CHAPTER 2 Part 4: Research Problems

Student Name: ________________________________

The following Research Problems are designed to help you implement the
information contained in Parts 1 and 3 of this Chapter, and experience gained
from completing the Reading Exercises in part 2.

1. The Russian MIR space station (initially launched by the Soviet Union)
is near disintegration and pieces are expected to begin falling to Earth
in the near future. As early as 1967, the U.N. Committee on the
Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was addressing the question of man-
made objects launched into space falling back to Earth. In that year, the
Committee’s Legal Subcommittee issued a report summarizing the
Subcommittee’s work until that point. This Report was issued at the
Sixth Session of the Subcommittee’s work.

(a) Using both electronic and hard copy research techniques, find this
Report issued by the Subcommittee. Give the correct formal
citations to it.

_____________________________________________________

(b) The Report, in its discussion of “Liability for Damage Caused by

the Launching of Objects into Outer Space”, states that members
have come to agreement on particular issues. Assume that the
various points on which the Subcommittee members agreed have
become legally effective. Assume that your car is hit by a piece of
MIR (a pun if you understand Russian), and that the U.S. elects to
espouse your claim against Russia. What is the latest date, after the
occurrence of the accident or the identification of the party that is
44 Chapter 2 Research Problems

liable, on which a claim may be presented? Give the exact citation

for your answer.

______________________________________________________

2. Each Halloween in the United States, internationally-minded children

collect “trick or treat” contributions for UNICEF. Also, during the
December holiday season throughout the world, many firms and
individuals send holiday cards produced on behalf of, and promoting,
UNICEF. Using both hard-copy or electronic research techniques,
answer the following questions.

(a) What did the acronym “UNICEF” originally stand for?

______________________________________________________

(b) Where is its headquarters?

______________________________________________________

(c) When did UNICEF adopt its most recent mission statement?

______________________________________________________

(d) Many of UNICEF’s resources come from private sources, such as

the sale of greeting cards. What percentage of its revenue is
attributable to non-governmental and private payments and
contributions, including U.N. specialized agencies and other
special sources?

______________________________________________________

3. As a junior attorney employed by a corporate law firm, you have been

assigned to work with a client that manufactures and sells lawn
furniture. The client has previously only sold its products inside the
United States, but is contemplating pursuing sales to buyers in Western
Europe. You have been told that a U.N. body called “UNCITRAL” has
adopted an international convention governing “contracts for the
international sale of goods”. You wonder whether this convention
could have legal applicability to your client’s planned sales.
 Chapter 2 Research Problems 45

(a) What does “UNCITRAL” stand for?

______________________________________________________

(b) What is the institutional objective for UNCITRAL?

______________________________________________________

(c) UNCITRAL was established by a resolution of the U.N. General

Assembly. What is a complete citation to the resolution?

______________________________________________________

(d) What is the formal name for the convention regarding international
sales of goods promulgated by UNCITRAL? Where and when was
it ultimately executed?

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

4. The International Law Commission is an expert group involved in the

development and codification of international law rules. Its members
are elected for 5-year terms by the U.N. General Assembly. It creates
draft documents intended to express suggested rules of international
law that would be optimal if broadly adopted. The ILC is accordingly
analogous to an international version of the U.S. American Law
Institute, which drafts the “Restatements” of various areas of U.S. law.

(a) How many members does the ILC have?

______________________________________________________

(b) Below are 3 international treaties that were originally based on ILC
drafts. Through investigating the ILC using hard copy or electronic
sources, determine in which city and in what year each treaty was
executed.

(i) Convention on the Law of Treaties

___________ _____________
46 Chapter 2 Research Problems

(ii) Convention on Diplomatic Relations

___________ _____________

(iii) Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties

___________ _____________

5. An organization chart of the “United Nations System” appears as an

element of one of the websites maintained by the U.N. in connection
with the activities of its organizations. Referring to this chart, which of
the following entities are “Specialized Agencies” of the U.N., and
which are not? What do the acronyms stand for?

(a) UNHCR SA? ____________ _______________________

(b) IMF SA? ____________ _______________________

6. Now that you have located the organizations listed above on the U.N.
Organization Chart, find and correctly cite the following documents or
data by visiting their web sites:

(a) The recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have endangered

historical and archaeological sites. In May of 1954, a formal
convention was signed under UNESCO auspices that would
address the danger to cultural property in the event of armed
conflict. Find this convention at the UNESCO website, and
provide the formal name of the convention and the precise date of
signature.

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Is the US a “High Contracting Party” that has ratified the

convention? ___________
 Chapter 2 Research Problems 47

(b) You are the corporate counsel for Kentucky Fried Chicken (now
owned by Pepsico, Inc.) and you wish to find the International
Patent Classification for the fryers like the one patented by Col.
Sanders. Find this information at the WIPO site.

_____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

(c) Locate and cite the 2002 UNCTAD report on the Least Developed
Countries. How many countries have that classification according
to UNCTAD?

_____________________________

(d) According to the UNHCR, how many Afghans were repatriated in

2002? Cite to the appropriate document.

______________________________

(e) In 1996 the IMF developed an initiative to assist “Heavily Indebted

Poor Countries”. Find the report describing this program and list
three African countries that will be offered this debt reduction
help.

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

(f) When and where was World Trade Organization established?

____________; ________________________________________

Cite to the most authoritative electronic source of your answer.

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________
48 Chapter 2 Research Problems

7. Prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003, the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted inspections in Iraq to
determine the status of Iraq’s nuclear program. The results of their
inspection were reported to the Security Council in a series of
documents, the most significant of which were the update report for the
Security Council pursuant to Resolution 1441 dated January 27, 2003
and the “Work Programme of the International Atomic Energy Agency
in Iraq pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1284” that was given to
the Security Council on the day of the U.S. invasion. The Director
General of the IAEA also orally reported to the Security Council on
December 19, 2002 and January 9 and 27, 2003, February 14, 2003 and
on March 7, 2003.

(a) Find the update report of January 27, 2003. What is a correct
citation to this report?

______________________________________________________

(b) What is the name of the current Director General of the IAEA?

______________________________________________________

(c) Find a transcript of his remarks on March 7, 2003 and give a

correct citation.

______________________________________________________

(d) What was the conclusion made by the Director General on this
date concerning Iraq’s nuclear capability? Quote and cite the
pertinent language.

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________