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Officially called "The United States Permanent Mission to
the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations
in Geneva," the Mission's role is to represent the U.S. government
in Geneva. Since October 29, 2001, the U.S. Mission has been headed
by U.S. Permanent Representative Ambassador Kevin Edward Moley.
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The
U.S. Mission in Geneva has frequently been the site of important
bilateral and multilateral negotiations.
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The U.S. Mission handles all dealings and communications with the
United Nations and other international agencies in Geneva, as well
as with the 100-plus countries that also maintain permanent missions
to the UN in Geneva. This "multilateral" role of the Mission
dealing with many countries is separate from the "bilateral"
diplomacy of the U.S. Embassy in the Swiss capital Bern, which handles
relations between the U.S. government and Switzerland.
In practice, the Mission carries out its work by attending meetings
on any subject of interest to the United States. U.S. Mission staff
officers, together with delegates from Washington, are involved
in some 300 Geneva-based conferences a year, promoting U.S. policy,
representing U.S. interests and helping countries benefit
from U.S. experience.
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Historic
Geneva Summit
Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev held their first meeting
in Geneva in 1985.
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Visits
of United States Presidents to Geneva
President
Woodrow Wilson favored Geneva as the headquarters for the
future League of Nations and U.S. Presidents have frequently
visited this city.
President
Eisenhower: July 16-23, 1955
Summit Conference with British Prime Minister Eden, French
Premier Faure and Soviet Premier Bulganin.
President
Carter: May 9, 1977
Official Visit: Met with Swiss President Furgler. Also met
with Syrian President Assad
President
Reagan: November 16-21, 1985
Summit Meeting with Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev. Also
met with President Furgler of Switzerland
President
Bush: November 23, 1990
Meeting with President Assad of Syria
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President
Clinton addressing the International Labor Conference
in 1999.
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President
Clinton: January 15-16, 1994
Meeting with President Assad of Syria
President
Clinton: May 18, 1998
Address to the Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization
President
Clinton: June 16, 1999
Address to the International Labor Organization
President
Clinton: March 26, 2000 Meeting with President Assad of Syria
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The Mission has also frequently been the site of bilateral and
multilateral negotiations on a variety of security, economic and
political ssues. During 1993-1994, the United States and North Korea
met in Geneva to work out the details of a nuclear agreement under
which North Korea agreed to freeze its nuclear program and abide
by its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty. During
1995, the Mission hosted important negotiations on the former Yugoslavia
in the lead-up to the Dayton Accords. Since then the Mission has
played host to a wide range of other important discussions, including
on-going talks between the United States and Russia on nuclear arms
reduction.
The Mission Building
The seven-story building, inaugurated in 1980, stands in its own
grounds in the Geneva commune of Chambesy. It is close to the Palais
des Nations in the area set aside by the City of Geneva for international
organizations. The Mission has 8,000 square meters (86,000 square
feet) of office space; a two-story wing containing a multipurpose
auditorium with simultaneous-interpretation facilities; a TV reception
studio for the worldwide television service "Worldnet";
and other services such as a cafeteria and travel office. The Mission's
annex (the Botanic Building: 1-3, avenue de la Paix), houses the
Geneva offices of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
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Departments of the United States Mission
IEA - International Economic Affairs
IEA handles issues relating to a wide array of technical specialized
agencies, including WIPO, ITU, UPU, WMO, UNEP and CERN. IEA
staff pursue U.S. interests in organizations dealing with
economic cooperation and development, including UNCTAD and
the UN Economic Commission for Europe.
RMA - Refugee and Migration Affairs
RMA is responsible for protection of and assistance to refugees
and displaced persons, disaster-relief and other humanitarian
assistance issues. RMA works closely with the UNHCR, ICRC,
IFRC, IOM, OCHA, and other humanitarian agencies in Geneva
to coordinate appropriate U.S. response and assistance to
humanitarian crises worldwide. RMA is a multi-agency office,
which includes the Department of State, USAID and Department
of Defense.
PSA - Political and Specialized Agency
Affairs
Human rights, labor, health and international resources management
are the principal areas in PSA's portfolio, and the principal
agencies covered are the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Labor Organization
(ILO), and the World Health Organization (WHO)
ADM - Administrative Affairs
Admin provides support to three Ambassadors and their staffs
consisting of approximately 240 employees. In addition, Admin
provides a full range of services to 18 USG agencies, other
organizations, and to visiting U.S. delegations.
IRM - International Resource Management
IRM handles questions related to Americans working in the
various international organizations, the budgets of the UN
specialized agencies, and UN reform.
LA - Legal Adviser
The Legal Adviser provides counsel on a variety of legal points
arising during conferences, and the negotiation and interpretation
of international treaties and agreements. During 2000, the
Legal Office was involved in negotiations on a new emblem
for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
RSO - Regional Security Office
RSO is responsible for all security issues inside and outside
the Mission.
CD - Conference on Disarmament
The U.S. delegation to the Conference on Disarmament (CD)
(see chapter on the CD)
PA - The Public Affairs Office (formerly
USIS)
PA responds to press questions on U.S. policy development,
organizes press briefings, distributes a Daily Bulletin on
current news topics, and publishes this briefing book.
The Mission also works closely with the Geneva
offices of the U.S. Trade Representative:
USTR - United States Trade Representative
USTR deals with international trade questions, the WTO and
rounds of trade-liberalization talks; the USTR offices are
located in the Botanic Building annex. (See
chapter on USTR.)
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Internet
www.itu.int/MISSIONS/US
Press releases issued by the U.S. Mission, links to major U.S. government
sites, news on Geneva conferences and issues, cultural calendar
of events in Geneva, and the web edition of this Briefing Book.
Address
The United States Mission to the United Nations Office and other
International Organizations in Geneva
Route de Pregny 11
1292 Chambesy
Tel. 749.4111
Fax. 749.4880
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