"In this time of challenge and change, the United Nations is more important than ever before, because our world is more interdependent than ever before," President Clinton declared in his annual address to the U.N. General Assembly in September 1996.

Referring to attacks on the United Nations by some U.S. politicians and segments of the American public, the president told U.N. members: "Let me reassure all of you, the vast majority of Americans support the United Nations, not only because it reflects our own ideals, but because it reinforces our interests. We must continue to work to manifest the support that our people feel" for the world organization.

This issue of "U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda" explores the U.S. relationship to the United Nations and the views of members of Congress and nongovernmental experts both supportive and critical of the world organization. In the focus section, U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson highlights the importance of the United Nations to U.S. foreign policy. Other leading U.S. officials examine the need for U.N. reform, the problem of U.S. arrearages, the U.N. role in peacekeeping, and U.S. support for U.N. refugee programs.

And six members of Congress present divergent opinions on what the U.S. relationship to the United Nations should be. Two nongovernmental experts, in the commentary section, provide contrasting views on the U.S. commitment to the U.N. and American skepticism about the organization, and two fact sheets furnish information on U.S. support for U.N. peacekeeping and U.N. humanitarian activities.