Front Line States (FLS): established to achieve black majority rule inSouth Africa; has since gone out of existence; members included Angola,Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): see the World TradeOrganization (WTrO)
Group of 2 (G-2): informal term that came into use about 1986; to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants
Japan, US
Group of 3 (G-3): established - NA September 1990
aim - mechanism for policy coordination
members - (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela
Group of 5 (G-5): established - 22 September 1985
aim - to coordinate the economic policies of five major noncommunist economic powers
members - (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US
Group of 6 (G-6): note - also known as Groupe des Six Sur leDesarmement; not to be confused with the Big Six
established - 22 May 1984
aim - to achieve nuclear disarmament
members - (6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania
Group of 7 (G-7): note - membership is the same as the Big Seven
established - 22 September 1985
aim - to facilitate economic cooperation among the seven major noncommunist economic powers
members - (7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus Canada and Italy
Group of 8 (G-8): established - NA October 1975
aim - to facilitate economic cooperation among the developed countries (DCs) that participated in the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC), held in several sessions between NA December 1975 and 3 June 1977
members - (9) Canada, EU (as one member), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US
Group of 9 (G-9): established - NA
aim - to discuss matters of mutual interest on an informal basis
members - (9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia
Group of 10 (G-10): note - also known as the Paris Club; includes the wealthiest members of the IMF who provide most of the money to be loaned and act as the informal steering committee; name persists in spite of the addition of Switzerland on NA April 1984
established - NA October 1962
aim - to coordinate credit policy
members - (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
nonstate participants - (4) BIS, EU, IMF, OECD
Group of 11 (G-11): note - also known as the Cartagena Group
established - 21-22 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 Nonaligned Movement
established - NA September 1989
aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to act as the main political organ for the Nonaligned Movement
members - (15) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Venezuela, former Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
Group of 24 (G-24): established - 1 August 1989
aim - to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America within the IMF
members - (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana,Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru,Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela,Yugoslavia
Group of 77 (G-77): established - 15 June 1964 was set up; NA October 1967 first ministerial meeting
aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name persists in spite of increased membership
members - (131 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos,Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidadand Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): note - also known as the CooperationCouncil for the Arab States of the Gulf
established - 25 May 1981
aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political, and military affairs
members - (6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE
high-income countries: another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs; see developed countries (DCs)
Indian Ocean Commission (InOC): established - 21 December 1982
aim - to organize and promote regional cooperation in all sectors, especially economic
members - (5) Comoros, France (for Reunion), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles
industrial countries: another term for the developed countries; see developed countries (DCs)
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB): note - also known as BancoInteramericano de Desarrollo (BID)
established - 8 April 1959; effective - 30 December 1959
aim - to promote economic and social development in Latin America
members - (46) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium,Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia,Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France,Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad andTobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD): note - formerly known as Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)
established - 15-16 January 1986 as the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development; revitalized - 21 March 1996 as the Inter- Governmental Authority on Development
aim - to promote a social, economic, and scientific community among its members
members - (6) Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): established - 26 October 1956; effective - 29 July 1957
aim - to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy
members - (130) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republicof the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia,Zimbabwe
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD): note - also known as the World Bank
established - 22 July 1944; effective - 27 December 1945
aim - to provide economic development loans; a UN specialized agency
members - (182) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania,Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): established - NA 1919
aim - to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels
members - (78 national councils) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,Canada, Caribbean, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea,Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco,Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): established - 7December 1944; effective - 4 April 1947
aim - to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a UN specialized agency
members - (187) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, 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, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States ofMicronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): established - 17February 1863
aim - to provide humanitarian aid in wartime
members - (25 individuals) all Swiss nationals
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU): established- NA December 1949
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (221 affiliated organizations in the following 148 countries)Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium,Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curacao,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Falkland Islands,Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,Kiribati, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal,Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena,Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Court of Justice (ICJ): note - also known as the WorldCourt
established - 3 February 1946 superseded Permanent Court of International Justice
aim - primary judicial organ of the UN
members - (15 judges) elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council to represent all principal legal systems
International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol): established -NA September 1923 set up as the International Criminal PoliceCommission; 13 June 1956 constitution modified and present name adopted
aim - to promote international cooperation among police authorities in fighting crime
members - (178) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, 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, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
subbureaus - (14) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British VirginIslands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, Montserrat,Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, VirginIslands
International Development Association (IDA): established - 26 January 1960; effective - 24 September 1960
aim - UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic loans for low-income countries
members - (161)
International Energy Agency (IEA): established - 15 November 1974
aim - to promote cooperation on energy matters, especially emergency oil sharing and relations between oil consumers and oil producers; established by the OECD
members - (25) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
observers - (15) Commission of the European Communities, Iceland, South Korea, Mexico, Poland
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRCS): note - formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties (LORCS)
established - 5 May 1919
aim - to organize, coordinate, and direct international relief actions; to promote humanitarian activities; to represent and encourage the development of National Societies; to bring help to victims of armed conflicts, refugees, and displaced people; to reduce the vulnerability of people through development programs
members - (176) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia,Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy,Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tomeand 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, Trinidadand Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (4) Comoros, Cyprus, Gabon, Tuvalu
International Finance Corporation (IFC): established - 25 May 1955; effective - 24 July 1956
aim - to support private enterprise in international economic development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate
members - (174) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, 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, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): established -NA November 1974
aim - to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency
members - (161)
Category I - (22 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria,Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Category II - (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria, Gabon,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,UAE, Venezuela
Category III - (127 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola,Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, CookIslands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India,Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, SolomonIslands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO): note - name changed from International Hydrographic Bureau on 22 September 1970
established - NA June 1919; effective - NA June 1921
aim - to train hydrographic surveyors and nautical cartographers to achieve standardization in nautical charts and electronic chart displays; to provide advice on nautical cartography and hydrography; to develop the sciences in the field of hydrography and techniques used for descriptive oceanography
members - (68) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil,Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea,Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria,Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname,Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia
membership pending - (5) Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Jamaica, Mauritania, Qatar
International Labor Organization (ILO): established - 28 June 1919 set up as part of Treaty of Versailles; 11 April 1919 became operative; 14 December 1946 affiliated with the UN
aim - to deal with world labor issues; a UN specialized agency
members - (175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, 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, Tajikistan, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Maritime Organization (IMO): note - name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982
established - 6 March 1948 set up as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization; effective - 17 March 1958
aim - to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized agency
members - (158) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of the 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, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia,Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, MarshallIslands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria,Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia
associate members - (2) Hong Kong, Macau
International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat): note - formerly International Maritime Satellite Organization
established - 3 September 1976; effective - 16 July 1979
aim - to provide worldwide communications for commercial, distress, and safety applications, at sea, in the air, and on land
members - (86) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei,Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France,Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea,Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands,Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria,Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vietnam, Yugoslavia
International Monetary Fund (IMF): established - 22 July 1944; effective - 27 December 1945
aim - to promote world monetary stability and economic development; a UN specialized agency
members - (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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania,Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Olympic Committee (IOC): established - 23 June 1894
aim - to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games: 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, United States; 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece; 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy
National Olympic Committees - (199 and the Palestine 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Cook Islands, 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, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles,NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama,Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, PuertoRico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tomeand 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, Trinidadand Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands,Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
International Organization for Migration (IOM): note - established asProvisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrantsfrom Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration(ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee forMigration (ICM) in November 1980; current name adopted 14 November 1989
established - 5 December 1951
aim - to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration
members - (79) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, BurkinaFaso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire Croatia,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali,Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia,Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, US, Uruguay,Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia
observers - (43) Afghanistan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Brazil, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, HolySee, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Moldova,Mozambique, Namibia, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino,Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Spain, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,UK, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
International Organization for Standardization (ISO): established - NAFebruary 1947
aim - to promote the development of international standards with a view to facilitating international exchange of goods and services and to developing cooperation in the sphere of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity
members - (91 national standards organizations) Algeria, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile,China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel,Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Libya, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ,Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania,Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
correspondent members - (34) Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bolivia,Brunei, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, ElSalvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan,Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Moldova, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Qatar, Rwanda, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uganda
subscriber members - (11) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Comoros, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Lesotho, Mali, Saint Lucia
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM): 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 - (176 countries); note - same as membership forInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRCS)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU): established - 17 May 1865 set up as the International Telegraph Union; 9 December 1932 adopted present name
effective - 1 January 1934; affiliated with the UN - 15 November 1947
aim - to deal with world telecommunications issues; a UN specialized agency
members - (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, 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, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, HolySee, 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, TheFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, SaoTome 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 andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE,UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat): established - 20 August 1964 set up as the Telecommunications Satellite Consortium; 12 February 1973 adopted present name
aim - to develop and operate a global commercial telecommunications satellite system
members - (143) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, CostaRica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,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, Malta,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco,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, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
nonsignatory users - (42) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus,Belize, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Cuba, Djibouti,Eritrea, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, North Korea,Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republicof Macedonia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Nauru, Niue, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,Suriname, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Vanuatu
Islamic Development Bank (IDB): established - 15 December 1973 by declaration of intent; effective - 12 August 1974
aim - to promote Islamic economic aid and social development
members - (52 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei,Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, TheGambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives,Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar,Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria,Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen,Palestine Liberation Organization
Latin American Economic System (LAES): note - also known as SistemaEconomico Latinoamericana (SELA)
established - 17 October 1975
aim - to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation
members - (28) Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia,Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica,Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad andTobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (21) Andean Promotion Corporation, China, Costa Rica,Dominican Republic, El Salvador, EEC, Guatemala, Honduras, IADB, Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation, Italy, Nicaragua, OAS,Panama, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, UN DevelopmentProgram, UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA): note - also known asAsociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)
established - 12 August 1980; effective - 18 March 1981
aim - to promote freer regional trade
members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (22) China, Commission of the European Communities,Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, ElSalvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-American Development Bank, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Italy, Latin AmericaEconomic System, Nicaragua, Organization of American States, Panama,Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, United NationsDevelopment Program, United Nations Economic Commission for LatinAmerica and the Caribbean
least developed countries (LLDCs): that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) initially identified by the UN General Assembly in 1971 as having no significant economic growth, per capita GDPs normally less than $1,000, and low literacy rates; also known as the undeveloped countries; the 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen
less developed countries (LDCs): the bottom group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); mainly countries and dependent areas with low levels of output, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs are generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, the group also includes a number of countries with high per capita incomes, areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes the advanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons (Four Tigers), least developed countries (LLDCs), low-income countries, middle-income countries, newly industrializing economies (NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped countries, undeveloped countries; the 172 LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Isle of Man, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "developing countries" which adds Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey but omits in its recently published statistics American Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Isle of Man, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara
low-income countries: another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
middle-income countries: another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
Monetary and Economic Community of Central Africa (CEMAC): note - was formerly the Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
established - 8 December 1964; effective - 1 January 1966
aim - to promote the establishment of a Central African Common Market
members - (6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon
Near Abroad: Russian term for the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, in which 25 million ethnic Russians live and in which Moscow has expressed a strong national security interest; the 14 countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
new independent states (NIS): a term referring to all those countries of the FSU except the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
newly industrializing countries (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), and Brazil
Nonaligned Movement (NAM): established - 1-6 September 1961
aim - to establish political and military cooperation apart from the traditional East or West blocs
members - (113 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador,Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana,Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait,Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan,Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, SaintLucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine LiberationOrganization
observers - (16) Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Paraguay, Ukraine, Uruguay
guests - (28) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Ireland,Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal,Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Nordic Council (NC): established - 16 March 1952; effective - 12February 1953
aim - to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental cooperation
members - (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden
observers - (3) the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB): established - 4 December 1975; effective - 1 June 1976
aim - to promote economic cooperation and development
members - (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden
North: a popular term for the rich industrialized countries generally located in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the counterpart of the South; see developed countries (DCs)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): established - 4 April 1949
aim - to promote mutual defense and cooperation
members - (19) Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA): note - also known as OECD Nuclear EnergyAgency
established - 1 February 1958
aim - to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; associated with OECD
members - (27) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway,Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG): note - also known as the LondonSuppliers Group or the London Group
established - NA 1974; effective - NA 1975
aim - to establish guidelines for exports of nuclear materials, processing equipment for uranium enrichment, and technical information to countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability
members - (39) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia,Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,Ukraine, UK, US
observer - (1) European Commission (a policy-planning body for the EU)
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): established - 14 December 1960; effective - 30 September 1961
aim - to promote economic cooperation and development
members - (30) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
special member - (1) EU
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): note - formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) established 3 July 1975
established - 1 January 1995
aim - to foster the implementation of human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law; to act as an instrument of early warning, conflict prevention, and crisis management; and to serve as a framework for conventional arms control and confidence building measures
members - (55) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus,Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany,Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands,Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia,Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia
partners for cooperation - (9) Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, Thailand, Tunisia
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): established - 29 April 1997
aim - to enforce the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction; to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among the signatories of the Convention
members - (174) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea,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, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, FederatedStates of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Organization of African Unity (OAU): established - 25 May 1963
aim - to promote unity and cooperation among African states
members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, TheGambia, 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, South Africa,Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Organization of American States (OAS): established - 14 April 1890 as the International Union of American Republics; 30 April 1948 adopted present charter; effective - 13 December 1951
aim - to promote regional peace and security as well as economic and social development
members - (35) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba (excluded from formal participation since 1962), Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela