The United Nations Organization

History:

• an international organisation

• was established by 50 nations in 1945 in San Francisco

• officially came into existence on 24 October 1945

• had an aim: to work together for world peace

• worked out the main instrument of the organization – the United Nations Charter, an international treaty

The UN Charter:

• explains the rights and obligations of member states

• establishes the UN organs and procedures

• codifies the major principles of international relations

The first fifty member countries pledged:

• to live together in peace with each other as good neighbours

• to practise tolerance and open-mindedness

• to fight hunger together

• to provide education

• to improve life of people all over the world

Today the UNO:

• comprises 185 member states

• has its headquarters in New York

• encourages countries to work together to deal with international problems (wars, diseases, poverty or terrorism)

• unites efforts to keep international peace and security

• settles local conflicts

• restores peace in troubled areas

• tries to ease world tension and establish a lasting peace

Decisions in the United Nations

are made by the General Assembly and the Security Council.

b) Answer these questions to see if you know more about this international organization.

1. Who is the Secretary General of the UNO at the moment?

2. UNESCO is a part of the United Nations. What do these letters stand for? What is it concerned with? Where is it based?

3. UNICEF is a part of the United Nations. What do these letters stand for? What is the aim of this organization?

4. What is the function of the UN peace-keeping force?

5. What are the permanent members of the UNO?

6. Which of the two comprises more countries: the General Assembly or the Security Council?

Use the Internet sources to look for the information to answer the questions you didn't know.

II. Read and role-play the interview.

Student A, you're a Ukrainian journalist who is going to interview your colleague from a country that is a member of the European Union. Use the short passages below to ask questions.

Student B, you're a journalist of a country that is a member of the European Union. You're going to be interviewed by your Ukrainian colleague. Use the short passages below to answer his/her questions.

• The European Union has enlarging since it was created. Since then it has grown from initial six countries to 25 and the inclusion of the central and eastern European countries was the European Union's fifth enlargement.

• In June 1993, the Copenhagen European Council laid down the criteria for accession:

1. an applicant country must have achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and respect for and protection of minorities;

2. it must have a functioning market economy, as well as the capacity to cope with the competitive pressure and market forces within the EU;

3. it must have the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the objectives of political, economic and monetary union.

   • Enlargement is a crucial step in the shaping of a reconciled, peaceful and democratic Europe. The possibility of achieving this historic objective became a real prospect in November 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the break-up of the Soviet Empire. This opened the way to German integration and free, democratic elections in all the central and eastern European countries.

   • In order to help the candidate countries prepare for EU membership, the EU designed special programs to provide assistance and promote investment. These programs include: Phare (institution building, economic and social cohesion, industrial restructuring), ISPA (environment and transport investment support) and Sapard (modernisation of agriculture and rural development).

Topic 79. Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Read the text and refer its paragraphs (A-F) to the questions (1-6).