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| 1. CIA World Factbook 2002 | ||
International Organizations and Groups
advanced developing countries another term for those less
developed countries (LDCs) with
particularly rapid industrial
development; see newly
industrializing economies (NIEs)
advanced economies a term used by the International
Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top
group in its hierarchy of advanced
economies, countries in
transition, and developing
countries; it includes the
following 28 advanced economies:
Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hong Kong,
Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal,
Singapore, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note
- this group would presumably also
cover the following seven smaller
countries of Andorra, Bermuda,
Faroe Islands, Holy See,
Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San
Marino which are included in the
more comprehensive group of
"developed countries"
African, Caribbean, and Pacific established - 6 June 1975
Group of States (ACP Group) aim - to manage their preferential
economic and aid relationship with
the EU
members - (77) Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina
Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Cote
d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati,
Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated
States of Micronesia, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria,
Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and
Principe, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
African Development Bank (AfDB) note - also known as Banque
Africaine de Developpement (BAD)
established - 4 August 1963
aim - to promote economic and
social development
regional members- (53) Algeria,
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina
Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Niger,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and
Principe, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Somalia, South
Africa, Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
nonregional members - (24)
Argentina, Austria, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, India,
Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US
Agency for the French-Speaking note - formerly Agency for
Community (ACCT) Cultural and Technical Cooperation
established - 20 March 1970; name
changed 1996
aim - to promote cultural and
technical cooperation among
French-speaking countries
members - (51) Albania, Belgium,
Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cote
d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France,
French Community of Belgium,
Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg,
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova,
Monaco, Morocco, New Brunswick
(Canada), Niger, Quebec (Canada),
Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao
Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo,
Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam
observers - (4) Czech Republic,
Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia
Agency for the Prohibition of note - acronym from Organismo para
Nuclear Weapons in Latin America la Proscripcion de las Armas
and the Caribbean (OPANAL) Nucleares en la America Latina y
el Caribe (OPANAL)
established - 14 February 1967
under the Treaty of Tlatelolco;
effective - 25 April 1969 on the
11th ratification of the treaty
aim - to encourage the peaceful
uses of atomic energy and prohibit
nuclear weapons
members - (32) Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil,
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and
Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela; note -
Cuba signed the treaty but did not
ratify it
Andean Community of Nations (CAN) note - formerly known as the
Andean Group (AG), the Andean
Parliament, and most recently as
the Andean Common Market (Ancom)
established - 26 May 1969; present
name established 1 October 1992;
effective - 16 October 1969
aim - to promote harmonious
development through economic
integration
members - (5) Bolivia, Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Arab Bank for Economic note - also known as Banque Arabe
Development in Africa (ABEDA) de Developpement Economique en
Afrique (BADEA)
established - 18 February 1974;
effective - 16 September 1974
aim - to promote economic
development
members - (17 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria,
Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation
Organization; note - these are all
the members of the Arab League
excluding Comoros, Djibouti,
Somalia, Yemen
Arab Cooperation Council (ACC) established - 16 February 1989
aim - to promote economic
cooperation and integration,
possibly leading to an Arab Common
Market
members - (4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan,
Yemen
Arab Fund for Economic and Social established - 16 May 1968
Development (AFESD) aim - to promote economic and
social development
members - (20 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq
(suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania,
Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993),
Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen,
Palestine Liberation Organization
Arab League (AL) note - also known as League of
Arab States (LAS)
established - 22 March 1945
aim - to promote economic, social,
political, and military
cooperation
members - (21 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt,
Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia,
Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen,
Palestine Liberation Organization
Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) established - 17 February 1989
aim - to promote cooperation and
integration among the Arab states
of northern Africa
members - (5) Algeria, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia
Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) established - 27 April 1976;
effective - 2 February 1977
aim - to promote Arab cooperation,
development, and integration in
monetary and economic affairs
members - (20 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq,
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,
Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen,
Palestine Liberation Organization
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation established - 7 November 1989
(APEC) aim - to promote trade and
investment in the Pacific basin
members - (21) Australia, Brunei,
Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Japan, South Korea,
Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US,
Vietnam
observers - (3) Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific
Economic Cooperation Conference,
Pacific Islands Forum
Asian Development Bank (AsDB) established - 19 December 1966
aim - to promote regional economic
cooperation
regional members - (43)
Afghanistan, Australia,
Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook
Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan,
Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,
Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall
Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru,
Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New
Guinea, Philippines, Samoa,
Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri
Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan,
Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan,
Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Vietnam
nonregional members - (16)
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Italy,
Netherlands, Norway, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK,
US
Association of Southeast Asian established - 8 August 1967
Nations (ASEAN) aim - to encourage regional
economic, social, and cultural
cooperation among the non-
Communist countries of Southeast
Asia
members - (10) Brunei, Burma,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam
associate member- (1) Papua New
Guinea
dialogue partners - (12)
Australia, Canada, China, EU,
India, Japan, Pakistan, South
Korea, NZ, Russia, US, UNDP
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) established � NA 1994
aim - to foster constructive
dialogue and consultation on
political and security issues of
common interest and concern
members - (10) Brunei, Burma,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam
dialogue partners - (13)
Australia, Canada, China, EU,
India, Japan, North Korea, South
Korea, Mongolia, NZ, Papua New
Guinea, Russia, US
Australia Group established � NA 1984
aim - to consult on and coordinate
export controls related to
chemical and biological weapons
members - (34) Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, European
Commission, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Australia-New Zealand-United established - 1 September 1951;
States Security Treaty (ANZUS) effective - 29 April 1952
aim - to implement a trilateral
mutual security agreement,
although the US suspended security
obligations to NZ on 11 August
1986; Australia and the US
continue to hold annual meetings
members - (3) Australia, NZ, US
Bank for International established - 20 January 1930;
Settlements (BIS) effective - 17 March 1930
aim - to promote cooperation among
central banks in international
financial settlements
members - (50) Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
European Central Bank, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hong
Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,
Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia
Benelux Economic Union (Benelux) note - acronym from Belgium,
Netherlands, and Luxembourg
established - 3 February 1958;
effective - 1 November 1960
aim - to develop closer economic
cooperation and integration
members - (3) Belgium, Luxembourg,
Netherlands
Big Seven note - membership is the same as
the Group of 7
established - NA 1975
aim - to discuss and coordinate
major economic policies
members - (7) Big Six (Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK)
plus the US
Big Six note - not to be confused with the
Group of 6
established - NA 1967
aim - to foster economic
cooperation
members - (6) Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, UK
Black Sea Economic Cooperation established - 25 June 1992
Zone (BSEC) aim - to enhance regional
stability through economic
cooperation
members - (11) Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia,
Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia,
Turkey, Ukraine
observers - (7) Austria, Egypt,
Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia,
Tunisia
Caribbean Community and Common established - 4 July 1973;
Market (Caricom) effective - 1 August 1973
aim - to promote economic
integration and development,
especially among the less
developed countries
members - (15) Antigua and
Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana,
Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago;
note - when Haiti has deposited an
appropriate instrument of
accession with the Secretary
General, it will become a full
member of the Community
associate members - (3) Anguilla,
British Virgin Islands, Turks and
Caicos Islands
observers - (10) Aruba, Bermuda,
Cayman Islands, Colombia,
Dominican Republic, Mexico,
Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico,
Venezuela
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) established - 18 October 1969;
effective - 26 January 1970
aim - to promote economic
development and cooperation
regional members - (20) Anguilla,
Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana,
Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and
Caicos Islands, Venezuela
nonregional members - (5) Canada,
China, Germany, Italy, UK
Central African Customs and see Monetary and Economic
Economic Union (UDEAC) Community of Central Africa
(CEMAC)
Central African States note - acronym from Banque de
Development Bank (BDEAC) Developpement des Etats de
l'Afrique Centrale
established - 3 December 1975
aim - to provide loans for
economic development
members - (11) African Development
Bank (AfDB), Cameroon, Central
African States Bank (BEAC),
Central African Republic, Chad,
Republic of the Congo, Equatorial
Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany,
Kuwait
Central American Bank for note - acronym from Banco
Economic Integration (BCIE) Centroamericano de Integracion
Economico
established - 13 December 1960
signature of Articles of
Agreement; 31 May 1961 began
operations
aim - to promote economic
integration and development
members - (5) Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua
nonregional members - (4)
Argentina, Colombia, Mexico,
Taiwan
Central American Common Market established - 13 December 1960,
(CACM) collapsed in 1969, reinstated in
1991
aim - to promote establishment of
a Central American Common Market
members - (5) Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua; note - Panama, although
not a member, pursues full
regional cooperation
Central European Initiative (CEI) note - evolved from the
Quadrilateral Initiative and the
Hexagonal Initiative
established - 11 November 1989 as
the Quadrilateral Initiative, 27
July 1991 became the Hexagonal
Initiative, NA July 1992 present
name adopted
aim - to form an economic and
political cooperation group for
the region between the Adriatic
and the Baltic Seas
members - (17) Albania, Austria,
Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Hungary, Italy, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Moldova, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine,
Yugoslavia
centrally planned economies a term applied mainly to the
traditionally communist states
that looked to the former USSR for
leadership; most are now evolving
toward more democratic and market-
oriented systems; also known
formerly as the Second World or as
the communist countries; through
the 1980s, this group included
Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia,
China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR,
Hungary, North Korea, Laos,
Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR,
Vietnam, Yugoslavia
Colombo Plan (CP) established - NA May 1950 proposal
was adopted; 1 July 1951 commenced
full operations
aim - to promote economic and
social development in Asia and the
Pacific
members - (24) Afghanistan,
Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Burma, Cambodia, Fiji, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South
Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives,
Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New
Guinea, Philippines, Singapore,
Sri Lanka, Thailand, US
provisional member - (1) Mongolia
Commonwealth (C) note - also known as Commonwealth
of Nations
established - 31 December 1931
aim - to foster multinational
cooperation and assistance, as a
voluntary association that evolved
from the British Empire
members - (54) Antigua and
Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize,
Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon,
Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji,
The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada,
Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya,
Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Malta,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan
(suspended), Papua New Guinea,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu,
Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia,
Zimbabwe (suspended)
Commonwealth of Independent established - 8 December 1991;
States (CIS) effective - 21 December 1991
aim - to coordinate
intercommonwealth relations and to
provide a mechanism for the
orderly dissolution of the USSR
members - (12) Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan
communist countries traditionally the Marxist-Leninist
states with authoritarian
governments and command economies
based on the Soviet model; most of
the original and the successor
states are no longer communist;
see centrally planned economies
Coordinating Committee on Export established in 1949 to control the
Controls (COCOM) export of strategic products and
technical data from member
countries to proscribed
destinations; members were
Australia, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, France, Germany, Greece,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Turkey, UK, US; abolished
31 March 1994; COCOM members
established a new organization,
the Wassenaar Arrangement, with
expanded membership on 12 July
1996 which focuses on
nonproliferation export controls
as opposed to East-West control of
advanced technology
Council for Mutual Economic note - also known as CMEA or
Assistance (CEMA) Comecon
established 25 January 1949 to
promote the development of
socialist economies and abolished
1 January 1991; members included
Afghanistan (observer), Albania
(had not participated since 1961
break with USSR), Angola
(observer), Bulgaria, Cuba,
Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia
(observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos
(observer), Mongolia, Mozambique
(observer), Nicaragua (observer),
Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam,
Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia
(associate)
Council of Arab Economic Unity established - 3 June 1957;
(CAEU) effective - 30 May 1964
aim - to promote economic
integration among Arab nations
members - (11 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization) Egypt,
Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya,
Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria,
UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation
Organization
Council of Europe (CE) established - 5 May 1949;
effective - 3 August 1949
aim - to promote increased unity
and quality of life in Europe
members - (43) Albania, Andorra,
Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Malta,
Moldova, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, Ukraine, UK
guests - (2) Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Yugoslavia
observers - (6) Canada, Holy See,
Israel, Japan, Mexico, US
Council of the Baltic Sea States established - 6 March 1992
(CBSS) aim - to promote cooperation among
the Baltic Sea states in the areas
of aid to new democratic
institutions, economic
development, humanitarian aid,
energy and the environment,
cultural programs and education,
and transportation and
communication
members - (12) Denmark, Estonia,
EC, Finland, Germany, Iceland,
Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland,
Russia, Sweden
Council of the Entente (Entente) established - 29 May 1959
aim - to promote economic, social,
and political coordination
members - (5) Benin, Burkina Faso,
Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo
countries in transition a term used by the International
Monetary FUND (IMF) for the middle
group in its hierarchy of advanced
economies, countries in
transition, and developing
countries; recently published IMF
statistics include the following
28 countries in transition:
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Estonia, Georgia, Hungary,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Moldova,
Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,
Yugoslavia; note - this group is
identical to the group
traditionally referred to as the
"former USSR/Eastern Europe"
except for the addition of
Mongolia
Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) note - also known as World Customs
Organization (WCO)
established - 15 December 1950
aim - to promote international
cooperation in customs matters
members - (157) Albania, Algeria,
Andorra, Angola, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Cote d�Ivoire, Croatia,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti,
Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Macau, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Netherlands Antilles, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
developed countries (DCs) the top group in the hierarchy of
developed countries (DCs), former
USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/
EE), and less developed countries
(LDCs); includes the market-
oriented economies of the mainly
democratic nations in the
Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development
(OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South
Africa, and the European
ministates; also known as the
First World, high-income
countries, the North, industrial
countries; generally have a per
capita GDP in excess of $10,000
although four OECD countries and
South Africa have figures well
under $10,000 and two of the
excluded OPEC countries have
figures of more than $10,000; the
35 DCs are: Andorra, Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada,
Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Holy See,
Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Malta, Mexico, Monaco,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal,
San Marino, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK,
US; note - similar to the new
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
term "advanced economies" which
adds Hong Kong, South Korea,
Singapore, and Taiwan but drops
Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and
Turkey
developing countries a term used by the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) for the bottom
group in its hierarchy of advanced
economies, countries in
transition, and developing
countries; recently published IMF
statistics include the following
126 developing countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,
Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia,
Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya,
Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands
Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE,
Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe; note - this category
would presumably also cover the
following 46 other countries that
are traditionally included in the
more comprehensive group of "less
developed countries": American
Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin
Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands,
Christmas Island, Cocos Islands,
Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea,
Falkland Islands, French Guiana,
French Polynesia, Gaza Strip,
Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada,
Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey,
Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Isle
of Man, Martinique, Mayotte,
Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia,
Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern
Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn
Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion,
Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and
Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks
and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin
Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West
Bank, Western Sahara
East African Development Bank established - 6 June 1967;
(EADB) effective - 1 December 1967
aim - to promote economic
development
members - (3) Kenya, Tanzania,
Uganda
Economic and Social Council established - 26 June 1945;
(ECOSOC) effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to coordinate the economic
and social work of the UN;
includes five regional commissions
(Economic Commission for Africa,
Economic Commission for Europe,
Economic Commission for Latin
America and the Caribbean,
Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific, Economic and
Social Commission for Western
Asia) and 9 functional commissions
(Commission for Social
Development, Commission on Human
Rights, Commission on Narcotic
Drugs, Commission on the Status of
Women, Commission on Population
and Development, Statistical
Commission, Commission on Science
and Technology for Development,
Commission on Sustainable
Development, and Commission on
Crime Prevention and Criminal
Justice)
members - (54) selected on a
rotating basis from all regions
Economic Community of the Great note - acronym from Communaute
Lakes Countries (CEPGL) Economique des Pays des Grands
Lacs
established - 20 September 1976
aim - to promote regional economic
cooperation and integration
members - (3) Burundi, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
Economic Community of West established - 28 May 1975
African States (ECOWAS) aim - to promote regional economic
cooperation
members - (15) Benin, Burkina
Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire,
The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger,
Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Togo
Economic Cooperation Organization established - 27-29 January 1985
(ECO) aim - to promote regional
cooperation in trade,
transportation, communications,
tourism, cultural affairs, and
economic development
members - (10) Afghanistan,
Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
associate member - (1) "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus"
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council note - began as the North Atlantic
(EAPC) Cooperation Council (NACC); an
extension of NATO
established - 8 November 1991;
effective - 20 December 1991
aim - to discuss cooperation on
mutual political and security
issues
members - (46) Albania, Armenia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Moldova,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uzbekistan
European Bank for Reconstruction established - 8-9 January 1990
and Development (EBRD) (proposals made); 15 April 1991
(bank inaugurated)
aim - to facilitate the transition
of seven centrally planned
economies in Europe (Bulgaria,
former Czechoslovakia, Hungary,
Poland, Romania, former USSR, and
former Yugoslavia) to market
economies by committing 60% of its
loans to privatization
members - (61) Albania, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Egypt, EU, European
Investment Bank (EIB), Estonia,
Finland, France, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan,
South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Malta,
Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,
Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia
European Community (or European was established 8 April 1965 to
Communities, EC) integrate the European Atomic
Energy Community (Euratom), the
European Coal and Steel Community
(ESC), the European Economic
Community (EEC or Common Market),
and to establish a completely
integrated common market and an
eventual federation of Europe;
merged into the European Union
(EU) on 7 February 1992; member
states at the time of merger were
Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, UK
European Free Trade Association established - 4 January 1960;
(EFTA) effective - 3 May 1960
aim - to promote expansion of free
trade
members - (4) Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
European Investment Bank (EIB) established - 25 March 1957;
effective - 1 January 1958
aim - to promote economic
development of the EU and its
predecessors, the EEC and the EC
members - (15) Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, UK
European Monetary Union (EMU) note - an integral part of the
European Union; also known as the
European Economic and Monetary
Union
proposed - 1-2 December 1969 at
summit conference of heads of
government; signed - 7 February
1992 - Maastricht Treaty
aim - to promote a single market
by creating a single currency, the
euro; time table - 2 May 1998:
European exchange rates fixed for
1 January 1999; 1 January 1999:
all banks and stock exchanges
begin using euros; 1 January 2002:
the euro goes into circulation; 1
July 2002 local currencies no
longer accepted
members - (12) Austria, Belgium,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; note
- Denmark, Sweden, and UK decided
not to join
European Organization for Nuclear note - acronym retained from the
Research (CERN) predecessor organization Conseil
Europeenne pour la Recherche
Nucleaire
established - 1 July 1953;
effective - 29 September 1954
aim - to foster nuclear research
for peaceful purposes only
members - (20) Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Slovakia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK
observers - (7) European
Commission, Israel, Japan, Russia,
Turkey, United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), US
European Space Agency (ESA) established - 31 May 1975
aim - to promote peaceful
cooperation in space research and
technology
members - (15) Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Ireland, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK
cooperating state - (1) Canada
European Union (EU) note - evolved from the European
Community (EC)
established - 7 February 1992;
effective - 1 November 1993
aim - to coordinate policy among
the 15 members in three fields:
economics, building on the
European Economic Community's
(EEC) efforts to establish a
common market and eventually a
common currency to be called the
'euro', which superseded the EU's
accounting unit, the ECU; defense,
within the concept of a Common
Foreign and Security Policy
(CFSP); and justice and home
affairs, including immigration,
drugs, terrorism, and improved
living and working conditions
members - (15) Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, UK
membership applicants - (13)
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey
First World another term for countries with
advanced, industrialized
economies; this term is fading
from use; see developed countries
(DCs)
Food and Agriculture Organization established - 16 October 1945
(FAO) aim - to raise living standards
and increase availability of
agricultural products, as a UN
specialized agency
members - (184) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, EC, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and
Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
former Soviet Union (FSU) former term often used to identify
as a group the successor nations
to the Soviet Union or USSR; this
group of 15 countries consists of
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
former USSR/Eastern Europe the middle group in the hierarchy
(former USSR/EE) of developed countries (DCs),
former USSR/Eastern Europe (former
USSR/EE), and less developed
countries (LDCs); these countries
are in political and economic
transition and may well be grouped
differently in the near future;
this group of 27 countries
consists of Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia,
Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Lithuania, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,
Yugoslavia; this group is
identical to the IMF group
"countries in transition" except
for the IMF's inclusion of
Mongolia
Four Dragons the four small Asian less
developed countries (LDCs) that
have experienced unusually rapid
economic growth; also known as the
Four Tigers; this group consists
of Hong Kong, South Korea,
Singapore, Taiwan; these countries
are included in the IMF's
"advanced economies" group
Franc Zone (FZ) note - also known as Conference
des Ministres des Finances des
Pays de la Zone Franc
established - NA 1964
aim - to form a monetary union
among countries whose currencies
are linked to the French franc
members - (16) Benin, Burkina
Faso, Cameroon, Central African
Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic
of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,
Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon,
Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger,
Senegal, Togo; note - France
includes metropolitan France, the
four overseas departments of
France (French Guiana, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, Reunion), the two
territorial collectivities of
France (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and
Miquelon), and the three overseas
territories of France (French
Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis
and Futuna)
Front Line States (FLS) established to achieve black
majority rule in South Africa; has
since gone out of existence;
members included Angola, Botswana,
Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
General Agreement on Tariffs and see the World Trade Organization
Trade (GATT) (WTrO)
Group of 2 (G-2) informal term that came into use
about 1986; to facilitate
bilateral economic cooperation
between the two most powerful
economic giants; members were
Japan, US
Group of 3 (G-3) established - NA September 1990
aim - mechanism for policy
coordination
members - (3) Colombia, Mexico,
Venezuela
Group of 5 (G-5) established - 22 September 1985
aim - to coordinate the economic
policies of five major
noncommunist economic powers
members - (5) France, Germany,
Japan, UK, US
Group of 6 (G-6) note - also known as Groupe des
Six Sur le Desarmement; not to be
confused with the Big Six
established - 22 May 1984
aim - to achieve nuclear
disarmament
members - (6) Argentina, Greece,
India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania
Group of 7 (G-7) note - membership is the same as
the Big Seven
established - 22 September 1985
aim - to facilitate economic
cooperation among the seven major
noncommunist economic powers
members - (7) Group of 5 (France,
Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus
Canada and Italy
Group of 8 (G-8) established - NA October 1975
aim - to facilitate economic
cooperation among the developed
countries (DCs) that participated
in the Conference on International
Economic Cooperation (CIEC), held
in several sessions between NA
December 1975 and 3 June 1977
members - (9) Canada, EU (as one
member), France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Russia, UK, US
Group of 9 (G-9) established - NA
aim - to discuss matters of mutual
interest on an informal basis
members - (9) Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland,
Hungary, Romania, Sweden,
Yugoslavia
Group of 10 (G-10) note - also known as the Paris
Club; includes the wealthiest
members of the IMF who provide
most of the money to be loaned and
act as the informal steering
committee; name persists in spite
of the addition of Switzerland on
NA April 1984
established - NA October 1962
aim - to coordinate credit policy
members - (11) Belgium, Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland,
UK, US
nonstate participants - (4) BIS,
EU, IMF, OECD
Group of 11 (G-11) note - also known as the Cartagena
Group; established in 21-22 June
1984, in Cartagena, Colombia; aim
was to provide a forum for largest
debtor nations in Latin America;
members were Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru,
Uruguay, Venezuela
Group of 15 (G-15) note - byproduct of the Nonaligned
Movement
established � NA September 1989
aim - to promote economic
cooperation among developing
nations; to act as the main
political organ for the Nonaligned
Movement
members - (16) Algeria, Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India,
Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya,
Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Senegal,
Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
Group of 24 (G-24) established - 1 August 1989
aim - to promote the interests of
developing countries in Africa,
Asia, and Latin America within the
IMF
members - (24) Algeria, Argentina,
Brazil, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Cote
d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon,
Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran,
Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South
Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad
and Tobago, Venezuela
Group of 77 (G-77) established - 15 June 1964 was set
up; NA October 1967 first
ministerial meeting
aim - to promote economic
cooperation among developing
countries; name persists in spite
of increased membership
members - (131 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia,
Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Federated States of
Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Qatar, Romania,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and
Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Palestine Liberation Organization
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) note - also known as the
Cooperation Council for the Arab
States of the Gulf
established - 25 May 1981
aim - to promote regional
cooperation in economic, social,
political, and military affairs
members - (6) Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE
high-income countries another term for the
industrialized countries with high
per capita GDPs; see developed
countries (DCs)
Indian Ocean Commission (InOC) established - 21 December 1982
aim - to organize and promote
regional cooperation in all
sectors, especially economic
members - (5) Comoros, France (for
Reunion), Madagascar, Mauritius,
Seychelles
industrial countries another term for the developed
countries; see developed countries
(DCs)
Inter-American Development Bank note - also known as Banco
(IADB) Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)
established - 8 April 1959;
effective - 30 December 1959
aim - to promote economic and
social development in Latin
America
members - (46) Argentina, Austria,
The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium,
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Croatia, Denmark, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Finland, France, Germany,
Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Mexico, Netherlands,
Nicaragua, Norway, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Portugal,
Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago,
UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
Inter-Governmental Authority on note - formerly known as Inter-
Development (IGAD) Governmental Authority on Drought
and Development (IGADD)
established - 15-16 January 1986
as the Inter-Governmental
Authority on Drought and
Development; revitalized - 21
March 1996 as the Inter-
Governmental Authority on
Development
aim - to promote a social,
economic, and scientific community
among its members
members - (7) Djibouti, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan,
Uganda
International Atomic Energy established - 26 October 1956;
Agency (IAEA) effective - 29 July 1957
aim - to promote peaceful uses of
atomic energy
members - (133) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,
Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chile,
China, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia,
Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South
Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritius,
Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note
- Honduras membership has been
approved; membership will take
effect once legal instruments have
been deposited
International Bank for note - also known as the World
Reconstruction and Development Bank
(IBRD) established - 22 July 1944;
effective - 27 December 1945
aim - to provide economic
development loans; a UN
specialized agency
members - (184) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, East
Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Chamber of Commerce established - NA 1919
(ICC) aim - to promote free trade and
private enterprise and to
represent business interests at
national and international levels
members - (80 national committees)
Algeria, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Canada, Caribbean,
Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea,
Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco,
Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia,
Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay,
Venezuela, Yugoslavia
International Civil Aviation established - 7 December 1944;
Organization (ICAO) effective - 4 April 1947
aim - to promote international
cooperation in civil aviation; a
UN specialized agency
members - (187) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Committee of the established - 17 February 1863
Red Cross (ICRC) aim - to provide humanitarian aid
in wartime
members - (25 individuals) all
Swiss nationals
International Confederation of established - NA December 1949
Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) aim - to promote the trade union
movement
members - (225 affiliated
organizations in the following 148
countries) Algeria, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curacao,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Eritrea, Estonia, Falkland
Islands, Fiji, Finland, France,
French Polynesia, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Latvia,
Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,
Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia,
Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,
San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, UK, US, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Court of Justice note - also known as the World
(ICJ) Court
established - 3 February 1946
superseded Permanent Court of
International Justice
aim - primary judicial organ of
the UN
members - (15 judges) elected by
the UN General Assembly and
Security Council to represent all
principal legal systems
International Criminal Police established - NA September 1923
Organization (Interpol) set up as the International
Criminal Police Commission; 13
June 1956 constitution modified
and present name adopted
aim - to promote international
cooperation among police
authorities in fighting crime
members - (179) Albania, Algeria,
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Aruba, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands,
Netherlands Antilles, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
subbureaus - (14) American Samoa,
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands,
Gibraltar, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau,
Montserrat, Northern Mariana
Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and
Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands
International Development established - 26 January 1960;
Association (IDA) effective - 24 September 1960
aim - UN specialized agency and
IBRD affiliate that provides
economic loans for low-income
countries
members - (163)
Part I - (27 developed countries)
Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Canada, Denmark, EU, Finland,
France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal,
Russia, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US
Part II - (136 less developed
countries) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso,
Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,
Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan,
Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Energy Agency (IEA) established - 15 November 1974
aim - to promote cooperation on
energy matters, especially
emergency oil sharing and
relations between oil consumers
and oil producers; established by
the OECD
members - (26) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, UK, US
International Federation of Red note - formerly known as League of
Cross and Red Crescent Societies Red Cross and Red Crescent
(IFRCS) Societies (LORCS)
established - 5 May 1919
aim - to organize, coordinate, and
direct international relief
actions; to promote humanitarian
activities; to represent and
encourage the development of
National Societies; to bring help
to victims of armed conflicts,
refugees, and displaced people; to
reduce the vulnerability of people
through development programs
members - (179) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Estonia,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Samoa, San
Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
associate members - (7 plus the
Palestine Liberation Organization)
Comoros, Cook Islands, Eritrea,
Israel, Kazakhstan, Federated
States of Micronesia, Tuvalu,
Palestine Liberation Organization
International Finance Corporation established - 25 May 1955;
(IFC) effective - 24 July 1956
aim - to support private
enterprise in international
economic development; a UN
specialized agency and IBRD
affiliate
members - (175) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
International Fund for established - NA November 1974
Agricultural Development (IFAD) aim - to promote agricultural
development; a UN specialized
agency
members - (162)
Category I - (23 industrialized
aid contributors) Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ,
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US
Category II - (12 petroleum-
exporting aid contributors)
Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE,
Venezuela
Category III - (127 aid
recipients) Afghanistan, Albania,
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The
Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India,
Israel, Jamaica, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,
South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan,
Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao
Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam,
Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
International Hydrographic note - name changed from
Organization (IHO) International Hydrographic Bureau
on 22 September 1970
established - NA June 1919;
effective - NA June 1921
aim - to train hydrographic
surveyors and nautical
cartographers to achieve
standardization in nautical charts
and electronic chart displays; to
provide advice on nautical
cartography and hydrography; to
develop the sciences in the field
of hydrography and techniques used
for descriptive oceanography
members - (70) Algeria, Argentina,
Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile,
China (including Hong Kong and
Macau), Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Croatia,
Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, North Korea, South Korea,
Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco,
Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Papua New Guinea, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Russia, Singapore, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname,
Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia
membership pending - (3) Bulgaria,
Mauritania, Qatar
International Labor Organization established - 28 June 1919 set up
(ILO) as part of Treaty of Versailles;
11 April 1919 became operative; 14
December 1946 affiliated with the
UN
aim - to deal with world labor
issues; a UN specialized agency
members - (175) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome
and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Maritime note - name changed from
Organization (IMO) Intergovernmental Maritime
Consultative Organization (IMCO)
on 22 May 1982
established - 6 March 1948 set up
as the Inter-Governmental Maritime
Consultative Organization;
effective - 17 March 1958
aim - to deal with international
maritime affairs; a UN specialized
agency
members - (161) Albania, Algeria,
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and
Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Yugoslavia
associate members - (2) Hong Kong,
Macau
International Monetary Fund (IMF) established - 22 July 1944;
effective - 27 December 1945
aim - to promote world monetary
stability and economic
development; a UN specialized
agency
members - (184) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, East
Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Olympic Committee established - 23 June 1894
(IOC) aim - to promote the Olympic
ideals and administer the Olympic
games: 2002 Winter Olympics in
Salt Lake City, United States;
2004 Summer Olympics in Athens,
Greece; 2006 Winter Olympics in
Turin, Italy
National Olympic Committees - (199
and the Palestine Liberation
Organization) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, American Samoa,
Andorra, Angola (suspended),
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Aruba, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
British Virgin Islands, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman
Islands, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,
South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles,
NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau,
Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin
Islands, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine
Liberation Organization
International Organization for note - established as Provisional
Migration (IOM) Intergovernmental Committee for
the Movement of Migrants from
Europe; renamed Intergovernmental
Committee for European Migration
(ICEM) on 15 November 1952;
renamed Intergovernmental
Committee for Migration (ICM) in
November 1980; current name
adopted 14 November 1989
established - 5 December 1951
aim - to facilitate orderly
international emigration and
immigration
members - (91) Albania, Algeria,
Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Finland, France, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iran,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan,
Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali,
Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua,
Norway, Pakistan, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia
observers - (36) Afghanistan,
Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia,
China, Cuba, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Ghana, Holy See, India, Indonesia,
Ireland, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, NZ,
Papua New Guinea, Russia, Rwanda,
San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,
Somalia, Spain, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
International Organization for established - NA February 1947
Standardization (ISO) aim - to promote the development
of international standards with a
view to facilitating international
exchange of goods and services and
to developing cooperation in the
sphere of intellectual,
scientific, technological and
economic activity
members - (93 national standards
organizations) Algeria, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador,
Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,
South Korea, Kuwait, Libya,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia,
Malta, Mauritius, Mexico,
Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands,
NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
Panama, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia,
Zimbabwe
correspondent members - (36)
Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahrain,
Bolivia, Brunei, Cameroon,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Cote d'Ivoire, El Salvador,
Estonia, Guatemala, Hong Kong,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lithuania, Macau, Madagascar,
Malawi, Moldova, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia,
Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland,
Turkmenistan, Uganda
subscriber members - (13 plus the
Palestine Liberation Organization)
Antigua and Barbuda, Benin,
Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Comoros,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras,
Lesotho, Mali, Saint Lucia,
Palestine Liberation Organization
International Red Cross and Red established - NA 1928
Crescent Movement (ICRM) aim - to promote worldwide
humanitarian aid through the
International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and
International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRCS; formerly League of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies
or LORCS) in peacetime
National Societies - (176
countries); note - same as
membership for International
Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
International Telecommunication established - 17 May 1865 set up
Union (ITU) as the International Telegraph
Union; 9 December 1932 adopted
present name
effective - 1 January 1934;
affiliated with the UN - 15
November 1947
aim - to deal with world
telecommunications issues; a UN
specialized agency
members - (189) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Holy See, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Islamic Development Bank (IDB) established - 15 December 1973 by
declaration of intent; effective -
12 August 1974
aim - to promote Islamic economic
aid and social development
members - (52 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti,
Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique,
Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname,
Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE,
Yemen, Palestine Liberation
Organization
Latin American Economic System note - also known as Sistema
(LAES) Economico Latinoamericana (SELA)
established - 17 October 1975
aim - to promote economic and
social development through
regional cooperation
members - (28) Argentina, The
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,
Uruguay, Venezuela
Latin American Integration note - also known as Asociacion
Association (LAIA) Latinoamericana de Integracion
(ALADI)
established - 12 August 1980;
effective - 18 March 1981
aim - to promote freer regional
trade
members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba,
Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru,
Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (23) China, Commission
of the European Communities,
Corporacion Andina de Fomento,
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Inter-American Development Bank,
Inter-American Institute for
Cooperation on Agriculture, Italy,
Latin America Economic System,
Nicaragua, Organization of
American States, Panama,
Panamerican Health Organization,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain,
Switzerland, United Nations
Development Program, United
Nations Economic Commission for
Latin America and the Caribbean
least developed countries (LLDCs) that subgroup of the less
developed countries (LDCs)
initially identified by the UN
General Assembly in 1971 as having
no significant economic growth,
per capita GDPs normally less than
$1,000, and low literacy rates;
also known as the undeveloped
countries; the 42 LLDCs are:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin,
Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso,
Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho,
Malawi, Maldives, Mali,
Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal,
Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and
Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia,
Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu,
Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen
less developed countries (LDCs) the bottom group in the hierarchy
of developed countries (DCs),
former USSR/Eastern Europe (former
USSR/EE), and less developed
countries (LDCs); mainly countries
and dependent areas with low
levels of output, living
standards, and technology; per
capita GDPs are generally below
$5,000 and often less than $1,500;
however, the group also includes a
number of countries with high per
capita incomes, areas of advanced
technology, and rapid rates of
growth; includes the advanced
developing countries, developing
countries, Four Dragons (Four
Tigers), least developed countries
(LLDCs), low-income countries,
middle-income countries, newly
industrializing economies (NIEs),
the South, Third World,
underdeveloped countries,
undeveloped countries; the 172
LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria,
American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,
Brazil, British Virgin Islands,
Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape
Verde, Cayman Islands, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Christmas Island, Cocos
Islands, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji,
French Guiana, French Polynesia,
Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip,
Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland,
Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam,
Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica,
Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Isle of
Man, Marshall Islands, Martinique,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands Antilles, New
Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island,
Northern Mariana Islands, Oman,
Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Pitcairn Islands,
Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion,
Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Syria,
Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,
Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos
Islands, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda,
Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis
and Futuna, West Bank, Western
Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe;
note - similar to the new
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
term "developing countries" which
adds Malta, Mexico, South Africa,
and Turkey but omits in its
recently published statistics
American Samoa, Anguilla, British
Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman
Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos
Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba,
Eritrea, Falkland Islands, French
Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza
Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland,
Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam,
Guernsey, Jersey, North Korea,
Macau, Isle of Man, Martinique,
Mayotte, Montserrat, Nauru, New
Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island,
Northern Mariana Islands, Palau,
Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico,
Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint
Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau,
Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands,
Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Wallis and
Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara
low-income countries another term for those less
developed countries with below-
average per capita GDPs; see less
developed countries (LDCs)
middle-income countries another term for those less
developed countries with above-
average per capita GDPs; see less
developed countries (LDCs)
Monetary and Economic Community note � was formerly the Central
of Central Africa (CEMAC) African Customs and Economic Union
(UDEAC)
established - 8 December 1964;
effective - 1 January 1966
aim - to promote the establishment
of a Central African Common Market
members - (7) Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Chad, Republic
of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea,
Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe
Near Abroad Russian term for the 14 non-
Russian successor states of the
USSR, in which 25 million ethnic
Russians live and in which Moscow
has expressed a strong national
security interest; the 14
countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Estonia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
new independent states (NIS) a term referring to all those
countries of the FSU except the
Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania)
newly industrializing countries former term for the newly
(NICs) industrializing economies; see
newly industrializing economies
(NIEs)
newly industrializing economies that subgroup of the less
(NIEs) developed countries (LDCs) that
has experienced particularly rapid
industrialization of their
economies; formerly known as the
newly industrializing countries
(NICs); also known as advanced
developing countries; usually
includes the Four Dragons (Hong
Kong, South Korea, Singapore,
Taiwan), and Brazil
Nonaligned Movement (NAM) established - 1-6 September 1961
aim - to establish political and
military cooperation apart from
the traditional East or West blocs
members - (113 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cote
d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti,
Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The
Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya,
North Korea, Kuwait, Laos,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar,
Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and
Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Somalia, South Africa,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (16) Antigua and
Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Brazil, China, Costa Rica,
Croatia, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, El Salvador, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Paraguay,
Ukraine, Uruguay
guests - (28) Australia, Austria,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Canada, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Holy See, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US
Nordic Council (NC) established - 16 March 1952;
effective - 12 February 1953
aim - to promote regional
economic, cultural, and
environmental cooperation
members - (5) Denmark (including
Faroe Islands and Greenland),
Finland (including Aland Islands),
Iceland, Norway, Sweden
observers - (3) the Sami (Lapp)
local parliaments of Finland,
Norway, and Sweden
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) established - 4 December 1975;
effective - 1 June 1976
aim - to promote economic
cooperation and development
members - (5) Denmark (including
Faroe Islands and Greenland),
Finland (including Aland Islands),
Iceland, Norway, Sweden
North a popular term for the rich
industrialized countries generally
located in the northern portion of
the Northern Hemisphere; the
counterpart of the South; see
developed countries (DCs)
North Atlantic Treaty established - 4 April 1949
Organization (NATO) aim - to promote mutual defense
and cooperation
members - (19) Belgium, Canada,
Czech Republic, Denmark, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain,
Turkey, UK, US
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) note - also known as OECD Nuclear
Energy Agency
established - 1 February 1958
aim - to promote the peaceful uses
of nuclear energy; associated with
OECD
members - (27) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) note - also known as the London
Suppliers Group or the London
Group
established - NA 1974; effective -
NA 1975
aim - to establish guidelines for
exports of nuclear materials,
processing equipment for uranium
enrichment, and technical
information to countries of
proliferation concern and regions
of conflict and instability
members - (39) Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belarus,
Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
South Korea, Latvia, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US
observer - (1) European Commission
(a policy-planning body for the
EU)
Organization for Economic established - 14 December 1960;
Cooperation and Development effective - 30 September 1961
(OECD) aim - to promote economic
cooperation and development
members - (30) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands,
NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Slovakia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
special member - (1) EU
Organization for Security and note - formerly the Conference on
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Security and Cooperation in Europe
(CSCE) established 3 July 1975
established - 1 January 1995
aim - to foster the implementation
of human rights, fundamental
freedoms, democracy, and the rule
of law; to act as an instrument of
early warning, conflict
prevention, and crisis management;
and to serve as a framework for
conventional arms control and
confidence building measures
members - (55) Albania, Andorra,
Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy
See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Malta,
Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Russia, San Marino, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia
partners for cooperation - (9)
Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan,
Jordan, South Korea, Morocco,
Thailand, Tunisia
Organization for the Prohibition established - 29 April 1997
of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) aim - to enforce the Convention on
the Prohibition of the
Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of Chemical
Weapons and on Their Destruction;
to provide a forum for
consultation and cooperation among
the signatories of the Convention
members - (145) Albania, Algeria,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium,
Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile,
China, Colombia, Cook Islands,
Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominica,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea,
Guyana, Holy See, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,
Laos, Latvia, Lesotho,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint
Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
signatory states - (29)
Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Bhutan,
Burma, Cambodia, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Djibouti, Dominican Republic,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti, Honduras, Israel,
Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Madagascar,
Marshall Islands, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra
Leone, Thailand; note - states
have signed but not ratified the
convention
Organization of African Unity established - 25 May 1963
(OAU) aim - to promote unity and
cooperation among African states
members - (53) Algeria, Angola,
Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda,
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,
Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia,
South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
Organization of American States established - 14 April 1890 as the
(OAS) International Union of American
Republics; 30 April 1948 adopted
present charter; effective - 13
December 1951
aim - to promote regional peace
and security as well as economic
and social development
members - (35) Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil,
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Cuba (excluded from formal
participation since 1962),
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and
Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (51) Algeria, Angola,
Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, EU, Finland,
France, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Holy See, Hungary, India, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan,
South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon,
Morocco, Netherlands, Norway,
Pakistan, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia,
Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Yemen
Organization of Arab Petroleum established - 9 January 1968
Exporting Countries (OAPEC) aim - to promote cooperation in
the petroleum industry
members - (10) Algeria, Bahrain,
Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE
Organization of Eastern Caribbean established - 18 June 1981;
States (OECS) effective - 4 July 1981
aim - to promote political,
economic, and defense cooperation
members - (7) Antigua and Barbuda,
Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
associate members - (2) Anguilla,
British Virgin Islands
Organization of Petroleum established - 14 September 1960
Exporting Countries (OPEC) aim - to coordinate petroleum
policies
members - (11) Algeria, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya,
Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE,
Venezuela
Organization of the Islamic established - 22-25 September 1969
Conference (OIC) aim - to promote Islamic
solidarity in economic, social,
cultural, and political affairs
members - (56 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote
d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon,
The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique,
Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan,
Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen,
Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (3) Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Central African
Republic, Thailand
Pacific Community note - formerly known as the South
Pacific Commission (SPC)
established - 6 February 1947;
effective - 29 July 1948
aim - to promote regional
cooperation in economic and social
matters
members - (27) American Samoa,
Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji,
France, French Polynesia, Guam,
Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue,
Northern Mariana Islands, Palau,
Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn
Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands,
Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US,
Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna
Pacific Island Forum note - used to the South Pacific
Forum (SPF)
established - 5 August 1971
aim - to promote regional
cooperation in political matters
members - (16) Australia, Cook
Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall
Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue,
Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Vanuatu
observer - (1) New Caledonia
Paris Club established -1956
aim -to provide a forum for debtor
countries to negotiate
rescheduling of debt service
payments or loans extended by
governments or official agencies
of participating countries; to
help restore normal trade and
project finance to debtor
countries
members - (19) Austria, Australia,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, Netherlands, Norway,
Russia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, UK, US
Partnership for Peace (PFP) established - 10-11 January 1994
aim - to expand and intensify
political and military cooperation
throughout Europe, increase
stability, diminish threats to
peace, and build relationships by
promoting the spirit of practical
cooperation and commitment to
democratic principles that
underpin NATO; program under the
auspices of NATO
members - (29) Albania, Armenia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Estonia, Finland, Georgia,
Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Moldova, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Permanent Court of Arbitration established - 29 July 1899
(PCA) aim - to facilitate the settlement
of international disputes
members - (96) Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belarus,
Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia,
Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Eritrea, Fiji, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan,
South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Malta, Mauritius,
Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,
UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Rio Group (RG) note - formerly known as Grupo de
los Ocho, established in December
1986; composed of the Contadora
Group and the Lima Group
established - NA 1988
aim - to consult on regional Latin
American issues
members - (19) Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana,
Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay,
Venezuela
Second World another term for the traditionally
Marxist-Leninist states of the
USSR and Eastern Europe, with
authoritarian governments and
command economies based on the
Soviet model; the term is fading
from use; see centrally planned
economies
socialist countries in general, countries in which the
government owns and plans the use
of the major factors of
production; note - the term is
sometimes used incorrectly as a
synonym for communist countries
South a popular term for the poorer,
less industrialized countries
generally located south of the
developed countries; the
counterpart of the North; see less
developed countries (LDCs)
South Asian Association for established - 8 December 1985
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) aim - to promote economic, social,
and cultural cooperation
members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka
South Pacific Forum (SPF) note- see Pacific Island Forum
South Pacific Regional Trade and established - NA 1981
Economic Cooperation Agreement aim - to redress unequal trade
(Sparteca) relationships of Australia and New
Zealand with small island
economies in the Pacific region
members - (16) Australia, Cook
Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall
Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue,
Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Vanuatu
Southern African Customs Union established - 11 December 1969
(SACU) aim - to promote free trade and
cooperation in customs matters
members - (5) Botswana, Lesotho,
Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland
Southern African Development note - evolved from the Southern
Community (SADC) African Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC)
established - 17 August 1992
aim - to promote regional economic
development and integration
members - (14) Angola, Botswana,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles,
South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
Southern Cone Common Market note - also known as Mercado Comun
(Mercosur) or Southern Common del Cono Sur (Mercosur)
Market established - 26 March 1991
aim - to increase regional
economic cooperation
members - (4) Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay, Uruguay
associate member - (2) Bolivia,
Chile
Third World another term for the less
developed countries; the term is
obsolescent; see less developed
countries (LDCs)
underdeveloped countries refers to those less developed
countries with the potential for
above-average economic growth; see
less developed countries (LDCs)
undeveloped countries refers to those extremely poor
less developed countries (LDCs)
with little prospect for economic
growth; see least developed
countries (LLDCs)
United Nations (UN) established - 26 June 1945;
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to maintain international
peace and security and to promote
cooperation involving economic,
social, cultural, and humanitarian
problems
constituent organizations - the UN
is composed of six principal
organs and numerous subordinate
agencies and bodies as follows:
1) Secretariat
2) General Assembly: International
Research and Training Institute
for the Advancement of Women
(INSTRAW), United Nations Center
for Human Settlements (Habitat),
United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF), United Nations
Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD), United
Nations Development Program
(UNDP), United Nations Drug
Control Program (UNDCP), United
Nations Environment Program
(UNEP), United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights
(UNHCHR), United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
United Nations Institute for
Disarmament Research (UNIDIR),
United Nations Institute for
Training and Research (UNITAR),
United Nations Interregional Crime
and Justice Research Institute
(UNICRI), United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA), United
Nations Office of Project Services
(UNOPS), United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA),
United Nations Research Institute
for Social Development (UNRISD),
United Nations System Staff
College (UNSSC), and United
Nations University (UNU), World
Food Program (WFP)
3) Security Council: International
Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia (ICTY), International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
(ICTR), United Nations
Compensation Commission, United
Nations Disengagement Observer
Force (UNDOF), United Nations
Interim Administration Mission in
Kosovo (UNMIK), United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),
United Nations Iraq/Kuwait
Boundary Demarcation Commission,
United Nations Iraq-Kuwait
Observation Mission (UNIKOM),
United Nations Military Observer
Group in India and Pakistan
(UNMOGIP), United Nations Mission
for the Referendum in Western
Sahara (MINURSO), United Nations
Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(UNMIBH), United Nations Mission
in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE),
United Nations Mission in Sierra
Leone (UNAMSIL), United Nations
Mission of Observers in Prevlaka
(UNMOP), United Nations Monitoring
and Verification Commission
(UNMOVIC), United Nations Observer
Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG),
United Nations Organization
Mission in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (MONUC), United
Nations Peace-Keeping Force in
Cyprus (UNFICYP), United Nations
Transitional Administration in
East Timor (UNTAET), and United
Nations Truce Supervision
Organization (UNTSO)
4) Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC): Commission for Social
Development, Commission on Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice,
Commission on Human Rights,
Commission on Narcotics Drugs,
Commission on Population and
Development, Commission on Science
and Technology for Development,
Commission on Sustainable
Development, Commission on the
Status of Women, Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific (ESCAP), Economic and
Social Commission for Western Asia
(ESCWA), Economic Commission for
Africa (ECA), Economic Commission
for Europe (ECE), Economic
Commission for Latin America and
the Caribbean (ECLAC), Food and
Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO),
International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD), International Center for
Secretariat of Investment Disputes
(ICSID), International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO),
International Development
Association (IDA), International
Finance Corporation (IFC),
International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD),
International Labor Organization
(ILO), International Maritime
Organization (IMO), International
Monetary Fund (IMF), International
Telecommunication Union (ITU),
Multilateral Investment Geographic
Agency (MGIA), Statistical
Commission, United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO),
Universal Postal Union (UPU),
World Health Organization (WHO),
World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO), World
Meteorological Organization (WMO),
World Tourism Organization (WToO),
and World Trade Organization
(WTrO)
5) Trusteeship Council (inactive;
no trusteeships at this time)
6) International Court of Justice
(ICJ)
UN members - (189) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Samoa, San
Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note
- all UN members are represented
in the General Assembly; East
Timor and Switzerland are
scheduled to become UN members in
September 2002
observers - (2 plus the Palestine
Liberation Organization) Holy See,
Switzerland, Palestine Liberation
Organization
United Nations Children's Fund note - acronym retained from the
(UNICEF) predecessor organization, UN
International Children's Emergency
Fund
established - 11 December 1946
aim - to help establish child
health and welfare services
members - (36) selected on a
rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Civilian Police established 28 November 1997; to
Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH) support the professionalization of
the Haitian National Police;
established by UN Security
Council; members were Argentina,
Benin, Canada, France, India,
Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo,
Tunisia, US; mission ended March
2000
United Nations Conference on established - 30 December 1964
Trade and Development (UNCTAD) aim - to promote international
trade
members - (191) all UN members
plus Holy See, Switzerland
United Nations Development established - 22 November 1965
Program (UNDP) aim - to provide technical
assistance to stimulate economic
and social development
members (executive board) - (36)
selected on a rotating basis from
all regions
United Nations Disengagement established - 31 May 1974
Observer Force (UNDOF) aim - to observe the 1973 Arab-
Israeli cease-fire; established by
the UN Security Council
members - (6) Austria, Canada,
Japan, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden
United Nations Educational, established - 16 November 1945;
Scientific, and Cultural effective - 4 November 1946
Organization (UNESCO) aim - to promote cooperation in
education, science, and culture
members - (188) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (6) Aruba,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman
Islands, Macau, Netherlands
Antilles, Tokelau
United Nations Environment established - 15 December 1972
Program (UNEP) aim - to promote international
cooperation on all environmental
matters
members - (58) selected on a
rotating basis from all regions
United Nations General Assembly established - 26 June 1945;
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to function as the primary
deliberative organ of the UN
members - (189) all UN members are
represented in the General
Assembly
United Nations High Commissioner established - 3 December 1949;
for Refugees (UNHCR) effective - 1 January 1951
aim - to ensure the humanitarian
treatment of refugees and find
permanent solutions to refugee
problems
members (executive committee) -
(57) Algeria, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile,
China, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Cote
d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ethiopia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands,
Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Philippines, Poland,
Russia, Somalia, South Africa,
Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela
United Nations Industrial established - 17 November 1966;
Development Organization (UNIDO) effective - 1 January 1967
aim - UN specialized agency that
promotes industrial development
especially among the members
members - (169) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola,
Argentina, Armenia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Institute for established - 11 December 1963
Training and Research (UNITAR) adoption of the resolution
establishing the Institute;
effective - 24 March 1965
aim - to help the UN become more
effective through training and
research
members (Board of Trustees) - (20)
Austria, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile,
China, Egypt, France, Ghana,
Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico,
Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia,
South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland,
Thailand, US; note - the UN
Secretary General can appoint up
to 30 members
United Nations Interim established - 10 June 1999
Administration Mission in Kosovo aim - to promote the establishment
(UNMIK) of substantial autonomy and self-
government in Kosovo; to perform
basic civilian administrative
functions; to support the
reconstruction of key
infrastructure and humanitarian
and disaster relief
members - (53) Argentina, Austria,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin,
Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominican
Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji,
Finland, France, The Gambia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy,
Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan,
Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia,
Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine UK, US, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Interim Force in established - 19 March 1978
Lebanon (UNIFIL) aim - to confirm the withdrawal of
Israeli forces, and assist in
reestablishing Lebanese authority
in southern Lebanon; established
by the UN Security Council
members - (10) Fiji, Finland,
France, Ghana, India, Ireland,
Italy, Nepal, Poland, Ukraine
United Nations Iraq-Kuwait established - 9 April 1991
Observation Mission (UNIKOM) aim - to observe and monitor the
demilitarized zone established
between Iraq and Kuwait;
established by the UN Security
Council
members - (33) Argentina, Austria,
Bangladesh, China, Denmark, Fiji,
Finland, France, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Senegal,
Singapore, Sweden, Thailand,
Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
United Nations Military Observer established - 24 January 1949
Group in India and Pakistan aim - to observe the 1949 India-
(UNMOGIP) Pakistan cease-fire; established
by the UN Security Council
members - (9) Austria, Belgium,
Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy,
South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay
United Nations Mission for the established - 29 April 1991
Referendum in Western Sahara aim - to supervise the cease-fire
(MINURSO) and conduct a referendum in
Western Sahara; established by the
UN Security Council
members - (25) Argentina, Austria,
Bangladesh, Belgium, China, Egypt,
El Salvador, France, Ghana,
Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Kenya, South
Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Poland, Portugal,
Russia, US, Uruguay
United Nations Mission in Bosnia established - 21 December 1995
and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) aim - to establish an
International Police Task Force
(IPTF) to implement the Dayton
Peace Agreement in Bosnia and
Herzegovina
members - (44) Argentina, Austria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada,
Chile, China, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan,
Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal,
Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Senegal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey,
Ukraine, UK, US, Vanuatu
United Nations Mission in established - 31 July 2000
Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) aim - to monitor the cessation of
hostilities
members - (45) Algeria, Australia,
Austria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada,
China, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, The
Gambia, Ghana, Greece, India,
Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya,
Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway,
Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania,
Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia,
Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission in Sierra established - 22 October 1999
Leone (UNAMSIL) aim - to cooperate with the
Government of Sierra Leone and the
other parties to the Peace
Agreement in the implementation of
the agreement; to monitor the
military and security situation in
Sierra Leone; to monitor the
disarmament and demobilization of
combatants and members of the
Civil Defense Forces (CFD); to
assist in monitoring respect for
international humanitarian law
members - (32) Bangladesh,
Bolivia, Canada, China, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt,
France, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,
Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya,
Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mali, Nepal,
NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
Paraguay, Russia, Slovakia,
Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand,
Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission of established - 1 February 1996
Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) aim - to monitor the
demilitarization of the Prevlaka
peninsula in southern Croatia
members - (24) Argentina,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland,
Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan,
Kenya, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Poland, Portugal,
Russia, Sweden, Switzerland,
Ukraine
United Nations Mission of established 16 December 1994; to
Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) monitor and investigate violations
of the cease-fire of 17 September
1994 between Tajikistan and the
Tajik opposition and to assist in
the political negotiation process;
established by the UN Security
Council; members were Austria,
Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Ghana,
Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Nigeria,
Poland, Ukraine, Uruguay; mission
ended May 2000
United Nations Monitoring and note - formerly known as United
Verification Commission (UNMOVIC) Nations Special Commission for the
Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of
Mass Destruction (UNSCOM)
established - NA December 1999
aim - to identify, account for,
and eliminate Iraq's weapons of
mass destruction and the capacity
to produce them
commissioners - (15) Argentina,
Brazil, Canada, China, Finland,
France, Germany, India, Japan,
Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine,
UK, US
United Nations Observer Mission established - 24 August 1993
in Georgia (UNOMIG) aim - to verify compliance with
the cease-fire agreement, to
monitor weapons exclusion zone,
and to supervise CIS peacekeeping
force for Abkhazia; established by
the UN Security Council
members - (22) Albania, Austria,
Bangladesh, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Indonesia,
Jordan, South Korea, Pakistan,
Poland, Russia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US,
Uruguay
United Nations Organization established - 30 November 1999
Mission in the Democratic aim - to establish contacts with
Republic of the Congo (MONUC) the signatories to the cease-fire
agreement and to plan for the
observation of the cease-fire and
disengagement of forces
members - (42) Algeria,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin,
Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,
Canada, China, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana,
India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy,
Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru,
Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal,
South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay,
Zambia
United Nations Peace-keeping established - 4 March 1964
Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) aim - to serve as a peacekeeping
force between Greek Cypriots and
Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus;
established by the UN Security
Council
members - (9) Argentina, Austria,
Canada, Finland, Hungary, Ireland,
Nepal, Slovakia, UK
United Nations Population Fund note - acronym retained from
(UNFPA) predecessor organization UN Fund
for Population Activities
established - NA July 1967
aim - to assist both developed and
developing countries to deal with
their population problems
members (executive board ) - (36)
selected on a rotating basis from
all regions
United Nations Preventive established 31 March 1995; to
Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) monitor border activity in the
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia; members were Argentina,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil,
Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia,
Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, NZ,
Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland,
Portugal, Russia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, US;
mandate ended 25 March 1999
United Nations Relief and Works established - 8 December 1949
Agency for Palestine Refugees in aim - to provide assistance to
the Near East (UNRWA) Palestinian refugees
members (advisory commission) -
(10) Belgium, Egypt, France,
Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria,
Turkey, UK, US
United Nations Research Institute established - NA 1963
for Social Development (UNRISD) aim - to conduct research into the
problems of economic development
during different phases of
economic growth
members - no country members, but
a Board of Directors consisting of
a chairman appointed by the UN
secretary general and 11
individual members
United Nations Secretariat established - 26 June 1945;
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to serve as the primary
administrative organ of the UN; a
Secretary General is appointed for
a five-year term by the General
Assembly on the recommendation of
the Security Council
members - the UN Secretary General
and staff
United Nations Security Council established - 26 June 1945;
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to maintain international
peace and security
permanent members - (5) China,
France, Russia, UK, US
nonpermanent members - (10)
elected for two-year terms by the
UN General Assembly; Bulgaria
(2002-03), Cameroon (2002-03),
Colombia (2001-02), Guinea (2002-
03), Ireland (2001-02), Mauritius
(2001-02), Mexico (2002-03),
Norway (2001-02), Singapore (2001-
02), Syria (2002-03)
United Nations Transitional established - 25 October 1999
Administration in East Timor aim - to provide security
(UNTAET) throughout the territory of East
Timor; to establish an effective
administration; to ensure the
coordination and delivery of
humanitarian assistance; to
support capacity-building for
self-government
members - (28) Australia,
Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil,
Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji,
Ireland, Jordan, South Korea,
Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ,
Norway, Pakistan, Philippines,
Portugal, Russia, Singapore,
Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand,
Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay
United Nations Truce Supervision established - NA June 1948
Organization (UNTSO) aim - to supervise the 1948 Arab-
Israeli cease-fire; currently
supports timely deployment of
reinforcements to other
peacekeeping operations in the
region as needed; initially
established by the UN Security
Council
members - (22) Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Canada, Chile, China, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland,
Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Sweden, Switzerland, US
United Nations Trusteeship established on 26 June 1945,
Council effective on 24 October 1945, to
supervise the administration of
the 11 UN trust territories;
members were China, France,
Russia, UK, US; it formally
suspended operations 1 November
1995 after the Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands (Palau) became
the Republic of Palau, a
constitutional government in free
association with the US; the
Trusteeship Council was not
dissolved
United Nations University (UNU) established - 3 December 1973
aim - to conduct research in
development, welfare, and human
survival and to train scholars
members - (24 members of UNU
Council and the Rector are
appointed by the Secretary General
of the United Nations and the
Director General of UNESCO)
Universal Postal Union (UPU) established - 9 October 1874,
affiliated with the UN 15 November
1947; effective - 1 July 1948
aim - to promote international
postal cooperation; a UN
specialized agency
members - (189) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Holy See, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands,
Netherlands Antilles, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Overseas Territories of the
UK, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Warsaw Pact (WP) established 14 May 1955 to promote
mutual defense; members met 1 July
1991 to dissolve the alliance;
member states at the time of
dissolution were Bulgaria,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland,
Romania, and the USSR; earlier
members included GDR and Albania
West African Development Bank note - also known as Banque Ouest-
(WADB) Africaine de Developpement (BOAD);
is a financial institution of
WAEMU
established - 14 November 1973
aim - to promote regional economic
development and integration
regional members - (9) Central
Bank of West African States,
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote
d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali,
Niger, Senegal, Togo
international/nonregional members
- (5) African Development Bank,
Belgium, European Investment Bank,
France, Germany
West African Economic and note - also known as Union
Monetary Union (WAEMU) Economique et Monetaire Ouest
Africaine (UEMOA)
established - 1 August 1994
aim - to increase competitiveness
of members' economic markets; to
create a common market
members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso,
Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau,
Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
Western European Union (WEU) established - 23 October 1954;
effective - 6 May 1955
aim - to provide mutual defense
and to move toward political
unification
members - (10) Belgium, France,
Germany, Greece, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, UK
associate members - (6) Czech
Republic, Hungary, Iceland,
Norway, Poland, Turkey
associate partners - (7) Bulgaria,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia
observers - (5) Austria, Denmark,
Finland, Ireland, Sweden
World Bank Group includes International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD), International Development
Association (IDA), and
International Finance Corporation
(IFC)
World Confederation of Labor established - 19 June 1920 as the
(WCL) International Federation of
Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU),
renamed 4 October 1968
aim - to promote the trade union
movement
members - (101 national
organizations) Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba,
Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bonaire
Island, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El
Salvador, France, French Guiana,
Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana,
Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong
Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan,
South Korea, Liberia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Malta, Martinique,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Montserrat, Morocco, Namibia,
Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles,
Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland,
Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad
and Tobago, Ukraine, US, Uruguay,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Windward
Islands, Zimbabwe
World Federation of Trade Unions established - 3 October 1945
(WFTU) aim - to promote the trade union
movement
members - (125 and the Palestine
Liberation Organization)
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Chile, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Djibouti, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, French Guiana,
The Gambia, Ghana, Greece,
Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, North
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Mali, Martinique, Mauritius,
Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, New
Caledonia, NZ, Niger, Nigeria,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion,
Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia,
Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Slovakia, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation
Organization
World Food Program (WFP) established - 24 November 1961
aim - to provide food aid in
support of economic development or
disaster relief; an ECOSOC
organization
members - (36) selected on a
rotating basis from all regions
World Health Organization (WHO) established - 22 July 1946;
effective - 7 April 1948
aim - to deal with health matters
worldwide; a UN specialized agency
members - (191) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (2) Puerto
Rico, Tokelau
observers - (2) Holy See,
Liechtenstein
World Intellectual Property established - 14 July 1967;
Organization (WIPO) effective - 26 April 1970
aim - to furnish protection for
literary, artistic, and scientific
works; a UN specialized agency
members - (178) Albania, Algeria,
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
World Meteorological Organization established - 11 October 1947;
(WMO) effective - 4 April 1951
aim - to sponsor meteorological
cooperation; a UN specialized
agency
members - (185) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
British Caribbean Territories,
Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, French Polynesia,
Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands
Antilles, New Caledonia, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and
Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Tourism Organization (WToO) established - 2 January 1975
aim - to promote tourism as a
means of contributing to economic
development, international
understanding, and peace
members - (138) Afghanistan,
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Argentina, Armenia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji,
France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,
South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao
Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (6) Aruba,
Flanders, Hong Kong, Macau,
Madeira Islands, Netherlands
Antilles
observers - (2) Holy See,
Palestine Liberation Organization
World Trade Organization (WTrO) note - succeeded General Agreement
on Tariff and Trade (GATT)
established - 15 April 1994;
effective - 1 January 1995
aim - to provide a means to
resolve trade conflicts between
members and to carry on
negotiations with the goal of
further lowering and/or
eliminating tariffs and other
trade barriers
members - (144) Albania, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon,
Canada, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d�Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Estonia, EU, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong,
Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
observers - (31) Algeria, Andorra,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,
Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Cambodia, Cape Verde,
Ethiopia, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Holy See,
Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Nepal,
Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and
Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan,
Tonga, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,
Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia; note - must start
accession negotiations within five
years of becoming observers
Zangger Committee (ZC) established - early 1970s
aim - to establish guidelines for
the export control provisions of
the Nonproliferation of Nuclear
Weapons Treaty (NPT)
members - (35) Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK,
US
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