UN role in FT universe

All this talk about the UN has me wondering. In the FT universe, what
exactly is the
role of the UN? Who does it represent and who funds it? (What with all
the action going
on between the FSE,NAC, ESU, etc etc.) I don't have More Thrust yet,
(It's been on back
order from GEOHEX for like three months !!!!), so I don't have a lot of
background info
in this respect. Thanks

Los