. The U.S. delegate welcomed the JIU’s efforts to report on the 

impact and acceptance rate of its recommendations and continued to push for 

further reforms of the JIU, such as concentrating its work primarily upon 

system-wide matters, improving the implementation rate of JIU 
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recommendations by UN agencies, and showing where savings had resulted 

from the full implementation of JIU recommendations. On December 22, 

2007, the General Assembly adopted by consensus Resolution 61/238, which 

called for full and timely implementation of JIU recommendations by UN 

organizations, continued coordination with the Board of Auditors and the 

Office of Internal Oversight Services, and an increased focus by the JIU on 

issues of system-wide interest, value, and relevance.

Scale of Assessments 

At its 62nd session, the UN General Assembly considered the requests 

of seven UN members for temporary exemption from the loss-of-vote 

provision of Article 19 of the UN Charter. Article 19 prescribes that a UN 

member that is in arrears to the organization shall have no vote in the General 

Assembly if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount due from it 

for the preceding two years. The General Assembly may, nevertheless, permit 

such a member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to 

conditions beyond the control of the member.

The General Assembly adopted by consensus Resolution 62/1, which 

granted temporary exemption from loss of voting rights in accordance with 

Article 19 of the UN Charter to the following seven UN member states: 

Central African Republic, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sao Tome and 

Principe, Somalia, and Tajikistan. The United States joined consensus in the 

adoption of Resolution 62/1.

The General Assembly deferred until the 63rd session to be held in 

late 2008 consideration of the methodology to be used in preparation of the 

scale of assessments for 2010-2012 and did not provide any additional 

guidance to the Committee on contributions in this regard. The UN scale of 

assessments is adopted by the UN General Assembly for a three-year period. 

The next scale will be decided in 2009.

UN Budget

During 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) took 

several actions relating to the UN program budget for the biennium 2008-09. 

The adoption of the $4.2 billion biennium budget (A/RES/62/236 and 

A/RES/62/237) in December 2007 -- against U.S. opposition -- was the most 

important action taken during the year. The adopted budget for the 2008-2009 

biennium is slightly below the final budget for the previous biennium. In 

approving the biennium budget for 2008-2009, the General Assembly deferred 

to the resumed session of 2008 a number of proposals that, if approved, could 

increase the budget substantially. The so-called ―add-ons‖ include reform

initiatives and restructuring proposals plus further funding for Special Political 

Missions (SPMs), strengthening of the Office of Internal Oversight Services

(OIOS), and revised estimates to resolutions and decisions of the Economic 

and Social Council that could increase the budget by an additional $1 billion. 

U.S. Ambassador for UN Management and Reform Mark Wallace, in voting 
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177

against the budget resolution, cited concerns with the ―piecemeal nature of the 

budget‖ and on the potential growth of the final 2008-2009 biennium budget. 

In addition, the final budget included funding for the ―Durban II conference‖ 

which Ambassador Wallace called a noxious event and a ―disgrace in the 

international community.‖ (The Durban II conference is a follow-up to the 

first conference on the elimination of racism and racial discrimination held in 

Durban, South Africa in 2001. The United States withdrew from the 2001 

Conference due to the pervasive anti-Semitism that characterized the 

conference itself, as well as the inclusion of anti-Israel language in the Draft 

Declaration and the Program of Action.)

On December 22, 2007, the General Assembly took action on a new 

Administration of Justice system (A/RES62/228). By pressing for the new 

system to be introduced gradually, costs were limited to approximately $17 

million.

The General Assembly in plenary session on December 21, 2007, 

adopted Resolution 62/238 approving funding for 26 Special Political 

Missions in the amount of $386.6 million. Consideration of the SecretaryGeneral’s proposal to build a UN integrated compound in Baghdad was 

deferred until 2008. Syria proposed amendments that would have shifted 

funding of SPMs from the regular budget, for which the U.S. rate of 

assessment is 22 percent, to the peacekeeping budget, for which the U.S. rate 

of assessment is 25.9 percent. The U.S. delegation succeeded in getting the 

Syrian delegation to withdraw the amendment to the SPM resolution.

On December 22, 2007, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 

A/62/234 to extend financing for the Procurement Task Force (PTF) to 

continue its investigation of 289 pending cases. The General Assembly 

endorsed the Secretary-General’s request for $4.9 million to cover the costs of 

the 27-member task force through the end of 2008, at which time the PTF 

function would be absorbed by the Investigations Division of OIOS. The 

extension of financing for the PTF allowed for continued investigation of 

suspected waste, fraud, and mismanagement involving large and complex 

procurement contracts associated with UN peacekeeping missions.

UN Capital Master Plan

The UN Capital Master Plan (CMP) consists of a full renovation of 

the UN headquarters complex in New York. UN facilities, the majority of 

which are 55 years old, are not compliant with building codes for fire and life 

safety. They also are energy inefficient and do not meet modern security 

requirements. The proposal for the CMP was first introduced by the UN 

Secretary-General in 2000 and endorsed by the General Assembly in 2002 by 

Resolution 57/292. In 2006, through Resolutions 60/282 and 61/251, the 

General Assembly approved a project implementation strategy with an 

expected completion date of 2014 and a budget of nearly $1.9 billion.

In 2007, a decision was reached to change the construction strategy 

for the CMP. The General Assembly adopted Resolution 62/87 in December, 
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

178

to change the project implementation strategy to an accelerated approach. The 

resolution also expressed concern about projected cost increases and stressed 

the need for the UN to act to control risks on the project and contain costs.

In 2007, the UN projected cost overruns on the CMP of $220 million. 

New CMP Executive Director Michael Adlerstein (United States) proposed an 

accelerated construction strategy that consisted of vacating and renovating the 

Secretariat building in one phase rather than multiple phases as planned under 

the previous strategy. The new strategy would shorten the overall construction 

schedule and reduce some risks associated with renovating a building that was 

still partially occupied. Changing the renovation strategy would save an 

estimated $30 million. The UN also undertook an extensive value engineering 

process to try to identify additional cost savings. The UN has estimated over 

$100 million in cost savings through value engineering, but no formal updated 

cost estimate has been issued.

The updated information provided on project costs and the proposal 

made in 2007 to change the project strategy generated discussion among 

members about how best to implement the CMP and try to contain potential 

cost overruns. The United States continued to press the UN to do everything 

possible to contain costs on the project and to meet member-state expectations 

that the approved project budget would be maintained. We expected that the 

UN would provide member states with updated cost information in late 2008.

UN Financial Situation

The United Nations ended 2007 with members’ arrears totaling 

$3.162 billion for assessments relating to the UN regular budget, the 

International Criminal Tribunals in the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and 

UN peacekeeping operations. The figure is $850 million higher than at the 

end of 2006 when $2.312 billion was outstanding. The higher figure reflects 

primarily amounts owed for UN peacekeeping operations, which accounted for 

$2.7 billion of the total owed at the end of 2007. The total owed for the UN 

regular budget was $428 million and the amounts owed for the international 

criminal tribunals and the Capital Master Plan were $34 million and $150 

million respectively.

The United States accounted for $1.493 billion or 47 percent of the 

total owed by all UN members at the end of 2007. Most of the U.S. debt, 

$1.084 billion, related to UN peacekeeping operations. With respect to the 

UN regular budget, the United States was able to pay $341.9 million towards 

its annual assessment of $492.4 million by the end of the year. The United 

States was also able to pay $34.8 million of its current year assessment for the 

two international criminal tribunals by December 31. The total U.S. payments 

in the course of calendar year 2007, for all UN assessments, amounted to $1.7 

billion. Most of the U.S. payments, approximately $1.3 billion, related to 

assessments for peacekeeping.

On May 9, 2008, UN Controller Warren Sach (United Kingdom) 

reported on the UN’s financial situation as of December 31, 2007. As in past 
Administration and Budget

179

briefings, Mr. Sach examined the UN’s financial position in relation to four 

main financial indicators: assessments issued, unpaid assessed contributions, 

available cash resources, and the UN’s outstanding debt to member states. 

According to Mr. Sach, cash balances were higher at the end of 2007 than at 

the end of 2006. Assessments and payments to the UN’s budget were higher 

in 2007 than in the previous year. By the end of the year, some 140 member 

states had paid their regular budget assessments in full. Approximately $428 

million of assessed contributions to the regular budget remained outstanding, 

representing an increase of some $67 million from the previous year.

The total amount outstanding for peacekeeping operations at the end 

of 2007 was over $2.7 billion. This was approximately $800 million more 

than in the previous year and was due to the expansion in peacekeeping

operations. According to Mr. Sach the United States owed $1.084 billion of 

the total outstanding amount for peacekeeping.

In 2007, the debt owed to member states improved in comparison to 

the prior year but still amounted to $779 million. This reflected a decrease 

from $1 billion in 2006.

The Controller also reported that the financial position of the 

international tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia improved in 

2007. Unpaid assessments for the tribunals fell from $51 million in 2006 to 

$34 million at the end of 2007. The number of member states paying their 

assessed contributions in full for both international tribunals increased from 99 

at the end of 2006 to 105 by the end of 2007.

Overall, Mr. Sach noted some encouraging signs of progress in the 

financial position of the UN, including a slight increase in the number of 

member states that had fully paid their assessments by the end of 2007. He 

nonetheless concluded that the position of the organization remained fragile.

UN Joint Staff Pension Board

The General Assembly established the Joint Staff Pension Fund in 

Resolution 248 (III) (1948) to provide retirement, death, disability, and related 

benefits for staff in the UN system and other participating organizations. In 

2007, the Fund had 22 member organizations.

The Joint Staff Pension Board governs the Fund and consists of 33 

people, 12 from the UN (four selected by the General Assembly, four by the 

Secretary-General, and four by the participants) and 21 from the other 

participating organizations (comprised of representatives selected by the 

Governing Bodies, the Executive Heads, and participants). Prior to 2007, the 

Pension Board met every other year. To strengthen governance for the Fund, 

the Board decided in 2006 to hold annual sessions beginning in 2007. The 

2007 Board report contains the revised budget for the 2006-2007 biennium, 

the budget request for the 2008-2009 biennium, and the Board’s 

recommendation for ―a viable ad hoc measure to attenuate adequately the 

adverse consequences arising from dollarization in Ecuador‖ as requested by 

General Assembly Resolution 61/240.
United States Participation in the United Nations - 2007

180

As of December 31, 2006, the Fund had 98,433 active participants 

and 56,718 beneficiaries. Actuarial valuations occur every two years to assess 

whether the Fund’s current and projected assets are adequate to cover future 

liabilities. The Fund had an actuarial surplus of 1.29 percent of pensionable 

remuneration as of the end of 2005, which was the fifth consecutive surplus. 

The next valuation will cover the period ending on December 31, 2007. The 

market value of the Fund’s assets was over $37.3 billion as of March 31, 2007.

In the fall of 2007, the Fifth Committee considered the Board’s 

report. In a statement to the Fifth Committee, the U.S. delegate commended 

the Pension Fund for ―sound long-term financial planning and strong 

management.‖ At the same time, the U.S. delegate denounced the Pension 

Board’s proposal for ad hoc, one-time ex gratia payments to retirees and other 

beneficiaries of the Fund supposedly adversely affected by dollarization in 

Ecuador. The U.S. delegate strongly objected to the proposal as it would 

violate Pension Fund regulations, ignore the fact that the pensioners concerned 

were actually financially well off, and set a bad precedent for the future.

On December 21, 2007, the Fifth Committee adopted Resolution 

A/C.5/62/L.25 on the report of the Joint Staff Pension Fund Board by a vote of 

140-1(U.S.)-1. Paragraph 10 of the resolution approved the Pension Board’s 

request for an ―exceptional payment‖ of approximately $500,000 to 79 retirees 

affected by the consequences of dollarization in Ecuador. Paragraph 10 was 

adopted by a separately recorded vote of 93-1(U.S.)-47. The United States 

voted against the resolution due to its strong opposition to the measure 

approved in paragraph 10. In an explanation of its vote, the United States

reiterated its strong criticism of the proposal, asserting, among other things, 

that, ―We are deeply concerned that this resolution could invite requests for 

future payments in other cases of national economic instability.‖ Resolution 

A/C.5/62/L.25 also approved the revised budget for the 2006-2007 biennium 

and the budget request for the 2008-2009 biennium and requested that the 

Secretary-General undertake a comprehensive review of the policymaking 

function within the pension fund Secretariat. On December 22, 2007, the 

General Assembly adopted the Fifth Committee Resolution (GA Res. 62/241).
181

Appendix 1

Address by President George W. Bush

Statement by President George W. Bush before the 62nd regular session of the 

UN General Assembly on September 25, 2007.

Mr. Secretary General, Mr. President, distinguished delegates, ladies and 

gentlemen: Thank you for the opportunity to address the General Assembly of 

the United Nations.

Sixty years ago, representatives from 16 nations gathered to begin 

deliberations on a new international bill of rights. The document they 

produced is called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- and it stands 

as a landmark achievement in the history of human liberty. It opens by 

recognizing "the inherent dignity" and the "equal and inalienable rights of all 

members of the human family" as "the foundation of freedom, justice, and 

peace in the world." And as we gather for this 62nd General Assembly, the

standards of the Declaration must guide our work in this world.

Achieving the promise of the Declaration requires confronting long-term 

threats; it also requires answering the immediate needs of today. The nations 

in this chamber have our differences, yet there are some areas where we can all 

agree. When innocent people are trapped in a life of murder and fear, the 

Declaration is not being upheld. When millions of children starve to death or 

perish from a mosquito bite, we're not doing our duty in the world. When 

whole societies are cut off from the prosperity of the global economy, we're all 

worse off. Changing these underlying conditions is what the Declaration calls 

the work of "larger freedom" -- and it must be the work of every nation in this 

assembly.

This great institution must work for great purposes -- to free people from 

tyranny and violence, hunger and disease, illiteracy and ignorance, and 

poverty and despair. Every member of the United Nations must join in this 

mission of liberation.

First, the mission of the United Nations requires liberating people from 

tyranny and violence. The first article of the Universal Declaration begins, 

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." The truth is 

denied by terrorists and extremists who kill the innocent with the aim of 

imposing their hateful vision on humanity. The followers of this violent 

ideology are a threat to civilized people everywhere. All civilized nations 

must work together to stop them -- by sharing intelligence about their 
United States Participation in the United Nations – 2007

182

networks, and choking their [sic] -- off their finances, and bringing to justice 

their operatives.

In the long run, the best way to defeat extremists is to defeat their dark 

ideology with a more hopeful vision -- the vision of liberty that founded this 

body. The United States salutes the nations that have recently taken strides 

toward liberty -- including Ukraine and Georgia and Kyrgyzstan and 

Mauritania and Liberia, Sierra Leone and Morocco. The Palestinian

Territories have moderate leaders, mainstream leaders that are working to 

build free institutions that fight terror, and enforce the law, and respond to the 

needs of their people. The international community must support these 

leaders, so that we can advance the vision of two democratic states, Israel and 

Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security.

Brave citizens in Lebanon and Afghanistan and Iraq have made the choice for 

democracy -- yet the extremists have responded by targeting them for murder. 

This is not a show of strength -- it is evidence of fear. And the extremists are 

doing everything in their power to bring down these young democracies. The 

people of Lebanon and Afghanistan and Iraq have asked for our help. And 

every civilized nation has a responsibility to stand with them.

Every civilized nation also has a responsibility to stand up for the people 

suffering under dictatorship. In Belarus, North Korea, Syria, and Iran, brutal 

regimes deny their people the fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal 

Declaration. Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma, where a 

military junta has imposed a 19-year reign of fear. Basic freedoms of speech, 

assembly, and worship are severely restricted. Ethnic minorities are 

persecuted. Forced child labor, human trafficking, and rape are common. The 

regime is holding more than 1,000 political prisoners -- including Aung San 

Suu Kyi, whose party was elected overwhelmingly by the Burmese people in 

1990.

The ruling junta remains unyielding, yet the people's desire for freedom is 

unmistakable. This morning, I'm announcing a series of steps to help bring 

peaceful change to Burma. The United States will tighten economic sanctions

on the leaders of the regime and their financial backers. We will impose an 

expanded visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of 

human rights, as well as their family members. We'll continue to support the 

efforts of humanitarian groups working to alleviate suffering in Burma. And I 

urge the United Nations and all nations to use their diplomatic and economic 

leverage to help the Burmese people reclaim their freedom.

In Cuba, the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing its end. The Cuban people 

are ready for their freedom. And as that nation enters a period of transition, 
Address by President George W. Bush

183

the United Nations must insist on free speech, free assembly, and ultimately,

free and competitive elections.

In Zimbabwe, ordinary citizens suffer under a tyrannical regime. The 

government has cracked down on peaceful calls for reform, and forced 

millions to flee their homeland. The behavior of the Mugabe regime is an 

assault on its people -- and an affront to the principles of the Universal 

Declaration. The United Nations must insist on change in Harare -- and must 

insist for the freedom of the people of Zimbabwe.

In Sudan, innocent civilians are suffering repression -- and in the Darfur

region, many are losing their lives to genocide. America has responded with 

tough sanctions against those responsible for the violence. We've provided 

more than $2 billion in humanitarian and peacekeeping aid. I look forward to 

attending a Security Council meeting that will focus on Darfur, chaired by the 

French President. I appreciate France's leadership in helping to stabilize 

Sudan's neighbors. And the United Nations must answer this challenge to 

conscience, and live up to its promise to promptly deploy peacekeeping forces 

to Darfur.

Second, the mission of the United Nations requires liberating people from 

hunger and disease. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration states: "Everyone 

has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of 

himself and of his family, including food and clothing and housing and 

medical care." Around the world, the United Nations is carrying out noble 

efforts to live up to these words.

Feeding the hungry has long been a special calling for my nation. Today, 

more than half the world's food assistance comes from America. We send 

emergency food stocks to starving people from camps in Sudan to slums in --

around the world. I've proposed an innovative initiative to alleviate hunger 

under which America would purchase the crops of local farmers in Africa and 

elsewhere, rather than shipping in food from the developed world. This would 

help build up local agriculture and break the cycle of famine in the developing 

world -- and I urge our United States Congress to support this initiative.

Many in this hall are bringing the spirit of generosity to fighting HIV/AIDS 

and malaria. Five years ago, in Sub-Saharan Africa, an AIDS diagnosis was 

widely considered a death sentence, and fewer than 50,000 people infected 

with the virus were receiving treatment. The world responded by creating the 

Global Fund, which is working with governments and the private sector to 

fight the disease around the world. The United States decided to take these 

steps a little further by launching the $15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS 

Relief. Since 2003, this effort has helped bring cutting-edge medicines to more 

than a million people in sub-Sahara Africa. It's a good start. So earlier this 
United States Participation in the United Nations – 2007

184

year, I proposed to double our initial commitment to $30 billion. By coming 

together, the world can turn the tide against HIV/AIDS -- once and for all.

Malaria is another common killer. In some countries, malaria takes as many 

lives as HIV/AIDS -- the vast majority of them children under the age of five 

years old. Every one of these deaths is unnecessary, because the disease is 

preventable and treatable. The world knows what it takes to stop malaria --

bed nets and indoor spraying and medicine to treat the disease. Two years 

ago, America launched a $1.2 billion malaria initiative. Other nations and the 

private sector are making vital contributions, as well. I call on every member 

state to maintain its focus, find new ways to join this cause, and bring us closer 

to the day when malaria deaths are no more.

Third, the mission of the United Nations requires liberating people from the 

chains of illiteracy and ignorance. Article 26 of the Universal Declaration 

states: "Everyone has the right to education." And when nations make the 

investments needed to educate their people, the whole world benefits. Better 

education unleashes the talent and potential of its citizens, and adds to the 

prosperity of all of us. Better education promotes better health and greater 

independence. Better education increases the strength of democracy, and 

weakens the appeal of violent ideologies. So the United States is joining with 

nations around the world to help them provide a better education for their 

people.

A good education starts with good teachers. In partnership with other nations, 

America has helped train more than 600,000 teachers and administrators. A 

good education requires good textbooks. So in partnership with other nations, 

America has distributed tens of millions of textbooks. A good education 

requires access to good schools. So in partnership with other nations, America 

is helping nations raise standards in their schools at home, and providing 

scholarships to help students come to schools in the United States. In all our 

education efforts, our nation is working to expand access for women and girls, 

so that the opportunity to get a decent education is open to all.

Finally, the mission of the United Nations requires liberating people from 

poverty and despair. Article 23 of the Universal Declaration states: "Everyone 

has the right to work, to free choice of employment, [and] to just and favorable 

conditions of work." In the 21st century, this requires ensuring that people in 

poor countries have the same opportunity to benefit from the global economy 

that citizens of wealthy countries have.

The United Nations provides vital economic assistance designed to help 

developing nations grow their economies and reach their potential. The 

United States agrees with that position; we've dramatically increased our own 

development assistance -- and we're delivering that aid in innovative ways. 
Address by President George W. Bush

185

We started the Millennium Challenge Account to reward nations that govern 

justly, fight corruption, invest in their people, and promote economic freedom. 

With this aid, we're reaching out to developing nations in partnership, not 

paternalism. And we're ensuring that our aid dollars reach those who need 

them -- and achieve results.

In the long run, the best way to lift people out of poverty is through trade and 

investment. A nation that is open and trading with the world will create 

economic rewards that far exceed anything they could get through foreign aid. 

During the 1990s, developing nations that significantly lowered tariffs saw 

their per capita income grow about three times faster than other developing 

countries. Open markets ignite growth, encourage investment, increase 

transparency, strengthen the rule of law, and help countries help themselves.

The international community now has an historic chance to open markets 

around the world by concluding a successful Doha Round of trade talks. A 

successful Doha outcome would mean real and substantial openings in 

agriculture, goods, and services -- and real and substantial reductions in tradedistorting subsidies. The world's largest trading nations, including major 

developing countries, have a special responsibility to make the tough political 

decisions to reduce trade barriers. America has the will and flexibility to make 

those necessary decisions. Our negotiators are demonstrating that spirit in 

Geneva. I urge other leaders to direct their negotiators to do the same. And 

I'm optimistic that we can reach a good Doha agreement -- and seize this oncein-a-generation opportunity.

In the meantime, America will continue to pursue agreements that open trade 

and investment wherever we can. We recently signed free trade agreements 

with Peru, Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. These agreements embody 

the values of open markets -- transparent and fair regulation, respect for 

private property, and resolving disputes under international law rules. These 

are good agreements, and they're now ready for a congressional vote, and I 

urge the Congress to approve them as soon as possible.

As America works with the United Nations to alleviate immediate needs, we're 

also coming together to address longer-term challenges. Together, we're 

preparing for pandemics that could cause death and suffering on a global scale. 

Together, we're working to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass 

destruction. Together, we're confronting the challenges of energy security, 

and environmental quality, and climate change. I appreciate the discussions 

on climate change led by the Secretary General last night. I look forward to 

further discussions at the meeting of major economies in Washington later this 

week.

The goals I've outlined today cannot be achieved overnight -- and they cannot 

be achieved without reform in this vital institution. The United States is 
United States Participation in the United Nations – 2007

186

committed to a strong and vibrant United Nations. Yet the American people 

are disappointed by the failures of the Human Rights Council. This body has 

been silent on repression by regimes from Havana to Caracas to Pyongyang 

and Tehran -- while focusing its criticism excessively on Israel. To be credible 

on human rights in the world, the United Nations must reform its own Human 

Rights Council.

Some have also called for reform to the structure of the Security Council, 

including an expansion of its membership. The United States is open to this 

prospect. We believe that Japan is well-qualified for permanent membership 

on the Security Council, and that other nations should be considered, as well. 

The United States will listen to all good ideas, and we will support changes to 

the Security Council as part of broader U.N. reform. And in all we do, I call 

on member states to work for an institution that adheres to strict ethical 

standards, and lives up to the high principles of the Universal Declaration.

With the commitment and courage of this chamber, we can build a world 

where people are free to speak, assemble, and worship as they wish; a world 

where children in every nation grow up healthy, get a decent education, and 

look to the future with hope; a world where opportunity crosses every border. 

America will lead toward this vision where all are created equal, and free to 

pursue their dreams. This is the founding conviction of my country. It is the 

promise that established this body. And with our determination, it can be the 

future of our world.

Thank you, and God bless. 
Principal UN Organs

187

Appendix 2

Principal UN Organs

General Assembly

The General Assembly is composed of all 192 members of the United 

Nations. As of December 31, 2007, they are:

Member Date of Admission

Afghanistan Nov. 19, 1946

Albania Dec. 14, 1955

Algeria Oct. 8, 1962

Andorra July 28, 1993

Angola Dec. 1, 1976

Antigua and Barbuda Nov. 11, 1981

Argentina Oct. 24, 1945

Armenia March 2, 1992

Australia Nov. 1, 1945

Austria Dec. 14, 1955

Azerbaijan March 2, 1992

Bahamas Sept. 18, 1973

Bahrain Sept. 21, 1971

Bangladesh Sept. 17, 1974

Barbados Dec. 9, 1966

Belarus Oct. 24, 1945

Belgium Dec. 27, 1945

Belize Sept. 25, 1981

Benin Sept. 20, 1960

Bhutan Sept. 21, 1960

Bolivia Nov. 14, 1945

Bosnia and Herzegovina May 22, 1992

Botswana Oct. 17, 1966

Brazil Oct. 24, 1945

Brunei Darussalam Sept. 21, 1984

Bulgaria Dec. 14, 1955

Burkina Faso Sept. 20, 1960

Burundi Sept. 18, 1962

Cambodia Dec. 14, 1955

Cameroon Sept. 20, 1960

Canada Nov. 9, 1945

Cape Verde Sept. 16, 1975

Central African Republic Sept. 20, 1960

Chad Sept. 20, 1960

Chile Oct. 24, 1945

China Oct. 24, 1945

Colombia Nov. 5, 1945

Comoros Nov. 12, 1975
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188

Congo Sept. 20, 1960

Congo, Democratic Republic of the Sept. 20, 1960

Costa Rica Nov. 2, 1945

Cote d’Ivoire Sept. 20, 1960

Croatia May 22, 1992

Cuba Oct. 24, 1945

Cyprus Sept. 20, 1960

Czech Republic Jan. 19, 1993

Denmark Oct. 24, 1945

Djibouti Sept. 20, 1977

Dominica Dec. 18, 1978

Dominican Republic Oct. 24, 1945

Ecuador Dec. 21, 1945

Egypt Oct. 24, 1945

El Salvador Oct. 24, 1945

Equatorial Guinea Nov. 12, 1968

Eritrea May 28, 1993

Estonia Sept. 17, 1991

Ethiopia Nov. 13, 1945

Fiji Oct. 13, 1970

Finland Dec. 14, 1955

France Oct. 24, 1945

Gabon Sept. 20, 1960

Gambia Sept. 21, 1965

Georgia July 31, 1992

Germany Sept. 18, 1973

Ghana March 8, 1957

Greece Oct. 25, 1945

Grenada Sept. 17, 1974

Guatemala Nov. 21, 1945

Guinea Dec. 12, 1958

Guinea-Bissau Sept. 17, 1974

Guyana Sept. 20, 1966

Haiti Oct. 24, 1945

Honduras Dec. 17, 1945

Hungary Dec. 14, 1955

Iceland Nov. 19, 1946

India Oct. 30, 1945

Indonesia Sept. 28, 1950

Iran Oct. 24, 1945

Iraq Dec. 21, 1945

Ireland Dec. 14, 1955

Israel May 11, 1949

Italy Dec. 14, 1955

Jamaica Sept. 18, 1962

Japan Dec. 18, 1956

Jordan Dec. 14, 1955

Kazakhstan March 2, 1992

Kenya Dec. 16, 1963

Kiribati Sept. 14, 1999

Korea, Democratic People’sRepublic of Sept. 17, 1991

Korea, Republic of Sept. 17, 1991
Principal UN Organs

189

Kuwait May 14, 1963

Kyrgyzstan March 2, 1992

Laos Dec. 14, 1955

Latvia Sept. 17, 1991

Lebanon Oct. 24, 1945

Lesotho Oct. 17, 1966

Liberia Nov. 2, 1945

Libya Dec. 14, 1955

Liechtenstein Sept. 18, 1990

Lithuania Sept. 17, 1991

Luxembourg Oct. 24, 1945

Madagascar Sept. 20, 1960

Malawi Dec. 1, 1964

Malaysia Sept. 17, 1957

Maldives Sept. 21, 1965

Mali Sept. 28, 1960

Malta Dec. 1, 1964

Marshall Islands Sept. 17, 1991

Mauritania Oct. 27, 1961

Mauritius April 24, 1968

Mexico Nov. 7, 1945

Micronesia Sept. 17, 1991

Moldova March 2, 1992

Monaco May 28, 1993

Mongolia Oct. 27, 1961

Montenegro* June 28, 2006

Morocco Nov. 12, 1956

Mozambique Sept. 16, 1975

Myanmar (Burma) April 19, 1948

Namibia April 23, 1990

Nauru, Republic of Sept. 14, 1999

Nepal Dec. 14, 1955

Netherlands, The Dec. 10, 1945

New Zealand Oct. 24, 1945

Nicaragua Oct. 24, 1945

Niger Sept. 20, 1960

Nigeria Oct. 7, 1960

Norway Nov. 27, 1945

Oman Oct. 7, 1971

Pakistan Sept. 30, 1947

Palau Dec. 15, 1994

Panama Nov. 13, 1945

Papua New Guinea Oct. 10, 1975

Paraguay Oct. 24, 1945

Peru Oct. 31, 1945

Philippines Oct. 24, 1945

Poland Oct. 24, 1945

Portugal Dec. 14, 1955

Qatar Sept. 21, 1971

Romania Dec. 14, 1955

Russian Federation Oct. 24, 1945

Rwanda Sept. 18, 1962
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190

Saint Kitts and Nevis Sept. 23, 1983

Saint Lucia Sept. 18, 1979

Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Sept. 16, 1980

Samoa Dec. 15, 1976

San Marino March 2, 1992

Sao Tome and Principe Sept. 16, 1975

Saudi Arabia Oct. 24, 1945

Senegal Sept. 28, 1960

Serbia* Nov. 1, 2000

Seychelles Sept. 21, 1976

Sierra Leone Sept. 27, 1961

Singapore Sept. 21, 1965

Slovak Republic Jan. 19, 1993

Slovenia May 22, 1992

Solomon Islands Sept. 19, 1978

Somalia Sept. 20, 1960

South Africa Nov. 7, 1945

Spain Dec. 14, 1955

Sri Lanka Dec. 14, 1955

Sudan Nov. 12, 1956

Suriname Dec. 4, 1975

Swaziland Sept. 24, 1968

Sweden Nov. 19, 1946

Switzerland Sept. 10, 2002

Syria Oct. 24, 1945

Tajikistan March 2, 1992

Tanzania Dec. 14, 1961

Thailand Dec. 16, 1946

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia April 8, 1993

Timor-Leste Sept. 27, 2002

Togo Sept. 20, 1960

Tonga, Kingdom of Sept. 14, 1999

Trinidad and Tobago Sept. 18, 1962

Tunisia Nov. 12, 1956

Turkey Oct. 24, 1945

Tuvalu Sept. 5, 2000

Turkmenistan March 2, 1992

Uganda Oct. 25, 1962

Ukraine Oct. 24, 1945

United Arab Emirates Dec. 9, 1971

United Kingdom Oct. 24, 1945

United States Oct. 24, 1945

Uruguay Dec. 18, 1945

Uzbekistan March 2, 1992

Vanuatu Sept. 15, 1981

Venezuela Nov. 15, 1945

Vietnam Sept. 20, 1977

Yemen Sept. 30, 1947

Zambia Dec. 1, 1964

Zimbabwe Aug. 25, 1980
Principal UN Organs

191

*The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was an original 

member of the United Nations (signing the Charter on October 19, 1945) until 

its dissolution following the establishment and subsequent admission as new 

members of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, the former Yugoslav 

Republic of Macedonia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was admitted as a member on 

November 1, 2000.

On February 4, 2003, the name of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

was changed to Serbia/Montenegro. On June 3, 2006, Montenegro declared 

independence from Serbia.

The 62nd regular session of the General Assembly convened 

September 18, 2007, and was suspended December 21.

The Assembly elected Srgjan Kerim (Macedonia) as President and 

the Chairs of the Delegations of Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, China, Cyprus, 

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, France, Gambia, Honduras, 

Iceland, Iraq, Mauritius, Palau, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Turkey, 

Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay as the 21 Vice 

Presidents.

The Chairs of the six Main Committees, on which each member may 

be represented, were:

 First Committee (Disarmament and International Security): Paul 

Badji (Senegal)

 Second Committee (Economic and Financial): Kirsti Lintonen

(Finland)

 Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural): Raymond 

Wolfe (Jamaica)

 Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization): 

Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad (Sudan)

 Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary): Hamidon Ali

(Malaysia)

 Sixth Committee (Legal): Alexei Tulbure (Republic of Moldova)

The General Committee (steering committee) is composed of the 

President, the 21 Vice Presidents, and the Chairs of the six Main Committees 

of the General Assembly.

Security Council

The Security Council is composed of five members designated in the 

Charter as permanent (China, France, Russian Federation, the United 

Kingdom, and the United States) and 10 members elected by the General 
United States Participation in the United Nations—2007

192

Assembly for two-year terms ending December 31 of the year given in the 

heading:

 2007: Congo, Ghana, Peru, Qatar, and Slovakia

 2008: Belgium, Indonesia, Italy, Panama, and South Africa

In October the Assembly elected, as members of the Security Council 

for two-year terms of office beginning January 1, 2008, Burkina Faso, Costa 

Rica, Croatia, Libya, and Vietnam.

Trusteeship Council

The Trusteeship Council is composed of the United States and the 

other four permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, 

Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom).

In 1994, the Trusteeship Council adopted an amendment to its rules 

of procedure stating that it will meet in the future only on request. The 

Council last met in August 2006.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

ECOSOC is composed of 54 members elected by the General 

Assembly for three-year terms ending December 31 of the year given in the 

heading:

 2007: Albania, Australia, Brazil, Chad, China, Costa Rica, 

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Guinea, Iceland, India, 

Lithuania, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, and the 

United Kingdom;

 2008: Angola, Austria, Benin, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, 

Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Japan, Madagascar, 

Mauritania, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.

 2009: Algeria, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Canada, Cape Verde, El 

Salvador, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Malawi, The 

Netherlands, Philippines, Romania, Somalia, Sudan, and the United 

States of America.

 2010: Brazil, Cameroon, China, Congo, Iceland, Malaysia, Moldova, 

Mozambique, New Zealand, Niger, Pakistan, Poland, Republic of 

Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Sweden, United Kingdom, 

and Uruguay.
Principal UN Organs

193

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice consists of 15 members elected by 

the General Assembly and Security Council for nine-year terms ending on 

February 5 of the year shown in parentheses. The judges, as of December 31, 

2007, listed in order of precedence, are:

 Rosalyn Higgins, United Kingdom (2009), President

 Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, Jordan (2009), Vice President

 Raymond Ranjeva, Madagascar (2009)

 Shi Jiuyong, China (2012)

 Abdul G. Koroma, Sierra Leone (2012)

 Gonzalo Parra-Aranguren, Venezuela (2009)

 Thomas Buergenthal, United States (2015)

 Hisashi Owada, Japan (2012)

 Bruno Simma, Germany (2012)

 Peter Tomka, Slovakia (2012)

 Ronny Abraham, France (2009)

 Kenneth Keith, New Zealand (2015)

 Bernardo Sepulveda Amor, Mexico (2015)

 Mohamed Bennouna, Morocco (2015)

 Leonid Skotnikov, Russia (2015)

UN Secretariat

The Secretariat, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, 

services the other UN bodies, administering the programs and policies laid 

down by them. It is headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the 

General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a fiveyear, renewable term. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon began his term on 

January 1, 2007. The Secretariat has a staff drawn from about 170 countries:

 Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General

 Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General

 Sergio de Queiroz Duarte, Under Secretary-General, Department for 

Disarmament Affairs

 Inga-Britt Ahlenius, Under Secretary-General, Office of Internal 

Oversight Services

 Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Under Secretary-General, Department of 

Management

 Muhammad Shaaban, Under Secretary-General, Department for 

General Assembly and Conference Services
United States Participation in the United Nations—2007

194

 Antonio Maria Costa, Director General (rank of Under SecretaryGeneral), UN Office at Vienna; Executive Director of the UN Office 

on Drugs and Crime

 John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and 

Emergency Relief Coordinator

 B. Lynn Pascoe, Under Secretary-General, Department of Political 

Affairs

 Jean-Marie Guehenno, Under Secretary-General, Department of 

Peacekeeping Operations

 Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary (rank of Under SecretaryGeneral), Economic Commission for Africa

 Vijay Nambiar, Chief of Staff (rank of Under Secretary-General)

 Nicolas Michel, Under Secretary-General, Office of Legal Affairs

 Sha Zukang, Under Secretary-General, Department of Economic and 

Social Affairs

 Kiyotaka Akasaka, Under Secretary-General, Department of Public 

Information

 Anna K. Tibaijuka, Director-General, UN Office at Nairobi

 Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UN Environment Program

 David Veness, Under Secretary-General, Safety and Security

The Senior Management Group is a committee of senior UN 

managers that serves as the Secretary-General’s cabinet and the central policy 

planning body of the United Nations. It comprises Secretary-General Ban Kimoon (Chair), Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, all of the Under 

Secretary-Generals, and the following:

 Louise Arbour, High Commissioner for Human Rights

 Marek Belka, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for

Europe

 Cheick Sidi Diarra, High Representative for Least Developed 

Countries, Landlocked, and Small Island Developing States

 Radhika Coomaraswamy (from February 2006), Special Rapporteur 

for Children and Armed Conflict

 Kemal Dervis, Administrator, UN Development Program

 Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social 

Commission for Asia and the Pacific

 Antonió Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, High Commissioner for 

Refugees

 José Luis Machinea, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for 

Latin America and the Caribbean
Principal UN Organs

195

 Rachel Mayanja, Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement 

of Women

 Josette Sheeran, Executive Director, World Food Program

 Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director, UN Population Fund

 Sergei A. Ordzhonikidze, Director General, UN Office at Geneva

 Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General, UN Conference on Trade 

and Development

 Bader Al-Dafa, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social 

Commission for Western Asia

 Anna K. Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT

 Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director, UN Children’s Fund
197

A

Abkhazia, 56

Abraham, Ronny, 150, 193

AbuZayd, Karen, 113

ACABQ, 32, 163, 171

Accountability, 3, 51, 69, 85, 87-

88, 94, 111, 113-114, 143-144, 

146, 151, 161-163, 165-167

Adada, Rodolphe, 45

Additional Protocol, 8, 124

Adlerstein, Michael, 178

Administration of Justice, 161, 

177

Advisory Committee on 

Administrative and 

Budgetary Questions, 163, 

167, 171

Afghanistan, 20-22, 69, 85, 100, 

110-111, 135, 182, 187

African Union, 2, 27-29, 35, 42, 

45, 63, 70-71, 75, 77

African Union Mission in Sudan, 

2, 45

Agriculture, 3, 6, 8, 81-82, 84, 

90, 109, 115-119, 128, 145, 

183, 185

Agwai, Luther, 45

Ahlenius, Inga-Britt, 164, 193

Ahtisaari, Martti, 57-58

Al Khalifa, Sheikha Haya 

Rashed, 102, 164, 168

Albania, 187, 192

Al-Dafa, Bader, 195

Algeria, 47-48, 126, 187, 192

Ali, Hamidon, 191

Al-Khasawneh, Awn Shawkat, 

150, 193

AMIS, 2, 45-46

AMISOM, 42-44, 70

Amor, Bernardo Sepulveda, 150, 

193

Andorra, 187

Angola, 32, 100, 105, 187, 192

Annabi, Hedi, 29

Annan, Kofi, 49, 57

Antigua and Barbuda, 187

Arbour, Louise, 104, 194

Argentina, 55, 83, 130, 150, 187

Armenia, 187

ASEAN, 60

Asha-Rose Migiro, 33, 193, 194

AU, 27, 29, 42-43, 45-46, 75, 77

Aung San Suu Kyi, 49-50, 182

Australia, 51-52, 90, 96, 103, 

106, 111, 117, 156, 187, 192

Austria, 187, 192

Azerbaijan, 187

B

Badji, Paul, 191

Bahamas, 187, 191

Bahrain, 10, 102, 164, 168, 187

Ban Ki-moon, 3, 16, 23-24, 32, 

35, 37-38, 40, 43, 49, 51, 55, 

64, 193-194

Bangladesh, 45, 52, 110, 169, 187

Barbados, 187, 192

Bax, David, 36

Belarus, 3, 102, 107-108, 182, 

187, 192

Belgium, 17, 28, 35, 128, 143, 

187, 192

Belize, 133, 187

Belka, Marek, 82, 194

Benin, 105, 187, 191-192

Bennouna, Mohammed, 150, 193

Benson, Robert F., 162

Bhutan, 187

BINUB, 24-25

Bolivia, 100, 187, 192

BONUCA, 26-28

Bosnia and Herzegovina, 150, 

187, 191

Botswana, 187, 191

Boyle, Peter, 128

Brahimi, Lakhdar, 63-64
United States Participation in the United Nations—2007

198

Brazil, 39, 97, 168, 187, 192

Brister, Patricia, 106

Brunei Darussalam, 187

Buergenthal, Thomas, 150, 193

Bulgaria, 106, 187

Burkina Faso, 28, 31, 72, 187, 

192

Burma, 3, 49-50, 67, 102, 106-

108, 111, 135, 182, 189

Burundi, 3, 24-25, 34, 67-69, 100, 

107, 110-111, 187

C

Cambodia, 100, 115, 155-157, 

187

Cameroon, 26, 96, 187, 192

Canada, 82, 90, 96, 103, 111, 

117, 124, 152, 156, 162, 168, 

187, 192

Cape Verde, 38, 187, 192

Capital Master Plan, 177-178

CD, 61-62

Central African Republic, 2, 25-

27, 45, 63, 67, 111, 151, 176, 

187

Chad, 2, 25-29, 45, 63, 67, 109, 

111, 187, 192

Chan, Margaret, 131

Chapter VII, 2, 7-8, 12, 27, 45, 

58, 60, 69, 155

Chérif, Taïeb, 126

Chile, 83, 134, 169, 187

China, 37, 45, 48, 50, 61-62, 89, 

94, 100-101, 104, 112, 119, 

121, 135, 139, 150, 155, 165, 

187, 191-193

Choi Young-Jin, 29

CIS, 55-56

Cissé, Lamine, 27

CMP, 177-178

Coffey, Paul, 155

Colombia, 100, 112, 150, 152, 

185, 187

Commission for Social 

Development, 95

Commission on Narcotic Drugs, 

97-100

Commission on Sustainable 

Development, 81

Committee for Program and 

Coordination, 171

Committee on NonGovernmental 

Organizations, 100

Commonwealth of Independent 

States, 55

Comoros, 176, 187

Conference on Disarmament, 61

Coomaraswamy, Radhika, 67, 

194

Costa Rica, 72, 112, 188, 192

Costa, Antonio Maria, 194

Cote d’Ivoire, 28-31, 67, 70-71, 

96, 105, 188

CPC, 171-172

CPD, 93

Croatia, 23, 72, 188, 191-192

CSD, 81

CSocD, 95

CSTD, 85-86

CSW, 104-106

Cuba, 3, 100, 107, 182, 188, 192

Cyprus, 54-55, 106, 188, 191

Czech Republic, 72, 188, 192

D

D.P.R.K., 2-3, 52-54, 71, 119-121

Darfur, 2, 25-27, 45-46, 63, 71, 

109, 112, 115, 151, 183

Dayan, Edouard, 141

De Alba, Luis Alfonso, 107

De Mistura, Staffan, 11

De Soto, Alvaro, 49

Democratic People’s Republic of 

Korea, 2, 52, 70-71, 119
Index

199

Democratic Republic of the 

Congo, 32-35, 67, 70-71, 109, 

111, 150-151, 191-192

Denmark, 23, 40, 108, 188, 192

Department of Peacekeeping 

Operations, 3, 21, 29, 37, 59, 

63-64, 66, 154, 194

Dervis, Kemal, 194

Development Fund for Iraq, 2, 

10, 12

DFI, 10-12

Diarra, Cheick Sidi, 194

Diouf, Jacques, 117

Disabilities, 95-96, 108

Disarmament, 1-2, 11, 13, 21, 29, 

32, 34, 44, 60-62, 112, 154, 

191, 193

Djibouti, 112, 188

Dominica, 100, 188

Dominican Republic, 59, 72, 188

Doss, Alan, 35, 41

DPKO, 3-4, 21, 37, 63-65

Duarte, Sergio de Queiroz, 193

Dubinkin, Vadim Vadimovich, 

163

Durban, 107-108, 177

E

East Timor, 50

ECE, 82

ECLAC, 82-83

Economic and Social 

Commission for Asia and the 

Pacific, 82-83, 194

Economic Commission for 

Europe, 82, 194

Economic Commission for Latin 

America and the Caribbean, 

82-83, 194

Ecuador, 100, 104, 106, 112, 179, 

180, 188

EEBC, 36-38

Egeland, Jan, 109

Egypt, 5, 9-10, 16, 18-19, 100, 

119, 188, 191

Eide, Kai, 57

Eido, Walid, 15

El Mahdi, Mohamed Amin, 16

El Salvador, 105, 188, 192

ElBaradei, Mohamed, 8, 52, 119-

121, 126

El-Hajj, Francois, 15

Ennifar, Azouz, 36

Equatorial Guinea, 188

Eritrea, 35-38, 188

ESCAP, 82-84

Estonia, 188

Ethics, 3, 85, 88, 94, 161-163, 167

Ethiopia, 35-38, 112, 115, 123, 

188

Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary 

Commission, 36

EU, 12, 25, 27

EUFOR, 25-28

European Commission, 28

European Union, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, 

27, 38, 46, 54, 58, 60, 99, 103, 

105, 108, 124, 156, 158

Expanded Neighbors, 9-10, 12

F

Fall, François Lonseny, 27

FAO, 117-119

Fiji, 188

Finland, 188, 191

Food, 3, 8, 26, 59, 68, 90, 109-

110, 114-118, 128, 163, 165, 

183, 195

Food and Agriculture 

Organization, 3, 109, 116-

117, 128

France, 18, 29-31, 35, 47, 66, 70-

71, 78, 106, 123-124, 128, 141, 

146, 150, 156, 171, 183, 188, 

191-193

G

Gabon, 96, 188

Gambari, Ibrahim, 32, 49-50, 55
United States Participation in the United Nations—2007

200

Gambia, 188, 191

Gaye, Babacar, 35

Gaza, 2, 5-6, 113-114

Georgia, 55-57, 106, 112, 182, 

188

Germany, 46, 123-124, 150, 156, 

168, 188, 192-193

Ghana, 27, 87, 188, 192

Ghanem, Antoine, 15

Golan, 18-19

Greece, 54, 136, 188

Grenada, 188

GRULAC, 72

Guatemala, 188

Guehenno, Jean-Marie, 32, 51, 

194

Guinea, 28, 41, 101, 115, 150, 

188, 192

Guinea-Bissau, 38-39, 68-69, 

176, 188, 192

Guterres, Antonio Manuel de 

Oliveira, 110-111, 194

Guyana, 104, 188, 192

H

Haiti, 3, 58-59, 66, 107, 188, 192

Hariri, Rafiq, 2, 14-16, 70

Harmonization of Conditions of 

Service, 166

Harston, Julian, 46-47

Heinonen, Olli, 52

Heyzer, Noeleen, 84, 194

Higgins, Rosalyn, 150, 193

High Commissioner for Human 

Rights, 104, 107, 175, 194

Hisashi Owada, 150, 193

Holmes, John, 34, 75, 109, 194

Holocaust, 102-104, 139

Honduras, 150, 188, 191

Host Country, 25, 149, 175

Human Rights Council, 3, 102, 

104, 106-107, 186

Hungary, 55, 188

I

IAAC, 163

IAEA, 6-8, 11, 52-53, 119-126

IAMB, 10, 12

IARC, 128

Ibarra, Alicia Bárcena, 193

ICAO, 126-127, 175

ICC, 150-151

Iceland, 188, 191-192

ICI, 9-10, 12

ICJ, 150

ICSC, 172, 174

ICTR, 157, 173

ICTY, 158, 173

Idris, Kamil, 143

ILC, 135, 151-153

ILO, 50, 134-135

IMO, 135-137, 175

INCB, 98, 100

Independent Audit Advisory 

Committee, 3, 163

India, 18, 22-23, 33, 38-40, 87, 

101-102, 106, 139, 163, 168, 

188, 192

Indonesia, 50, 91, 97, 104, 132, 

188, 192

Intergovernmental Panel on 

Climate Change, 90

International Advisory and 

Monitoring Board, 10

International Agency for 

Research on Cancer, 128, 131

International Atomic Energy 

Agency, 2, 6, 11, 52, 119, 121

International Civil Aviation 

Organization, 126, 175

International Civil Service 

Commission, 157, 172, 174

International Compact with 

Iraq, 9, 11

International Court of Justice, 3, 

150, 193
Index

201

International Criminal Court, 

150

International Independent 

Investigation Commission, 

14, 70

International Labor 

Organization, 50, 128, 134

International Law Commission, 

151

International Maritime 

Organization, 135, 175

International Narcotics Control 

Board, 98-99, 100

International Reconstruction 

Fund Facility for Iraq, 11-12

International Security 

Assistance Force, 21

International 

Telecommunication Union, 

137

IPCC, 90

Iran, 2-3, 6-8, 22, 62, 70-72, 102-

104, 107-108, 121-122, 182, 

188

Iraq, 2, 9, 10-13, 68, 70, 85, 110-

112, 182, 188, 191-192

Ireland, 128, 164, 188

IRFFI, 11-12

ISAF, 21

Israel, 2-3, 5-6, 13, 16-19, 67, 82, 

96, 101, 103-105, 107, 133, 

177, 182, 186, 188

Italy, 11-12, 18, 22, 63, 108, 118, 

124, 168, 188, 192

ITU, 137-138

J

Jallow, Hassan Bubacar, 157

Jamaica, 163, 188, 191

Janneh, Abdoulie, 194

Japan, 21, 28, 90, 96, 117, 119, 

124, 138, 150, 156, 167-168, 

186, 188, 192-193

Jarraud, Michel, 146

JIU, 174-176

Joint Inspection Unit, 144, 174

Joint Staff Pension Board, 179

Joint UN Program on 

HIV/AIDS, 128

Jong-Wook Lee, 131

Jordan, 19, 113, 150, 188, 193

K

Karopkin, Martin, 155

Kashmir, 22-23

Kaul, Vijayendra Nath, 163

Kazakhstan, 84, 188, 192

Keith, Kenneth, 150, 193

Kenya, 89, 92, 96, 112, 115, 188

Kerim, Srgjan, 164, 168-169, 191

Khalilzad, Zalmay, 10-12, 164

Khare, Atul, 51

Khmer Rouge Tribunal, 155-156

Kiribati, 188

Kiyotaka Akasaka, 194

Kobeh, Roberto, 126

Koichiro Matsuura, 138

Kolodkin, Roman, 152

Korea, Republic of (South 

Korea), 23, 29, 83, 96, 117, 

119, 131, 185, 188, 192

Koroma, Abdul G., 150, 193

Kosovo, 57- 58, 66, 112, 173

Kotaite, Assad, 126

Kuwait, 10, 12, 189

Kyrgyzstan, 104, 182, 189

L

Laos, 100, 189

Larrabure, Juan Luis, 174

Latin America and Caribbean 

Group, 72

Latvia, 189

Lauterpacht, Elihu, 36

Leavitt, Michael O., 130

Lebanon, 2-3, 13-19, 63, 67, 70, 

113-114, 182, 189

Lee, Michelle, 155

Lesotho, 189
United States Participation in the United Nations—2007

202

Liberia, 3, 28, 39, 40-41, 66, 70-

71, 107, 111, 176, 182, 189

Libya, 72, 189, 192

Liechtenstein, 189

Lintonen, Kirsti, 191

Lithuania, 106, 189, 192

Loj, Ellen Margrethe, 40

Luxembourg, 189, 192

M

Macedonia, the former Yugoslav 

Republic of, 164, 168, 190-

191

Machinea, Jose Luis, 83, 194

Madagascar, 150, 189, 192-193

Malawi, 115, 130, 189, 192

Malaysia, 49, 52, 150, 189, 191-

192

Maldives, 104, 189

Mali, 102, 105-106, 137, 139, 189

Malta, 189

Mansaray, Binta, 159

Marshall Islands, 189

Martin, Ian, 23

Matheson, Michael, 151

Mauritania, 47-48, 112, 182, 189, 

192

Mauritius, 189, 191

Mayanja, Rachel, 195

Mbuende, 164

McRae, Donald, 152

Mettler, Fred, 140

Mexico, 83, 107, 126, 150, 168, 

189, 192-193

Michel, Nicolas, 15-16, 194

Micronesia, 189

Middle East, 6, 19, 135

MINURCAT, 2, 25-28, 63

MINURSO, 46-49

MINUSTAH, 58-59

Mitropoulos, Efthimios, 136

MNF-I, 9-10, 12-13

Mohamad, Abdalmahmood

Abdalhaleem, 191

Moldova, 189, 191-192

Monaco, 92, 189

Mongolia, 106, 112, 189

Montenegro, 150, 189, 191

MONUC, 32-35

Morocco, 31, 46-49, 150, 182, 

189, 193

Mose, Erik, 16

Mountain, Ross, 34

Moussa, Abou, 29

Mozambique, 189, 192

Mulet, Edmond, 37

Multinational Force in Iraq, 2

Muwanga, John F.S., 163

Myanmar, 49-50, 189

Myers, Lucretia, 172

N

Nambiar, Vijay, 194

Namibia, 32, 164, 189

NATO, 21, 57

Nauru, 189

Ndiaye, Bacre Waly, 35

Near East, 2, 5, 110, 113

Negroponte, John, 33, 102

Nepal, 23-24, 67, 110, 189

Netherlands, The, 16, 123, 156, 

159, 189, 192

New Zealand, 90, 103, 150, 164, 

189, 192-193

NGO Committee, 100-101

Nicaragua, 150, 189

Niger, 96, 189, 192

Nigeria, 45, 49, 96, 189

Non-Proliferation Treaty, 53, 61, 

119, 121

Non-self-governing Territories, 

67-68

North Atlantic Treaty 

Organization, 57
Index

203

North Korea, 52-53, 88, 102, 

107-108, 119, 121, 162, 182

Norway, 16, 28, 156, 189

NPT, 53, 119, 121, 124

Nunn, Samuel, 126

O

OAS, 60

Obaid, Thoraya Ahmed, 93-94, 

195

OCHA, 108-109

OEWG, 168, 169

Office for the Coordination of 

Humanitarian Affairs, 108

Office of Internal Oversight 

Services, 33, 64, 114, 164, 

172, 176, 193

Office of the High 

Commissioner for Human 

Rights, 104, 107

Office of the Rule of Law and 

Security Institutions, 154

OHCHR, 104

Oil-for-Food, 68, 165

OIOS, 33, 64-65, 114, 162, 164-

165, 176-177

Oman, 189

Ordzhonikidze, Sergei A., 195

Organization for Security and 

Cooperation in Europe, 60

Organization of American 

States, 60

Organization of the Islamic 

Conference, 10

OROLSI, 154

OSCE, 60

Oversight, 3, 12, 33, 64, 85, 88, 

94, 101, 111, 114, 119, 127, 

134, 143, 161-164, 167, 171-

172, 174, 176, 193

P

PAHO, 130-131

Pakistan, 20, 22-23, 33, 52, 62, 

101, 104, 111, 115, 168, 189, 

192

Palau, 189, 191

Palestine, 2-3, 5-6, 16, 18, 67, 

105, 107-108, 110, 113-114, 

133-134, 182

Pan American Health 

Organization, 130

Panama, 105, 185, 189, 192

Papua New Guinea, 189

Paraguay, 189, 192

Parra-Aranguren, Gonzalo, 150, 

193

Pascoe, Lynn, 11-12, 194

PBC, 42, 68-69, 73-74, 77

Peace and Security, 1, 5, 16, 28, 

34, 66, 69-71, 73-77, 138, 154, 

182

Peace Process, 6, 20, 28-30, 36, 

39, 46, 70, 76

Peacebuilding Commission, 24, 

39, 42, 68, 73

Peacekeeping, 1-3, 18-19, 21, 25, 

29, 32, 37, 43-46, 51, 54-56, 

59, 63-66, 73-76, 104, 154, 

164, 166, 173, 177-179, 183, 

194

Peru, 49, 100-101, 174, 185, 189, 

192

Philippines, 171, 189, 192

Piot, Peter, 128

Piracy, 44, 136

Poland, 82, 91, 189, 192

Polisario, 46-49

Portugal, 32, 39, 52, 102, 110, 

169, 189

Prescott, Charles, 142

Procurement, 64, 88, 94, 165, 

166, 177

Procurement Task Force, 165, 

177

Proliferation, 7-8, 11, 53, 60, 62, 

72-73, 78-79, 119, 121-123, 

185

PTF, 165, 177
United States Participation in the United Nations—2007

204

Q

Qatar, 50, 101, 139, 189, 192

Qazi, Ashraf, 9-11

Quartet, 5

R

Ranjeva, Raymond, 150, 193

Rape, 102, 106, 108, 182

Reform, 3, 9, 11-12, 22, 30, 35, 

38, 59, 63, 73, 81, 85, 87-89, 

92, 94, 106, 109-114, 117, 127, 

134-135, 139, 142, 154, 161, 

166-169, 175-176, 183, 185-

186

Rich, Roland, 106

Romania, 101, 141, 189, 192

Roses, Mirta, 130

Russia, 5, 11, 50, 55-58, 101, 103, 

119, 123-124, 133, 150, 152, 

154, 163, 189, 191-193

Rwanda, 3, 32, 34-35, 70-71, 104, 

157, 171, 173, 178-179, 189

S

Sach, Warren, 12, 178-179

Safeguards, 7, 52-53, 82, 119, 

121-122, 124

Saint Kitts and Nevis, 190

Saint Lucia, 190, 192

Saint Vincent and The 

Grenadines, 190

Samoa, 67-68, 190

San Marino, 190

Sanctions, 1-2, 6-8, 30-31, 41, 53-

54, 69-72, 74, 78, 154-155, 

182-183

Sao Tome and Principe, 176, 190

Saudi Arabia, 94, 190, 192

Schori, Pierre, 29

Senegal, 27, 35, 117, 190-191

Serbia, 57, 96, 150, 158, 190-191

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, 

64-65

Seychelles, 190

Sha Zukang, 194

Shaaban, Muhammad, 193

Sheeran, Josette, 195

Shi Jiuyong, 150, 193

Sierra Leone, 40-42, 68-70, 150, 

158-159, 182, 190, 193

Silverberg, Kristen, 33

Simma, Bruno, 150, 193

Singapore, 84, 136, 150, 190

Singh, Bikram, 34

Skotnikov, Leonid, 150, 193

Slovakia, 11, 55, 150, 190, 192-

193

Slovenia, 190-191

Solana, Javier, 8

Solomon Islands, 190

Somalia, 42-44, 67, 70, 104, 111-

112, 136, 176, 190, 192

Somavia, Juan, 134

South Africa, 35, 50, 61, 114, 

133, 171, 177, 190, 192

South Korea, 119, 131, 185

Spain, 18, 61, 90, 190, 192

Special Committee on the 

Charter of the United 

Nations, 154

Special Court for Sierra Leone, 

40, 158-159

Special Tribunal for Lebanon, 2, 

16

Sri Lanka, 61, 67, 104, 112, 190-

192

SRSG, 9-11, 27, 29, 33, 35, 41

Steiner, Achim, 92, 194

Strachan, Adrian Patrick, 163

Sudan, 2-3, 27, 44-46, 66-67, 70-

71, 101, 106-107, 109-112, 

115, 143, 151, 183, 190-192

Supachai Panitchpakdi, 87, 195

Suriname, 190
Index

205

Swaziland, 190

Sweden, 11, 29, 61, 111, 164, 190, 

192

Swing, William L., 33-35

Switzerland, 61, 110, 117, 131, 

134, 141, 143, 174, 190

Syria, 13-14, 17, 19, 61, 111, 113, 

177, 182, 190

T

Tajikistan, 176, 190

Tanzania, 89, 190

Taylor, Charles, 40, 159

Terrorism, 1, 21, 53, 73, 77-79, 

98, 119, 121, 124, 127, 142, 

164

Thailand, 87, 190, 192

The Hague, 40, 127, 150-151, 159

Tibaijuka, Anna K., 89, 194-195

Timor-Leste, 50-51, 190

Togo, 105, 190

Tomka, Peter, 150, 193

Tonga, 190

Touré, Hamadoun, 137

Transparency, 3, 7-8, 30, 61, 85, 

87-88, 94, 111-112, 126, 144, 

146, 161-162, 166-167, 185

Tribunal, 2-3, 13, 15-16, 155-

158, 161, 171, 173-174, 178-

179

Trinidad and Tobago, 83, 190

Tulbure, Alexei, 191

Tunisia, 190

Turkey, 12, 56, 82, 101, 190-192

Turkmenistan, 190-191

Tuvalu, 190

U

U.K., 10, 23, 41, 46

Uganda, 32-34, 67, 163, 190

Ukraine, 182, 190

UN Assistance Mission in Iraq, 

2, 9

UN Charter, 1, 7, 27, 38, 45, 58, 

60, 68, 72, 176

UN Children's Fund, 20, 27, 67, 

84, 109, 116, 128, 163, 195

UN Commission on Crime 

Prevention and Criminal 

Justice, 97

UN Commission on Population 

and Development, 93

UN Commission on Science and 

Technology for Development, 

85

UN Commission on the Status of 

Women, 104

UN Conference on Trade and 

Development, 85-86, 195

UN Convention against 

Corruption, 98

UN Convention against

Transnational Organized 

Crime, 98

UN Convention on the Rights of 

Persons with Disabilities, 95

UN Convention to Combat 

Desertification, 90

UN Democracy Caucus, 101-102

UN Democracy Fund, 102, 106

UN Development Group, 12

UN Development Program, 21, 

39, 87, 128, 162, 194

UN Disarmament Commission, 

62

UN Disengagement Observer 

Force, 18-19

UN Educational, Scientific, and 

Cultural Organization, 128, 

138

UN Environment Program, 90, 

92, 140, 194

UN Framework Convention on 

Climate Change, 91

UN Global Compact Leaders 

Summit, 81

UN High Commissioner for 

Refugees, 22, 33, 47, 109-110, 

116, 128, 171
United States Participation in the United Nations—2007

206

UN Human Rights Council, 3, 

104, 106

UN Human Settlements 

Program, 88

UN Integrated Mission in 

Timor-Leste, 50

UN Integrated Office in 

Burundi, 24

UN Integrated Office in Sierra 

Leone, 41

UN Interim Administration 

Mission in Kosovo, 57

UN Interim Force in Lebanon, 3, 

16, 63

UN Mission for the Referendum 

in Western Sahara, 46

UN Mission in Sierra Leone, 41

UN Mission in the Central 

African Republic and Chad, 

2, 27, 63

UN Monitoring, Verification, 

and Inspection Commission, 

10

UN Office for Project Services, 

171

UN Office of Disarmament 

Affairs, 61

UN Office on Drugs and Crime, 

21, 39, 97-98, 128, 194

UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire, 

28, 71

UN Police, 63, 66

UN Political Office in Somalia, 

44

UN Population Fund, 93-94, 128, 

163, 195

UN Scientific Committee on the 

Effects of Atomic Radiation, 

140

UN Transparency and 

Accountability Initiative, 3, 

85, 88, 94, 161, 167

UN Truce Supervision 

Organization, 18

UNAIDS, 128-130

UNAMA, 20-22

UNAMI, 2, 9, 11-12

UNAMID, 2, 27, 45-46, 63

UNAMSIL, 41

UNCAC, 98

UNCCD, 90-91

UNCTAD, 85-87

UNDC, 62-63, 101

UNDEF, 106

UNDG, 12

UNDOF, 18-20

UNDP, 21, 39, 87-88, 162-163

UNEP, 92-93, 140

UNESCO, 138-140

UNFCCC, 91-92

UNFICYP, 54-55

UNFPA, 94

UN-HABITAT, 88-90, 195

UNHCR, 22, 33, 47, 109-113

UNICEF, 84-85, 109

UNIFIL, 3, 13, 16-18, 63

UNIIIC, 14-16

UNIOSIL, 41-42

United Arab Emirates, 98, 190

United Kingdom, 10-11, 35, 46, 

50, 55, 68, 101, 109, 123-124, 

128, 150, 156, 178, 190-193

Universal Postal Union, 141

UNMEE, 35-38

UNMIK, 57-58

UNMIL, 39-41

UNMIN, 23-24

UNMIS, 44-45

UNMIT, 50-52

UNMOGIP, 22-23

UNMOVIC, 10-11

UNOCI, 28-32, 71

UNODC, 21, 39, 97-99

UNOGBIS, 38-39

UNOMIG, 55-57

UNOPS, 171

UNPOS, 44

UNRWA, 113-114
Index

207

UNSCEAR, 140-141

UNTAI, 88, 94, 161, 167

UNTOC, 98

UNTSO, 18-19

UPU, 141-143

Uruguay, 150, 190-192

Uzbekistan, 190

V

Valencia-Ospina, Eduardo, 152

Van Walsum, Peter, 47-48

Vanuatu, 190

Veneman, Ann, 84, 195

Veness, David, 194

Venezuela, 150, 190, 193

Vietnam, 72-73, 190, 192

Von Hebel, Herman, 159

W

Walker, David M., 163

Wallace, Mark D., 162, 176, 177

West Bank, 113-114

Western Sahara, 46-49, 112

WFP, 109, 114-116

Whistleblower, 88, 94, 162, 167

WHO, 99, 101, 118, 128, 131-134

Williamson, Clint, 156

WIPO, 143-145

WMO, 145-147, 175

Wolfe, Raymond, 191

Wolff, Alejandro, 9, 72, 103-104

Wolfowitz, Paul, 32

Women, 3, 33-34, 39-40, 75-76, 

83, 90, 94, 101, 104-105, 108, 

112, 130, 132, 184, 195

World Bank, 12, 32, 67-68, 128

World Food Program, 109, 114, 

128, 163, 195

World Health Organization, 3, 

99, 101, 109, 116, 118, 128, 

130-131

World Intellectual Property 

Organization, 143

World Meteorological 

Organization, 90, 145, 175

World Organization for Animal 

Health, 118

Wynes, M. Deborah, 174

Y

Yemen, 112, 190

Yugoslavia, the former, 3, 57, 

157-158, 171, 173, 178-179, 

191

Z

Zambia, 190

Zedillo, Ernesto, 126

Zhao Jingmin, 48

Zimbabwe, 3, 32, 107, 183, 190