established-3 September 1976
effective-26 July 1979
aim-to provide worldwide communications for maritime and other applications
members-(66) Algeria, Argentina,Australia, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland,France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco,Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Yugoslavia
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
established-22 July 1944
effective-27 December 1945
aim-UN specialized agency concerned with world monetary stability and economic development
members-(175) Afghanistan, Albania,Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, 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, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands,NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, 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, Solomon Islands,Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE,UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire,Zambia, Zimbabweobservers-(3) Holy See, North Korea, Monaco
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
established-23 June 1894
aim-to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games: 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France (8-23 February); 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain (25 July-9 August); 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer; Norway (12-27 February); 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States (20 July-4 August); 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan (date NA)
members-(168) Afghanistan, Albania,Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan,Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina,Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti,Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia,Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NetherlandsAntilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar,Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, SolomonIslands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands,Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,Zimbabwe
International Organization for Migration (IOM)-establishedas Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for theMovement of Migrants from Europe; renamedIntergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) on 15November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for Migration (ICM) inNovember 1980; current name adopted 14 November 1989
established-5 December 1951
aim-to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration
members-(46) Angola, Argentina,Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia,Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras,Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Luxembourg,Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,Thailand, Uganda, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambiaobservers-(41) Albania, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia,Czech Republic, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia Inc.,Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, India, Indonesia, Japan, Japan InternationalFriendship and Welfare Foundation, Jordan, Latvia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco,Namibia, NZ, Niwano Peace Foundation, Pakistan, Partnership with the Childrenof the Third World, Poland, Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief/EpiscopalChurch Refuge Council of Australia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome andPrincipe, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Turkey, UK, Vietnam,Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
established-NA February 1947
aim-to promote the development of international standards
members-(73 national standards organizations)Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria,Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile,China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia,Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia,Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,Slovakia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland,Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UK,US, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslaviacorrespondent members-(14) Bahrain, Barbados, Brunei, Guinea, Hong Kong,Iceland, Jordan, Kuwait, Malawi, Mauritius, Oman, Senegal, UAE, UruguayInternational Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
established-NA 1928
aim-to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS) in peacetime
members-(9) 2 representatives from ICRC, 2 from LORCS, and 5 from national societies elected by the international conference of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
established-9 December 1932
effective-1 January 1934 affiliated with the UN-15 November 1947
aim-UN specialized agency concerned with world telecommunications
members-(168) Afghanistan, Albania,Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,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, Kenya,Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, 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 Vincent and the Grenadines, SanMarino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands,Somalia, South Africa (suspended), Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidadand Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, WesternSamoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization(INTELSAT)
established-20 August 1971
effective-12 February 1973
aim-to develop and operate a global commercial telecommunications satellite system
members-(125) Afghanistan, Algeria,Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin,Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya,Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar,Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK,US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
established-15 December 1973
aim-to promote Islamic economic aid and social development
members-(44 plus the Palestine LiberationOrganization) Afghanistan (suspended), Algeria,Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina,Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, TheGambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria,Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine LiberationOrganization
Latin American Economic System (LAES)
note-also known as Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA)
established-17 October 1975
aim-to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation
members-(26) Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, ElSalvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay,Venezuela
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) note-also known as Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)
established-12 August 1980
effective-18 March 1981
aim-to promote freer regional trade
members-(11) Argentina, Bolivia,Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay,Peru, Uruguay, Venezuelaobservers-(16) Commission of the European Communities, CostaRica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,Inter-American Development Bank, Italy, Nicaragua,Organization of American States, Panama, Portugal,Spain, United Nations Development Program, UnitedNations Economic Commission for Latin America and theCaribbean
League of Arab States (LAS) see Arab League (AL)
League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(LORCS)
established-5 May 1919
aim-to provide humanitarian aid in peacetime
members-(148) Afghanistan, Albania,Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea,South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK,US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabweassociate members-(2) Equatorial Guinea, Gabon
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 GNPs/GDPs normally less than $500, and low literacy rates; also known as the undeveloped countries. The 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Yemen
less developed countries (LDCs) the bottom group in the comprehensive but mutually exclusive hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); mainly countries with low levels of output, living standards, and technology; per capita GNPs/GDPs are generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,000; 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 175 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, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, 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, Mexico, 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, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (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, 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, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
low-income countries another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GNPs/GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
London Suppliers Group see Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (MERCOSUR) see Southern Cone Common Market
middle-income countries another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GNPs/GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
established-April 1987
aim-to arrest missile proliferation by controlling the export of key missile technologies and equipment
members-(24) Australia, Austria,Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
newly industrializing countries (NICs) former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
newly industrializing economies (NIEs) that subgroup of the less 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) plus Brazil and Mexico
Nonaligned Movement (NAM)
established-1-6 September 1961
aim-to establish political and military cooperation apart from the traditional East or West blocs
members-(102 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,CapeVerde, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Coted'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia,Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, 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,Qatar, Rawada, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE,Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe,Palestine Liberation Organizationobservers-(19) African National Congress, Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization,Antigua and Barbuda, Arab League, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Dominica, ElSalvador, Islamic Conference, Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (NewCaledonia), Mexico, Mongolia, Organization of African Unity, Pan AfricanistCongress of Azania, Philippines,Socialist Party of Puerto Rico, UN, Uruguayguests-(21) Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, CzechRepublic, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany,Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland,Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland
Nordic Council (NC)
established-16 March 1952
effective-12 February 1953
aim-to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental cooperation
members-(5) Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden; note-Denmark includes Faroe Islands and Greenland
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB)
established-4 December 1975
effective-1 June 1976
aim-to promote economic cooperation and development
members-(5) Denmark, Finland, 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 Cooperation Council (NACC)-an extension of NATO
established-8 November 1991
effective-20 December 1991
aim-to form a forum to discuss cooperation concerning mutual political and security issues
members-(38) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova,Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
established-17 September 1949
aim-to promote mutual defense and cooperation
members-(16) Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
established-NA 1958
aim-associated with OECD, seeks to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy
members-(23) Australia, Austria,Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) note-also known as the London Suppliers Group
established-1974
aim-to establish guidelines on exports of enrichment and processing plant assistance and nuclear exports to countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability
members-(28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan,Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la AmericaLatina y el Caribe (OPANAL) see Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)
Organization for EconomicCooperation and Development (OECD)
established-14 December 1960, effective 30 September 1961
aim-to promote economic cooperation and development
members-(24) Australia, Austria,Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US special members-(2) EC, Yugoslavia
Organization of African Unity (OAU)
established-25 May 1963
aim-to promote unity and cooperation among African states
members-(52) Algeria, Angola, Benin,Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, CentralAfrican Republic, Chad, Comoros, 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 andPrincipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia,Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire,Zambia, Zimbabwe
Organization of American States (OAS)
established-30 April 1948
effective-13 December 1951
aim-to promote 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-(24) Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, EC, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, ?
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)
established-9 January 1968
aim-to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry
members-(11) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia (withdrew from active membership in 1986),
UAE Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
established-18 June 1981
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 member-(1) British Virgin Islands
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
established-14 September 1960
aim-to coordinate petroleum policies
members-(12) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
established-22-25 September 1969
aim-to promote Islamic solidarity and cooperation in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs
members-(47 plus the Palestine LiberationOrganization) Afghanistan (suspended), Albania, Algeria,Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina,Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, TheGambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria,Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, SierraLeone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organizationobserver-(1) Turkish-Cypriot administered area of Cyprus
Paris Club see Group of 10
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
established-NA 1899
aim-to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
members-(78) Argentina, Australia,Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China,Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras,Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy,Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg,Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay,Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zimbabwe
Population Commission
established-3 October 1946
aim-Economic and Social Council organization dealing with population matters of importance to the UN
members-(27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
Rio Group (RG)
established-NA 1988
aim-a consultation mechanism on regional Latin American issues members-(11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru (suspended), Uruguay, Venezuela; note-Panama was expelled in 1988; Peru was suspended after April 1992 coup
Second World another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states 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 Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
established-8 December 1985
aim-to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation
members-(7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
South Pacific Commission (SPC)
established-6 February 1947
effective-29 July 1948
aim-to promote regional cooperation n 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, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa
South Pacific Forum (SPF)
established-5 August 1971
aim-to promote regional cooperation in political matters
members-(15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa observer-(1) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement(SPARTECA)
established-NA 1981
aim-to redress unequal trade relationship of Australia and New Zealand with small island economies in Pacific region
members-(15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
established-11 December 1969
aim-to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters
members-(9) Bophuthatswana, Botswana, Ciskei, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Transkei, Venda
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
note-evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) established-17 August 1992
aim-to promote regional economic development and integration
members-(10) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR)
established-26 March 1991
aim-regional economic cooperation
members-(4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
Statistical Commission
established-21 June 1946
aim-Economic and Social Council organization dealing with development and standardization of national statistics of interest to the UN
members-(25) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Third World another term for the less developed countries; the term is fading from use; 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)
Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale(UDEAC)see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)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
members-(182 excluding Yugoslavia) 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, Burma,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, CentralAfrican Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,Dominica, DominicanRepublic, 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,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, PapuaNew Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kittsand Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,Zimbabwe; note-all UN members are represented in the General Assemblyobservers-(2 and the Palestine LiberationOrganization) Holy See, Switzerland, Palestine LiberationOrganization
United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II)
note-successor to original UNAVEM
established-20 December 1988
aim-established by the UN Security Council to verify the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola
members-(25) Algeria, Argentina,Brazil, Canada, Congo, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia,Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal,Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Yugoslavia,Zimbabwe
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
note-acronym retained from the predecessor organization UN International Children's Emergency Fund established-11 December 1946
aim-to help establish child health and welfare services
members-(41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD)
established-30 December 1964
aim-to promote international trade
members-(186) all UN members plus Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
established-22 November 1965
aim-to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development
members-(48) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
established-31 May 1974
aim-established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli ceasefire
members-(4) Austria, Canada, Finland,Poland
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
established-16 November 1945
effective-4 November 1946
aim-to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture
members-(172) Afghanistan, Albania,Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, CostaRica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, 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, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, 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, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino,Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine,UAE, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia,Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabweassociate members-(3) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
established-15 December 1972
aim-to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters
members-(58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
established-4 March 1964
aim-established by the UN Security Council to serve as a peacekeeping force beween Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus
members-(7) Austria,Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, UK
United Nations General Assembly
established-26 June 1945
effective-24 October 1945
aim-primary deliberative organ in the UN
members-(183) all UN members are represented in the
General Assembly United Nations IndustrialDevelopment Organization (UNIDO)
established-17 November 1966
effective-1 January 1967
aim-UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members
members-(160) Afghanistan, Albania,Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, 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 andthe Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire,Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
established-19 March 1978
aim-established by the UN Security Council to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restore peace, and reestablish Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon
members-(10) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Sweden
United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM)
established-NA 1991
aim-established by the UN Security Council to observe and monitor the demilitarized zone established between Iraq and Kuwait
members-(34) Argentina, Austria,Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Fiji, Finland,France, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland,Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland,Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay,Venezuela
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
established-13 August 1948
aim-established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan ceasefire
members-(8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Uruguay
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara(MINURSO)
established-NA 1990
aim-established by the UN Security Council to supervise the referendum in Western Sahara
members-(25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Tunisia, UK, US, Venezuela
United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL)
established-NA 1991
aim-established by the UN Security Council to verify ceasefire arrangments and to monitor the maintenance of public order pending the organization of a new National Civil Police
members-(9) Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Venezuela
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
established-3 December 1949
effective-1 January 1951
aim-to try to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanentsolutions to refugee problemsmembers-(46) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,China, Colombia,Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See,Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco,Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines,Somalia, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,Uganda,UK, US, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ)
established-NA 1992
aim-established by the UN Security Council to supervise the ceasefire
members-(18) Argentina, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Uruguay, Zambia United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM)
established-NA 1992
aim-established by the UN Security Council to facilitate an immediate cessation of hostilities, to maintain a ceasefire to promote a political settlement, and to provide urgent humanitarian assistance
members-(17) Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, NZ, Norway, Pakistan, Slovakia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
note-acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities
established-NA July 1967
aim-to promote assistance in dealing with population problems
members-(51) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR)
established-NA 1992
aim-established by the UN Security Council to create conditions for peace and security required for the negotiation of an overall settlement of the "Yugoslav" crisis
members-(31) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium,Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark,Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Jordan,Kenya, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden,Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Venezuela
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East(UNRWA)
established-8 December 1949
aim-to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees
members-(10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US
United Nations Secretariat
established-26 June 1945
effective-24 October 1945
aim-primary administrative organ of the UN
member-Secretary General appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council
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; Austria (1991-92), Belgium (1991-92), Cape Verde (1992- 93), Ecuador (1991-92), Hungary (1992-93), India (1991- 92), Japan (1992-93), Morocco (1992-93), Venezuela (1992- 93), Zimbabwe (1991-92)
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
established-NA 1992
aim-established by the UN Security Council to contribute to the restoration and maintenance of peace and to the holding of free elections
members-(31) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium,Bulgaria, Cameroon,Canada, Chile, China, Congo, France, Germany, Ghana, India,Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Netherlands, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland,Russia, Senegal, Thailand, Tunisia, UK, US, Uruguay
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
established-NA May 1948
aim-initially established by the UN Security Council to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli ceasefire and subsequently extended to work in the Sinai, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan
members-(19) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France,Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Sweden,Switzerland, US
United Nations Trusteeship Council
established-26 June 1945
effective-24 October 1945
aim-to supervise the administration of the UN trust territories; only one of the original 11 trusteeships remains-the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
members-(5) China, France, Russia, UK, US
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
established-9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947
effective-1 July 1948
aim-UN specialized agency that promotes international postal cooperation
members-(178) Afghanistan, Albania,Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo,Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, 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, Laos, Latvia,Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, OverseasTerritories of the UK, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kittsand Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain,Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire,Zambia, Zimbabwe
Warsaw Pact (WP)
was 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 East Germany and Albania
West African Development Bank (WADB) note-also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)
established-14 November 1973
aim-to promote economic development and integration
members-(7) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
West African Economic Community (CEAO)
note-acronym from Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
established-3 June 1972
aim-to promote regional economic development
members-(7) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal observers-(2) Guinea, Togo
Western European Union (WEU)
established-23 October 1954
effective-6 May 1955
aim-mutual defense and progressive political unification
members-(9) Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK associate member-(1) Iceland observer-(1) Greece
World Bank
see International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
World Bank Groupincludes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD),International Development Association (IDA), and International FinanceCorporation (IFC)
World Confederation of Labor (WCL)
established-19 June 1920 as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968
aim-to promote the trade union movement
members-(94 national organizations)Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba,Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,Bonaire Island, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,El Salvador, France, French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia,Ghana, Grenada, Guadaloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana,Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica,Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar,Malaysia, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico,Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain,Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand,Togo, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire,Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Court see International Court of Justice (ICJ)
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
established-NA 1945
aim-to promote the trade union movement
members-(67) Afghanistan, Angola,Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia,Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic,Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia,Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Madagascar,Mauritius, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman,Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,Puerto Rico, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria,Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire
World Food Council (WFC)
established-17 December 1974
aim-ECOSOC organization that studies world food problems and recommends solutions
members-(36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
World Food Program (WFP)
established-24 November 1961
aim-ECOSOC organization that provides food aid to assist in development or disaster relief
members-(42) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
World Health Organization (WHO)
established-22 July 1946
effective-7 April 1948
aim-UN specialized agency concerned with health matters
members-(180) Afghanistan, Albania,Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo,Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, 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, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,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, San Marino, Sao Tomeand Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidadand Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,Zimbabweassociate members-(2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
established-14 July 1967
effective-26 April 1970
aim-UN specialized agency concerned with the protection of literary, artistic, and scientific works
members-(133) Albania, Algeria,Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,Ukraine,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
established-11 October 1947
effective-4 April 1951
aim-specialized UN agency concerned with meteorological cooperation