this by financing their developmental requirements on concessionary terms, which are more flexible and bear less heavily on the balance of payments than those of conventional loans, thereby furthering the objectives of IBRD and supplementing its activities. During the World Bank's 1995 fiscal year, IDA made new commitments totaling $5,669 million, primarily in the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. International Finance Corporation President: James D. Wolfensohn Executive Vice President: Jannik Lindbaek The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an affiliate of the World Bank, was established in July 1956, to promote productive private enterprise in developing member countries. The Corporation pursues its objective principally through direct debt and equity investments in projects that establish new businesses or expand, modify, or diversify existing businesses. It also encourages cofinancing by other investors and lenders. For every dollar of financing approved by IFC for its own account, other investors and lenders provide almost six dollars. Additionally, advisory services and technical assistance are provided by IFC to developing member countries in areas such as capital market development, privatization, corporate restructuring, and foreign investment. During the World Bank's 1995 fiscal year, IFC made new debt and equity commitments for its own account of $2.877 million supporting 213 new projects. The total size of these projects was approximately $19.35 billion. International Monetary Fund 700 Nineteenth Street NW., Washington, DC 20431. Phone, 202-623-7000 Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Board: Michel Camdessus The Final Act of the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, signed at Bretton Woods, NH, on July 22, 1944, set forth the original Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Agreement became effective on December 27, 1945, when the President, authorized by the Bretton Woods Agreements Act (22 U.S.C. 286) accepted membership for the United States in IMF, the Agreement having thus been accepted by countries whose combined financial commitments (quotas) equaled approximately 80 percent of IMF's total commitments. The inaugural meeting of the Board of Governors was held in March 1946, and the first meeting of the Executive Directors was held May 6, 1946. On May 31, 1968, the Board of Governors approved an amendment to the Articles of Agreement for the establishment of a facility based on Special Drawing Rights (SDR) in IMF and for modification of certain IMF rules and practices. The amendment became effective on July 28, 1969, and the Special Drawing Account became operative on August 6, 1969. United States acceptance of the amendment and participation in the Special Drawing Account were authorized by the Special Drawing Rights Act (22 U.S.C. 286 et seq.). On April 30, 1976, the Board of Governors approved a second amendment to the Articles of Agreement, which entered into force on April 1, 1978. This amendment gave members the right to adopt exchange arrangements of their choice while placing certain obligations on them regarding their exchange rate policies, over which IMF was to exercise firm surveillance. The official price of gold was abolished and the SDR account was promoted as the principal reserve asset of the international monetary system. United States acceptance of this amendment was authorized by the Bretton Woods Agreements Act Amendments (22 U.S.C. 286e-5). On June 28, 1990, the Board of Governors approved a third amendment to the Articles of Agreement, which became effective on November 11, 1992. Under this amendment, a member's voting rights and certain related rights may be suspended by a 70-percent majority of the executive board if the member, having been declared ineligible to use the general resources of the Fund, persists in its failure to fulfill any of its obligations under the Articles. As of April 30, 1996, IMF had 181 member countries. Total quotas were SDR 145 billion (equivalent to approximately $218 billion). The purposes of IMF are to promote international monetary cooperation through a permanent institution that provides the machinery for consultation and collaboration on international monetary problems; to facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade; to promote exchange stability; to assist in the establishment of a multilateral system of payments for current transactions between members; and to give confidence to members by making IMF resources temporarily available to them under adequate safeguards. In accordance with these purposes, IMF seeks to shorten the duration and lessen the degree of imbalance in the international balances of payments of members. It provides financial assistance to aid its members in handling balanceof-payment difficulties through a variety of facilities that are designed to address specific problems. These lending mechanisms include stand-by and extended arrangements, as well as separate facilities to provide compensatory and contingency financing to countries suffering temporary declines in their export earnings, to support structural adjustment programs in the poorest countries, and to promote systemic transformation in the formerly centrally planned economies during their transitions to market economies. For further information, contact the Chief, Public Affairs Division, External Relations Department, International Monetary Fund, 700 Nineteenth Street NW., Washington, DC 20431. Phone, 202-6237300. International Organization for Headquarters: 17 Route des Morillons, Grand- 71, CH-1211, Geneva 19, Switzerland. Phone, 011-41-22-717-9111. Fax, 011-4122-798-6150. Director General: James N. Purcell, Jr. Deputy Director General: Narcisa L. Escaler Washington Office: Suite 1110, 1750 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20006. Phone, 202862-1826. Fax, 202-862-1879. E-mail, promigrant@washington.iom.ch Chief of Mission: Hans-Petter W. Boe New York Office: Suite 1610, 122 E. 42d Street, New York, NY 10168. Phone, 212681-7000. Fax, 212-867-5887. E-mail, promigrant@newyork.iom.ch Chief of Mission: Richard E. Scott The International Organization for Migration (IOM), formerly the Intergovernmental Committee for Migration, was created in 1951 at an international migration conference in Brussels sponsored by the United States and Belgium. It was formed outside the U.N. system in order to provide specific kinds of migration assistance, including health screening and transportation, to refugees as well as to persons not under the protection of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, and to be concerned with international migration issues in general such as the links between migration and development. As a technical, nonpolitical organization committed to the statement that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society, IOM has four strategic objectives: -to cooperate with its partners in the international community to assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; to advance understanding of migration issues; -to encourage social and economic development through migration; and -to work toward effective respect of the human dignity and well-being of migrants. The Organization plans and carries out refugee migration schemes, programs for returning migrants, and emergency relief activities at the request of its member states and in cooperation with other international organizations, especially U.N. agencies. In addition, it publishes surveys and sponsors conferences on migration trends and issues. In the United States, IOM carries out certain activities for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, facilitates sponsor prepayment for other U.S.-bound immigrants, and operates a limited number of return migration programs. In addition to Washington, DC, and New York, IOM has offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle. The Organization comprises 100 states (59 members and 41 observers). They meet once a year, usually in Geneva, as the Council, to consider global migration issues and the Organization's work, direction, and budget. Mandatory assessed contributions from member states finance IOM's administrative budget, whereas its operational budget is funded through voluntary contributions. Member states elect the Director General and the Deputy Director General, whose regular terms are 5 years. Several international governmental and nongovernmental organizations are invited to observe and address the IOM Council. The Organization has observer status at the U.N. General Assembly and at the governing bodies of several specialized U.N. agencies, the Organization of American States, and other organizations. Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Headquarters: 1818 H Street NW., President: James D. Wolfensohn The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Its basic purpose is to facilitate the flow of foreign private investment for productive purposes to developing member countries by offering long-term political risk insurance in the areas of expropriation, currency transfer, and war and civil disturbance; and by providing advisory and consultative services. During the World Bank's 1995 fiscal year, MIGA issued 54 guarantees with a maximum contingent liability of $672 million to facilitate aggregate direct investment of approximately $2.5 billion. Organization of American States General Secretariat: 1889 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20006. Phone, 202-4583000. Fax, 202-458-3967 Secretary General: César Gaviria Assistant Secretary General: Christopher Executive Secretary for Integral Development: Assistant Secretary for Management: James B. McCeney, Acting Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs: William M. Berenson, Acting The Organization of American States (OAS) is a regional, intergovernmental organization whose primary purposes are to strengthen the peace and security of the continent; to promote and consolidate representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of nonintervention; to prevent possible causes of difficulties and to conciliate disputes that may arise among the member states; to provide for common action by those states in the event of aggression; to seek the solution of political, juridical, and economic problems that may arise among them; to promote, by cooperative action, their economic, social, and cultural development; and to achieve an effective limitation of conventional weapons that will make it possible to devote the largest amount of resources to the economic and social development of the member states. With roots dating from 1890, the first OAS Charter was signed in 1948. Two subsequent protocols of amendment, Buenos Aires 1967 and Cartagena de Indias 1985, gave it its present form. One additional protocol of amendment, Washington 1992, is currently in the ratification process. The Protocol of Washington will incorporate provisions for the protection of democratically constituted governments and will include among the essential purposes of the Organization the eradication of extreme poverty, which constitutes an obstacle to the full democratic development of the peoples of the hemisphere. A fourth protocol of amendment, the Protocol of Managua 1993 which entered into force on January 29, 1996, established the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), which replaces the Inter-American Councils for Economic and Social Affairs and Education, Science and Culture. The Organization's member states are Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The present Government of Cuba is excluded from participation by a decision of the Eighth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in 1962. Thirty-seven non-American countries, as well as the Holy See and the European Union, are permanent observers. The principal organs of the OAS are: -the General Assembly, which is normally composed of the foreign ministers of the member states and meets at least once a year to decide the general action and policy of the Organization; -the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which meets on call to consider urgent matters of common interest or threats to the peace and security of the hemisphere; -the Permanent Council, which meets twice a month at OAS headquarters; -the Inter-American Council for Integral Development; -the Inter-American Juridical Committee; -the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; and -the General Secretariat, which is the central and permanent organ, headquartered in Washington, DC. The Organization has six specialized organizations that handle technical matters of common interest to the American States. It also holds specialized conferences on specific technical matters. For further information, contact the Director, Department of Public Information, Organization of American States, Seventeenth Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20006. Phone, 202-458-3760. Fax, 202-458-6421. United Nations United Nations, New York, NY 10017. Secretary-General: Boutros Boutros-Ghali United Nations Office at Geneva: Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Director-General: Antoine Blanca United Nations Office at Vienna: Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 500, A-1400, Vienna, Austria Director-General: Giorgio Giacomelli Washington, DC, Office: U.N. Information Centre, Suite 400, 1775 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20006. Phone, 202-3318670. Fax, 202-331-9191 Director: Joe Sills The United Nations is an international organization that was set up in accordance with the Charter' drafted by governments represented at the Conference on International Organization meeting at San Francisco. The Charter was signed on June 26, 1945, and came into force on October 24, 1945, when the required number of ratifications and accessions had been made by the signatories. Amendments increasing membership of the Security Council and the Economic and Social 1 Charter of the United Nations, together with the Statute of the International Court of Justice (Department of State Publication No. 2353, International Organization and Conference Series III, 21), June 26, 1945. Available for sale from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Phone, 202-5121800. Council came into effect on August 31, 1965. The United Nations now consists of 185 member states, of which 51 are founding members. The purposes of the United Nations set out in the Charter are: to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character and in promoting respect for human rights; and to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends. The principal organs of the United Nations are: General Assembly All states that are members of the United Nations are members of the General Assembly. Its functions are to consider and discuss any matter within the scope of the Charter of the United Nations and to make recommendations to the members of the United Nations and other organs. It approves the budget of the organization, the expenses of which are borne by the members as apportioned by the General Assembly. The General Assembly may call the attention of the Security Council to situations likely to endanger international peace and security, may initiate studies, and may receive and consider reports from other organs of the United Nations. Under the "Uniting for Peace" resolution adopted by the General Assembly in November 1950, if the Security Council fails to act on an apparent threat to or breach of the peace or act of aggression because of lack of unanimity of its five permanent members, the Assembly itself may take up the matter within 24 hours-in emergency special session—and recommend collective measures, including, in case of a breach of the peace or act of aggression, use of armed force when necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. The General Assembly has held to date 50 regular sessions, 18 special sessions, and 11 emergency special sessions. It normally meets in regular annual session in September. Security Council The Security Council consists of 15 members, of which 5-the People's Republic of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America-are permanent members and are elected each year. The 10 nonpermanent members are elected for 2-year terms by the General Assembly. The primary responsibility of the Security Council is to act on behalf of the members of the United Nations in maintenance of international peace and security. Measures that may be employed by the Security Council are outlined in the Charter. The Security Council, together with the General Assembly, also elects the judges of the International Court of Justice and makes a recommendation to the General Assembly on the appointment of the Secretary General of the organization. The Security Council first met in London on January 17, 1946, and is so organized as to be able to function continuously. This Economic and Social Council organ is responsible, under the authority of the General Assembly, for the economic and social programs of the United Nations. Its functions include making or initiating studies, reports, and recommendations on international economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related matters; promoting respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all; calling international conferences and preparing draft conventions for submission to the General Assembly on matters within its competence; negotiating agreements with the specialized agencies and defining their relationship with the United Nations; coordinating the activities of the specialized agencies; and consulting with nongovernmental organizations concerned with matters within its competence. The Council consists of 54 members of the United Nations elected by the General Assembly for 3-year terms; 18 are elected each year. |