IV

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 103

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should develop

a strategy to bring the United States back into active and full membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural

Organization.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 19, 1993

Mr. TORRES (for himself, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. BROWN of California, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. LEACH, and Mr. MILLER of California) submitted the following

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign

Affairs

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President

should develop a strategy to bring the United States

back into active and full membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

Whereas the Congress recognizes that the United Nations

Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) was created in 1946 as an integral part of

the United Nations system, designed to promote international cooperation and exchanges in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication with the larger purpose of constructing ‘‘the defenses of peace’’

against intolerance and incitements to war;
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Whereas in 1984, the United States withdrew from the organization over questions of internal management and political polarization;

Whereas since that time UNESCO has elected new leadership, instituted tightened financial controls and strategic

planning, cut staff and budget, renewed professionalism,

restored recognition of intellectual property, returned the

organization to the principle of an unfettered, independent international press, therefore addressing and redressing the criticisms which formed the justification for the

United States’ withdrawal;

Whereas in 1993 the General Accounting Office, after conducting extensive review of the organization’s progress in

implementing changes toward solving the problems that

were cited in justifying the withdrawal of the United

States from the organization in 1984, concluded that, the

organization’s member states, Director General, managers, and employee associations have demonstrated a

commitment to management reform through their

actions;

Whereas the interest of the United States to encourage further progress toward solving the problems of the organization would be best ensured by the leadership, support,

and participation of the United States;

Whereas many countries that are members of the organization, especially countries that collaborate closely with the

United States, have expressed a strong desire for the

United States to resume active participation in the organization;

Whereas the organization’s current and projected plans offer

means for advancing the foreign policy interests of the
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United States in promoting democracy, sustainable development, and conflict resolution;

Whereas the four interrelated areas of expertise of the organization, which are education, science, culture, and communication, represent important areas of American competitive advantage, and participation in global programs

and policymaking in these fields advances the interests of

the United States;

Whereas the organization has placed high priority on the promotion of democracy, free flow of information, training

and expertise, and other goals consistent with United

States policy in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet

Union;

Whereas the organization has put a high priority on programs to strengthen a free press and journalistic independence;

Whereas multilateral initiatives in such politically sensitive

activities offer advantages not always offered by bilateral

initiatives;

Whereas the organization avoids program duplication within

the United Nations system and cooperates with other

specialized agencies of the system to allocate distinct

responsibilities;

Whereas other United Nations specialized agencies recognize

the distinct role of the organization in building intellectual networks for the implementation of their systemwide activities;

Whereas the organization is a catalytic agency that manages,

designs, and promotes projects which raise additional

funding beyond the costs directly borne by the organization;
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Whereas the distinct role of the organization is reflected in

its inclusion in all major multi-agency initiatives, such as

preparation and followup of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development;

Whereas active and effective participation in the organization

could advance the domestic policy interests of the United

States;

Whereas such policy interests include reducing illiteracy and

improving education, including education for immigrant

populations coming from other nations and cultures, increasing tolerance among ethnic and racial minority

groups, protecting cultural freedom and the free flow of

information, widening access to communications technology markets in developing countries by American businesses, providing broader channels for international collaboration on scientific research, and understanding environmental change and preservation;

Whereas the policy interest of the United States would be

better served if the United States would resume participation in the organization and use its strategic position

in the organization to demonstrate, disseminate, and express unambiguously the values of the United States;

Whereas in 1993, the Executive Board and the General Conference of the Organization will make important decisions

affecting the program content, work methods, executive

leadership, and general management of the organization

for the remainder of the 20th century; and

Whereas the United States will have to resume active membership in the organization in 1993 in order to participate directly in these decisions: Now, therefore, be it
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1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the

3 President should—

4 (1) develop a strategy to bring the United

5 States back into active and full membership in the

6 United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural

7 Organization (UNESCO) during 1993;

8 (2) direct the Secretary of State to consult with

9 government agencies, nongovernmental organiza10 tions, and other interested parties that had substan11 tial involvement with the work of the organization

12 before the withdrawal of the United States in order

13 to formulate goals the United States should seek at

14 the organization as part of the strategy and to reex15 amine the frameworks established in law for the par16 ticipation of the American nongovernmental sector

17 in UNESCO policy and activities;

18 (3) direct the Secretary of State to reconstitute

19 the United States National Commission for

20 UNESCO;

21 (4) consult with other governments on prospects

22 for further reform of the organization’s policy bodies

23 and governance, particularly with an eye to strength24 ening in all member states the role of independent,
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1 nongovernmental, intellectual sectors in agency pro2 grams and governance; and

3 (5) report to the Congress before September 30,

4 1993, on the nature and extent of the consultations

5 and the progress being made on the strategy.

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