The Republic of Bulgaria

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Through its involvement in the United Nations Organisation, Bulgaria contributes to the consolidation of trust, security and mutually beneficial cooperation in international relations, and for their development in accordance with the UN Charter. Along with that, Bulgaria also upholds and exercises its paramount national interests of a specific political, economic, social, scientific, cultural and other nature.

Section I

THE BASIC FACTS ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION (UN)

1. What is the UN?
The only universal international organisation existing at present.
(link to Basic Facts about the UN)

2. When was the UN established, and where?
In San Francisco (USA), at an international conference held between April 25th and June 26th, 1945.

3. How many were the founding member-states of the UN, and how many members does the Organisation have now?
In June 1945, the UN Charter was signed by 51 States, which constitute the Founding Members of the Organisation; the current UN membership is 192-strong.

4. What countries can become members of the UN?
The Organisation is open for membership to any and all peace-loving nations which accept the obligations prescribed by the UN Charter and, in the judgment of the Organisation, are able and willing to fulfil them.

5. Which is the fundamental UN instrument?
The Charter of the United Nations Organisation, in that it lays down the obligations of the Member States while defining the UN bodies and agencies, their composition, functions, powers and their operational procedures.

6. Which are the goals of the UN as per its Charter?
•    To maintain international peace and security;
•    To develop friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples;
•    To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms;
•    To be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.

7. What are the basic principles of UN work?
•    sovereign equality of all its Members;
•    fulfilment in good faith of the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the UN Charter;
•    settlement of international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered;
•    refraining in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state;
•    giving the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter;
•    non-intervention in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state.

8. Which are the official languages of the UN?
English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic. English and French are also the working languages of the Secretariat.

9. Which (and how many) are the principal bodies of the UN?
Six: the UN General Assembly (GA) (http://www.un.org/ga/),
the Security Council (SC) (http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/),
the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) (http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/),
the Trusteeship Council (TC) (http://www.un.org/en/mainbodies/trusteeship/),
the International Court of Justice (ICJ) (http://www.icj-cij.org/), and
the Secretariat (http://www.un.org/en/mainbodies/secretariat/index.shtml).

10. How many are the Permanent Committees of the UN?
Six: First – Disarmament and International Security; Second – Economic and Financial Committee; Third – Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee; Fourth – Special Political and Decolonisation Committee; Fifth – Administrative and Budgetary Committee; and Sixth – Legal Committee.

11. What is the process of reform of the UN?
The new realities in international relations and the need for collective responses to present-day threats and challenges have necessitated a process of reform of the Organisation. This policy course of deep-going reform was endorsed by the UN High-level meeting held in New York in September 2005. It is aimed at strengthening the unique role of the UN as a universal and global organisation based upon equal cooperation among states. It encompasses the reform of the main bodies of the UN, the establishment of new ones (the Human Rights Council and the Peace building Commission), as well as reform of the UN peacekeeping operations and the entire running of the Organisation. Bulgaria consistently supports the process of reforms in the UN, which in its view should be of a comprehensive nature, if they are to enable the overall improvement of the operational efficiency of the Organisation and its establishment as a proactive factor for effective multilateralism.

12. Which consecutive Regular Session of the UN General Assembly will open in September 2010?
The 65th.

13. How many are the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and which are they? How many are the UNSC non-permanent members, and which are they in 2010?
5 permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the UK and the USA;
10 non-permanent members, elected by the GA for a two-year term.*

14. Which UN acts are legally binding?
All Security Council resolutions are of a legally binding nature.

15. How many members does ECOSOC have?
The Economic and Social Council has 54 member states, elected by the UNGA for a three-year term.

16. Which UN body monitors, coordinates and directs the activities of the specialised bodies within the UN system?
ECOSOC.

Which are the specialised bodies of the UN system?
a. the International Labour Organisation;
b. the Food and Agriculture Organisation;
c. the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation;
d. the World Health Organisation;
e. the World Bank Group: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the International Finance Corporation; the International Development Agency; the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency; the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes;
f. the International Monetary Fund;
g. the International Civil Aviation Organisation;
h. the International Maritime Organisation;
i. the International Telecommunications Union;
j. the Universal Postal Union;
k. the World Meteorological Organisation;
l. the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
m. the International Fund for Agricultural Development;
n. the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO);
o. the World Tourist Organisation;
p. the International Atomic Energy Agency;
q. the World Trade Organisation.

18. Where is the UN International Court of Justice based?
The seat of ICJ is located at the Hague (the Netherlands).

19. What disputes does ICJ deal with, and are its judgments legally binding?
The International Court of Justice hears disputes between states. Referral of a dispute to ICJ is not mandatory, but once the sides to the dispute have agreed to litigate, the Court’s judgment becomes legally binding for them.

20. Who is the current UN Secretary General?
Mr. Ban Ki-moon (of the Republic of Korea).

21. In which cities/countries are the UN Secretariat, the UN regional offices and the headquarters of specialised agencies and UN programs based?
New York (USA), Geneva (Switzerland), Nairobi (Kenya), Vienna, (Austria), Bangkok (Thailand).

22. What is the Peace building Commission like?
The UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the Peacebuilding Fund were established in 2005 by a decision of the UN General Assembly, to assist countries in their post-conflict recovery. At present, PBC has 31 member states, elected for a two-year term. The Commission owes its unique legitimacy to the manner in which its line-up is formed: its members being elected in five categories (from the SC, GA, ECOSOC, as well as between the major financial donors and member states contributing military and/or police personnel). PBC has mostly advisory functions. At present the following countries are on its agenda: Burundi, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, and the Central African Republic. (http://www.un.org/peace/peacebuilding/)

23. How many peacekeeping operations does the UN run worldwide at present?
To date, the UN has 16 ongoing peacekeeping operations involving 118 member states, with a total of some 82,000 troops, 2,000 military observers and 12,000 police officers. The UN budget for peacekeeping missions during the 2009-2010 period amounts to US$ 7,750,000,000. In addition, the UN operates 12 political and peacemaking missions around the world involving a total of 3,800 military personnel and civilian staff. (link to PKO info)

24. How many are the Millennium Development Goals and are they related to the UN?
In September 2000, the heads of state and government of the UN Member States adopted eight concrete, measurable goals to be attained on a global scale by the year 2015 in the following areas: combating poverty and hunger, disease, gender inequality, environmental pollution, lack of education, health care and access to potable water. (link to Goals info)

25. Which new human rights body superseded in 2006 the UN Commission on Human Rights?
The Human Rights Council.

26. How much does the UN regular budget for 2010 amount to?
2.57 billion US dollars.

27. Does the UN have its logo and flag?
 
Yes. The logo represents a map of the world in a polar azimuth equidistant projection, framed between two olive branches symbolising the main goal of the Organisation: peace, and the global territory where it pursues its goals. 

The UN flag consists of that logo centred on a light blue background.
The choice of colour is not known to carry any specific significance.
 

28. When is UN Day celebrated, and why?
The Day of the UN is marked every year on October 24th. It was on that date in 1945 that the UN Charter came into force, having been ratified by the five permanent members of the Security Council and the majority of its signatories, and the ratification documents were submitted to the United States as the depositary.

29. Who used for the first time the phrase ‘United Nations’, and when?
Franklin Delano Roosevelt coined that phrase during WWII, denoting the twenty-six nations allied against the Axis. The term became world famous after the Allies signed, in Washington on January 1st, 1942, the United Nations Declaration.

For more information: www.un.org

Section II

BULGARIA AND THE UN
The Republic of Bulgaria was admitted as a full member of the UN on December 14th, 1955. Through its involvement in the Organisation, Bulgaria contributes to the consolidation of trust, security and mutually beneficial cooperation in international relations, and for their development in accordance with the UN Charter. Along with that, Bulgaria also upholds and exercises its paramount national interests of a specific political, economic, social, scientific, cultural and other nature.

Diplomatic activities pertinent to Bulgaria’s participation in the UN and its various bodies are within the competences of several Directorates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The key role and relevant functions are carried out by the UN and Global Issues Directorate, as well as by the Permanent Missions of the Republic of Bulgaria to the UN based in new York, Geneva and Vienna. Bulgarian diplomats are also accredited to the specialised international organisations based in Paris, Rome, London and other major world centres. If great significance for the country’s participation and authority in the UN is the active interest on the part of the broad Bulgarian public in this subject matter. Of special note is the voluntary activity of the Bulgarian UN Society and other civil and student associations in this country with an interest in the noble principles and goals of the Organisation.
 
Bulgaria presided over the 47th Session of the UN General Assembly (1992-93).

Within the context of its UN membership, the Republic of Bulgaria was a non-permanent member of the SC in 1966-67, 1986-87 and 2002-03. During the period of its latest non-permanent SC membership, Bulgaria presided over the deliberations of the Council twice: in September 2002 and December 2003.

The Republic of Bulgaria has been a member of ECOSOC in the following periods of time: 1959-1961, 1968-1970, 1975-1977, 1980-1985, 1987-1992, 1994-1996, and 1999-2001.

Thus far, no Bulgarian magistrate has been elected to the UN International Court of Justice.

Currently, 55 Bulgarian nationals work at the Un Secretariat.

Bulgaria and Peacekeeping Operations (PKOs)

Bulgaria fully supports and plays an active role in reforming the UN peacekeeping operations. So far, the country has participated (or participates) in the following international PKOs: UNTAC, Cambodia – 1992-93; MONUA, Angola – 1995-99; UNMOT, Tajikistan – 1995-2000; UNMEE, Ethiopia/Eritrea – 2000-2008; UNMIBH (UN), SFOR/ALTHEA (НАТО/EC), Bosnia and Herzegovina – since 1997; EU Humanitarian De-mining Mission, Croatia – 1999-2000; UNMIK (UN) – 1999-2009 and KFOR (NATO), Kosovo – since 2000; Multinational Coalition Forces Iraq – 2003-2008; UN International Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) – 2006; International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan (NATO/UN) – since 2002; UNMIL, Liberia – since 2004, ЕULEX in Kosovo – since 2009.

Currently (as of March 2010), Bulgaria participates in the following international operations and missions:
Mission                 Type of commitment                 Mission total
UNMIL                 Military observers              2
ISAF                   Troops                    525
KFOR                  Troops                    47
ALTHEA               Troops                    117
NTM-I                 Troops                    2
EULEX            Police and customs officers 37              72
                            Judges              35    

TOTAL TROOPS  692
POLICE OFFICERS  37
JUDGES    35

Subsection:

Bulgaria and the UN Specialised Agencies, Programs and Funds

Bulgaria takes an active part in the work of various specialised bodies, programs and funds within the UN system. In October 1009, Ambassador Irina Bokova was elected Director General of UNESCO.

Bulgaria’s cooperation with the UN Development Program (UNDP), the UN Population Fund, UNICEF, a.o., has proven its usefulness in the conditions of a transition towards a free-market economy in this country, when Bulgaria benefited from the implementation of some major projects in the field of environmental conservation, public and economic governance, the development of information technology, etc.

Bulgarian art at the UN

In 1973, the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria made a gift to the UN: and original copy of a mural painting from the wall of the Boyana Church, depicting Sebastocrator Kaloyan and his wife Desislava, who ruled the Sofia District in the latter half of the 13th century. The Boyana murals, dating from 1259, are of outstanding artistic merit and constitute an unquestionable contribution to European visual art and culture; it is for that reason that the Boyana Church is placed on the UNESCO List of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The portraits of Kaloyan and Desislava are among the oldest portraits in Bulgarian painting that were done from life. Both the Sebastocrator and his wife are shown in stately dress, with Kaloyan presenting a scale model of the church to St. Nicholas, its patron saint; for her part, Desislava is considered to be the most beautiful female image of that age.

The reproduction is prominently displayed at the UN Secretariat building in New York, on the second floor opposite the entrance to ECOSOC.

The UN in Bulgaria

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees all have their representatives in Bulgaria. The International Labor Organisation (ILO) is represented by a National Correspondent, while the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the International Migration Organisation maintain permanent missions here. The UN Office for Drugs and Crime has a program office in Sofia responsible for the regional coordination of activities.