aim — to coordinate the economic policies of the five major non-Communist 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 non-Communist 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 — (8) Australia, Canada, EU (as one member), Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, 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
address — c/o IMF Office in Europe, 64-66 ave dIena, F-75116 Paris, France
telephone — [33] (1) 40 69 30 80
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 — 22 June 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia
aim — to provide a forum for largest debtor nations in Latin America
members — (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Group of 15 (G-15)
note — byproduct of the Non-Aligned Movement
address — Technical Support Facility, Ch du Champ dAncier 17, Case postale 326, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 798 42 10
established — September 1989
aim — to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to act as the main political organ for the Non-Aligned Movement
members — (15) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
Group of 19 (G-19)
established — NA October 1975
aim — to represent the interests of the less developed countries (LDCs) that participated in the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC) held in several sessions between NA December 1975 and 3 June 1977
members — (19) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia
Group of 24 (G-24)
address — c/o European Commission, DGI, G-24 Coordination Unit, Rue de la Science 29, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
telephone — [32] (2) 299 22 44
established — NA January 1972
aim — to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa,Asia, and Latin America within the IMF
members — (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire,Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon,Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria,Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
Group of 30 (G-30)
address — 1990 M Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20036, USA
telephone — [1] (202) 331 2472
established — NA 1979
aim — to discuss and propose solutions to the world's economic problems
members — (30) informal group of 30 leading international bankers, economists, financial experts, and businessmen organized by Johannes Witteveen (former managing director of the IMF)
Group of 33 (G-33)
established — NA 1987
aim — to promote solutions to international economic problems
members — (33) leading economists from 13 countries
Group of 77 (G-77)
established — NA October 1967
aim — to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name persists in spite of increased membership
members — (127 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia,Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, 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, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, 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, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands,Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE,Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
note — also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
address — P.O. Box 7431, Riyadh 11462 Saudi Arabia
telephone — [966] (1) 4827777
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
Habitat
see — Commission on Human Settlements
Hexagonal Group
see — Central European Initiative (CEI)
high-income countries
another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs;
see — developed countries (DCs)
industrial countries
another term for the developed countries; see developed countries (DCs)
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
note — also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)
address — 1300 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 10577, USA
telephone — [1] (202) 632 1000
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 andTobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)
address — BP 2653, Djibouti, Djibouti
telephone — [253] 354050, 352880
established — 15-16 January 1986
aim — to promote cooperation on drought-related matters
members — (7) Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
address — Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
telephone — [43] (1) 2360 2045 FAX [43] (1) 234564
established — 26 October 1956
effective — 29 July 1957
aim — to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy
members — (121) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil,Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia,Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico,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, SriLanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia,Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC)
was established on 22 October 1963 to promote economic cooperation and development; members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new charter
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
note — also known as the World Bank
address — 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
telephone — [1] (202) 477 1234
established — 22 July 1944
effective — 27 December 1945
aim — to provide economic development loans; a UN specialized agency
members — (178) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, 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, TheFormer 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, 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, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, SouthAfrica, 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, WesternSamoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
address — 38 Cours Albert 1st, F-75008 Paris, France
telephone — [33] (1) 49 53 28 75
established — NA 1919
aim — to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels
members — (59 national councils) Argentina, Australia, Austria,Belgium, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire,Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy,Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar,Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal,Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US,Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
address — 1000 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 327, Montreal PQ H3A 2R2, Canada
telephone — [1] (514) 285 8219
established — 7 December 1944
effective — 4 April 1947
aim — to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a UN specialized agency
members — (183) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, 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 African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, 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 FormerYugoslav 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 NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, SanMarino, 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,Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
address — ICRC, 19 av de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 734 60 01
established — NA 1863
aim — to provide humanitarian aid in wartime
members — (25 individuals) all Swiss nationals
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
address — International Trade Union House, Bd Emile Jacqmain 155, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium
telephone — [32] (2) 224 02 11
established — NA December 1949
aim — to promote the trade union movement
members — (164 national organizations in the following 118 areas)Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas,Bangladesh, Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda,Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Curacao,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic,Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland,France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati,South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco,Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis,Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka,Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela,Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
note — also known as the World Court
address — Peace Palace, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
telephone — [31] (70) 302 23 23
established — 26 June 1945
effective — 24 October 1945
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 Organization (INTERPOL)
address — BP 6041, F-69411 Lyon CEDEX 06, France
telephone — [33] 71 44 70 00
established — 13 June 1956
aim — to promote international cooperation among police authorities in fighting crime
members — (176) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, CapeVerde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo,Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, 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, 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, PapuaNew Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent 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, Trinidadand Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
subbureaus — (13) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British VirginIslands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau,Montserrat, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and CaicosIslands
International Development Association (IDA)
address — 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
telephone — [1] (202) 477 12 34
established — 26 January 1960
effective — 24 September 1960
aim — UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic loans for low income countries
members — (157)
International Energy Agency (IEA)
address — 2 rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France
telephone — [33] (1) 45 24 82 00
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 — (23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,UK, US
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
note — formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS)
established — 5 May 1919
aim — to provide humanitarian aid in peacetime
members — (151) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina,Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, CentralAfrican 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, Latvia,Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, SaoTome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, 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, Uganda,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen,Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members — (13) Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Comoros,Cyprus, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kiribati, Namibia, Saint Kitts andNevis, Seychelles, Suriname, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
address — 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
telephone — [1] (202) 477 1234
established — 25 May 1955
effective — 20 July 1956
aim — to support private enterprise in international economic development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate
members — (161) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo,Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,The Gambia, 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, TheFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa,Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
address — Via del Serafico 107, I-00142 Rome, Italy
telephone — [39] (6) 54591
established — NA November 1974
aim — to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency
members — (157)
Category I — (21 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria,Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, UK, US
Category II — (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria,Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, SaudiArabia, UAE, Venezuela
Category III — (124 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola,Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, CapeVerde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, 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,Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,Honduras, India, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, SouthKorea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan,Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal,Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam,Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Investment Bank (IIB)
established on 7 July 1970; to promote economic development; members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new charter
International Labor Organization (ILO)
address — International Labor Office, 4 route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 799 61 11
established — 11 April 1919 (affiliated with the UN 14 December 1946)
aim — UN specialized agency concerned with world labor issues
members — (171) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, 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, 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 NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, SaudiArabia, 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 (suspended), Zaire, Zambia,Zimbabwe
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
note — name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982
address — 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, UK
telephone — [44] (71) 735 7611
established — 17 March 1958
aim — to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized agency
members — (149) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, CapeVerde, Chile, China, Colombia, 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, 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, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire
associate members — (2) Hong Kong, Macau
International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT)
address — 99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX, UK
telephone — [44] (71) 728 1000
established — 3 September 1976
effective — 26 July 1979
aim — to provide worldwide communications for maritime shipping and other applications
members — (75) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon,Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Yugoslavia
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
address — 700 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20431, USA
telephone — [1] (202) 623 7000
established — 22 July 1944
effective — 27 December 1945
aim — to promote world monetary stability and economic development; aUN specialized agency
members — (179) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, 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, TheFormer 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, 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, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, WesternSamoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
note — there are 194 National Olympic Committees of which 185 are recognized by the International Olympic Committee
address — Chateau de Vidy, CH-1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (21) 621 61 11
established — 23 June 1894
aim — to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games: 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States (20 July-4 August); 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan (date NA); 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia (date NA)
National Olympic Committees — (193 and the Palestine LiberationOrganization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra,Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei,Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, 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,Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana,Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazahkstan,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, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent andthe 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, Taiwan, Tajikistan,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Western Samoa, Yemen,Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, PalestineLiberation Organization ——- International Organization for Migration(IOM)
note — established as Provisional 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
address — 17 route des Morillons, CP 71, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 717 91 11
established — 5 December 1951
aim — to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration
members — (52) Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, CostaRica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras,Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Luxembourg,Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,Thailand, Uganda, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia
observers — (44) Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria,Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councilof Australia Inc., Georgia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, India,Indonesia, Iran, Japan International Friendship and WelfareFoundation, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, NZ, Niwano Peace Foundation, Partnership with theChildren of the Third World, Presiding Bishop's Fund for WorldRelief/Episcopal Church, Refugee Council of Australia, Romania,Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Slovakia,Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Vietnam,Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
address — CP 56, 1 rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 749 01 11
established — NA February 1947
aim — to promote the development of international standards
members — (76 national standards organizations) Albania, Algeria,Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy,Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Libya, Malaysia,Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Pakistan,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, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
correspondent members — (19) Bahrain, Barbados, Brunei, Estonia, HongKong, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Nepal,Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Qatar, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE
subscriber members — (4) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Grenada, SaintLucia
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
address — CICR, 19 Av de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 734 60 01
established — NA 1928
aim — to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the InternationalCommittee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and InternationalFederation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS; formerlyLeague of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or LORCS) in peacetime
National Societies — (161 countries) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, 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,Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,Finland, France, 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, Latvia, Lebanon,Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, 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, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,Ukraine, UAR, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, WesternSamoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
address — Place des Nations, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
telephone — [41] (22) 730 51 11
established — 9 December 1932
effective — 1 January 1934
affiliated with the UN — 15 November 1947
aim — to deal with world telecommunications issues; UN specialized agency
members — (184) 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, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, 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, 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, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tomeand Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, 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, Western Samoa, Yemen,Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT)
address — INTELSAT, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008-3098, USA
telephone — [1] (202) 944 6800
established — 20 August 1971
effective — 12 February 1973
aim — to develop and operate a global commercial telecommunications satellite system
members — (134) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, FederatedStates of Micronesia, Monaco, 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, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
nonsignatory users — (50) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus,Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, North Korea, Laos,Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Mongolia,Nauru, Niue, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,Ukraine, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
address — P.O. Box 5925, Jeddah 21432, Saudi Arabia
telephone — [966] (2) 6361400
established — 15 December 1973
aim — to promote Islamic economic aid and social development
members — (48 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin,Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, TheGambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania,Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, SierraLeone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Latin American Economic System (LAES)
note — also known as Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA)
address — SELA, Avda Francisco de Miranda, Torre Europa, piso 4, Chacaito, Apartado de Correos 17035, Caracas 1010-A, Venezuela
telephone — [58] (2) 905 5111
established — 17 October 1975
aim — to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation
members — (27) Argentina, 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 Association (LAIA)
note — also known as Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion(ALADI)
address — Calle Cebollati 1461, Casilla de Correo 577, 11000Montevideo, Uruguay
telephone — [598] (2) 40 11 21, 49 59 15
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, Venezuela
observers — (16) Commission of the European Communities, Costa Rica,Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,Inter-American Development Bank, Italy, Nicaragua, Organization ofAmerican States, Panama, Portugal, Spain, United Nations DevelopmentProgram, United Nations 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)
see — International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
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, 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 hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), formerUSSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries(LDCs); mainly countries and dependent areas with low levels ofoutput, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs aregenerally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, the groupalso includes a number of countries with high per capita incomes,areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes theadvanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons(Four Tigers), least developed countries (LLDCs), low-incomecountries, middle-income countries, newly industrializing economies(NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped countries, undevelopedcountries; 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, Burma,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, CentralAfrican 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, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, NewCaledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, NorthernMariana 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, Sao Tomeand 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, Wallisand 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 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 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 — (25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Near Abroad
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
newly industrializing countries (NICs)
former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)