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o The EC Council of Ministers, with the assistance of the 



Committee of Permanent Representatives, is responsible for 

 political decisions. 



The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization 

 (INTELSAT) provides a relevant example of the principle of "phasing 

 in" an international project. Rather than attempting to define a 

 complete set of international agreements at the outset, INTELSAT was 

 established on an interim basis. The agreement specified a time 

 period for a study of the permanent form of the organization but did 

 not set a deadline for the end of the interim arrangements. The 

 permanent INTELSAT agreement, which was concluded six years later, 

 provided for a phased shift from management of its space operations by 

 the United States, as agent, to truly international management. 



The following features of INTELSAT management are noteworthy as to 

 the combination of technical and political elelents: 



o The Assembly of Parties, which meets every two years, is 



composed of all nations party to the Agreement and is primarily 

 concerned with issues of concern to the Parties as sovereign 

 states. The principal representation is provided by foreign 

 ministers. 



o The Meeting of Signatories, which meets annually, is primarily 

 concerned with financial, technical, and program matters of a 

 general nature. The principal representation is provided by 

 the appropriate technical ministry. 



o The Board of Governors, which meets at least four times a year, 

 has responsibility for decisions on the design, development, 

 establishment, operation, and maintenance of the international 

 portions of the system. The principal representation is 

 provided by officials concerned in their home countries with 

 the operation and management of the system. 



o Several advisory groups expert in technical,, financial, and 

 planning matters assist the Board. 



INTELSAT provides an example of finance and control in an 

 international project. Each member's financial interest and voting 

 share on the Board of Governors is strictly proportional to its use of 

 the system, determined on an annual basis; and the member is required 

 to contribute that proportion of the incurred costs. 



The LCTF provides an example of finance and control in a national 

 project with international participation. The United States funds, 

 constructs, and operates the facility and pays the costs of its own 

 test coils. The other participants pay for their own test coils. An 

 executive committee, with one representative from each participant, 

 decides on the test program. 



The annual appropriation process makes it difficult for the United 

 States to commit to multiyear projects without the possibility of 



