THE UN SYSTEM

The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank group and twelve other independent organizations known as “specialized agencies” are linked to the UN through cooperative agreements. These agencies, among them the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization, are autonomous bodies created by intergovernmental agreement. They have wide-ranging international responsibilities in the economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related fields. Some of them, like the International Labor Organization and the Universal Postal Union, are older than the UN itself.

In addition, a number of UN offices, programs and funds – such as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – work to improve the economic and social conditions of people around the world. These bodies report to the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council.

All the organizations have their own governing bodies, budgets and secretariats. Together with the United Nations, they are known as the UN family, or the UN system. They provide an increasingly coordinated yet diverse program of action.

(UNO in Brief. Published by the United Nations department of Public Information. New York 1997)

Task 2. Give the term to the following definition.

1. A UN body which works permanently and has only 15 members.

2. The main document which organizes the work of the UN and defines its main purposes and principles.

3. A UN body which mission is to help newly formed countries to organize free elections and promote legal activity of the government.

4. A member state, which has a veto right while voting in the Security Council.

5. A UN body which meets annually at regular sessions.

6. A UN body which doesn’t have its seat in New York.

7. Different sorts of organizations which are included in the UN system.

8. The combination of all of the UN bodies, affiliated organs and international organizations.

Task 3. Decipher the following abbreviations and explain what these bodies deal with.

UNICEF NGOs UNDP ECOSOC

IMF UNHCR UNESCO PK

Task 4. Based on the text, mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F). Correct them if necessary in accordance with the text.

1. The United Nations Organization is central to global efforts to solve problems which challenge humanity.

2. The activity of the UN and its agencies is focused on rendering humanitarian assistance to the developing countries.

3. The United Nations organization was established at the end of World War II.

4. The membership to the UN is compulsory to all countries of the world.

5. The basic purposes and principles of the UN are formulated in its Charter.

6. The Recommendations of the General Assembly are of obligatory character to all the UN Member States.

7. The primary responsibility of the Security Council is to maintain international peace and security.

8. Each of the 15 Security Council members can veto the resolution.

9. The UN Secretary General is elected by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.

10. The main objective of the ECOSOC is to consult with non-governmental organizations, thereby maintaining a link between the UN and civil society.

11. The work of the Trusteeship Council is organized on the permanent basis.

12. The International Court of Justice consists of 15 members appointed by the Security Council.

13. The Secretariat with the Secretary General at its head carries out the administrative work of the UN.

14. The international organizations comprising the UN system are responsible to the UN in their governing bodies, budgets and secretariats.

SPEAKING

Task 1. Sum up the information on the United Nations Organization according to the following outline.

1. Foundation facts.

2. Main purposes as defined by the Charter.

3. Spheres of interest.

4. Main bodies, their organization and responsibilities.

5. Structure of the UN system.

Task 2. You know, that the UNO was established just after the end of the Second World War, when the horrors and misfortunes caused by the fascists were still troublesome and acute. Comment on the following quotations of the UK and the USA leaders in connection with the creation of the new international organization.

1. King George V, speaking on 9 January 1946 at a banquet in London to celebrate the first meeting of the UNO the following day.

“The year 1945 brought the end of the sternest, most widespread, and most dangerous conflict of all ages; it brought final victory over the enemies of the liberties of mankind. But that victory was won at a grievously heavy price; it has left, in its aftermath, a no less heavy responsibility on the victors, now joined together in this organization of the United Nations. It is, in fact, in your hands to make or mar the happiness of millions of your fellow-men, and of millions yet unborn”.

(Quoted in Martin Gilbert, A History of the Twentieth Century, 1998.)

2. Speech by President Harry S. Truman to the San Francisco Conference at which the Charter of the UN was signed, 26 June 1945.

“The Charter of the United Nations, which you have just signed is a solid structure upon which we can build a better world. Between the victory in Europe and the victory in Japan, in this most destructive of wars, you have won a victory against war itself.

It was the hope of such a Charter that helped sustain the courage of stricken people through the darkest days of the war. For it is a declaration of great faith by the nations of the earth – faith that war is not inevitable, faith that peace can be maintained.

If we had had this Charter a few years ago – and above all the will to use it – millions now dead would be alive. If we should falter in the future in our will to use it, millions now living will surely die”.

(Quoted in Harry S. Truman, Year of Decisions: 1945, 1955.)

LISTENING

You have just acquainted with the biggest international organization in the world, the UNO. Do you know anything about the most influential international organization in Europe?

Ø How is it called?

Ø Where are the headquarters of this organization situated?

Ø How long has it existed?

Ø How many countries are the members of this organization?

Task 1. You will hear an expert on European Issues explaining the idea of the European Common Market. Listen carefully to the recording and fill in the chart. Match the date with the proper fact. But first listen to the words and phrases that are used in the text.

ü complete – законченный, завершенный. полный

ü European Coal and Steel Community – Европейское Объединение угля и стали

ü founding fathers – творцы, отцы, создатели (of – чего-л., напр. какой-л. науки и т.п.)

ü to deepen integration – делать глубже, углублять интеграцию

ü Treaties of Rome - Римский договор (начало создания ЕЭС)

ü European Economic Community – Европейское экономическое сообщество (ЕЭС)

ü Common Market – «Общий Рынок»

ü European Atomic Energy Community – Европейское сообщество по атомной энергетике

ü sustainable development – устойчивое развитие

ü Member State – член какой-л. организации

ü common commercial policy – единая коммерческая (торговая) политика

ü free competition – свободная конкуренция

ü transitional period – переходный период

ü quota – доля, квота, часть

ü tariff- тариф, налог, пошлина

ü non-tariff barrier – нетарифные барьеры (все препятствия на пути доступа к какому-либо рынку за исключением финансовых препятствий (налогов, тарифов и т.п.))

ü incomparably – несравнимо, несравненно

ü exchange rate – валютный курс

ü taxation – обложение налогом. Налогообложение, взимание налога

ü regulation – регулирование, упорядочение

	date		fact
		a)	A full economic union was established
		b)	The single market of 19 countries entered in to force
		c)	The European Economic Community (Common Market) was set up with the signing of the Treaties of Rome
		d)	The European Coal and Steel Community was founded by 6 countries.

Task 2. Listen to the talk again and answer the following question:

Why did it take so much time (almost 25 years) to reach the aim of establishing the single European market?

a)

b)

c)

READING 2

Task 1. You have learned about the history of the formation of the European Union (EU). Now read the text and get acquainted with the basics purposes of this organization. Compare them with the basic purposes of the United Nations organization.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14