H. R. 1590 - UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2003

Citizens for Global Solutions Fact Sheet on H.R. 1590

Introduced by Mr. Lantos (D-CA) on April 3, 2003

Cosponsored by Mr. Dreier (D-CA)

This bill would:

Seek to establish a democracy caucus at the United Nations, the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, and at other broad-based international organizations in order to:

(1) Forge common positions, including, as appropriate, at the ministerial level, on matters of concern before the organization and work within and across regional lines to promote agreed positions;

(2) Work to revise an increasingly outmoded system of regional voting and decision making; and

(3) Set up a rotational leadership scheme to provide member states an opportunity, for a set period of time, to serve as the designated president of the caucus, responsible for serving as its voice in each organization.

Urge the President, acting through the Secretary of State and the relevant United States chiefs of mission, shall use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to:

1) Where appropriate, reform the criteria for leadership and, in appropriate cases for membership, at all United Nations bodies and at other international organizations and multilateral institutions to which the United States is a member so as to exclude nations that violate the principles of the specific organization;

(2) Make it a policy of the United Nations and other international organizations and multilateral institutions, in which the United States is a member, that a member state may not stand in nomination or be in rotation for a leadership position in such bodies if such member state is subject to sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council; and

(3) Work to ensure that no member state stand in nomination or be in rotation for a leadership position in such organizations if such member state is subject to a determination under section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, or section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act.

Urge the Secretary to establish a series of training courses for officers of the Service, including appropriate chiefs of mission, on the conduct of diplomacy at international organizations and other multilateral institutions and at broad-based multilateral negotiations of international instruments.

Ensure that the training for officers of the Service incorporates the conduct of diplomacy at international organizations and other multilateral institutions and at broad-based multilateral negotiations of international instruments upon entry of the service or within the first year of such an assignment.

Calls for the establishment of a multilateral diplomacy cone in the Foreign Service.

Authorizes for the Secretary of State to create within the Bureau of International Organizational Affairs an Office on Multilateral Negotiations to be headed by a Special Representative for Multilateral Negotiations. The special representative shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall have the rank of Ambassador-at-Large. The Special Representative will assist in the preparation for US participation in multilateral negotiations and advise the President and the Secretary of State regarding advocacy at international organizations and multilateral institutions and negotiations.

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