1 Charter of the united nations

It is by means of treaties that international or regional organizations are set up. For example, the Charter of the United Nations, the Covenant of the League of Nations and the instruments creating the International Labour Office, the Universal Postal Union, the Specialized Agencies, etc. can all be regarded as multipartite agreements between states. The international organizations thus established themselves become capable of entering into treaties and agreements with states and other international organizations.

The United Nations Charter was drawn up by the representatives of 50 countries at the United Nations Conference on International Organization, which met at San Francisco from 25 April to 26 June 1945. They deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of the USSR, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks (USA) in August - October 1944. Subsequently, the draft was also approved by China. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945. Poland, not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States.

The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the USSR, the United Kingdom and the United States, and by a majority of other signatories. 24 October has since been celebrated as United Nations Day. The Charter specifies the fundamental purposes and principles of the United Nations and defines the functions and powers of the UN main organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.

The UN Charter is a unique document in the history of international relations. It takes account of the lessons mankind has learnt from the bloodiest war in its history - a war that consumed millions of human lives. The Charter reflects the desire of all nations of the world to prevent a new war, their confidence that war can be prevented and that different countries, irrespective of their social systems, can unite around a common goal - the establishment of a lasting peace on Earth. The very fact that such a document has been drawn up goes to show that this goal is attainable provided all countries and peoples sincerely wish to cooperate.

The UN Charter is the first international document ever to have been adopted on such a broad and collective basis. It is a concentrated expression of the basic principles of contemporary

international law which are of a universal character and binding on all members of the international community. The obligations of states as stipulated in the UN Charter have priority over all their other commitments.

In the more than five decades of its existence, the United Nations has often been called upon to prevent a dangerous situation from escalating into war, to persuade the contending parties to use the conference table rather than resort to arms, and to help restore peace or at least cease hostilities when conflicts arise. Despite frustrations and setbacks, the Organization has steadily developed its capacity as a peace-keeping and peacemaking Organization.

EXHIBIT 17

CHARTER