ESCAP: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
ESCWA: Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
est.: estimate
EU: European Union
Euratom: European Atomic Energy Community
Eutelsat: European Telecommunications Satellite Organization
Ex-Im: Export-Import Bank of the United States
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization
FAX: facsimile
f.o.b.: free on board
FLS: Front Line States
FRG: Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany); used for information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91
FSU: former Soviet Union
FY: fiscal year
F.Y.R.O.M.: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
FZ: Franc Zone
G-2: Group of 2
G-3: Group of 3
G-5: Group of 5
G-6: Group of 6
G-7: Group of 7
G-8: Group of 8
G-9: Group of 9
G-10: Group of 10
G-11: Group of 11
G-15: Group of 15
G-24: Group of 24
G-77: Group of 77
GATT: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; now WTrO
GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council
GDP: gross domestic product
GDR: German Democratic Republic (East Germany); used for information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91
GNP: gross national product
GRT: gross register ton
GUUAM: acronym for member states - Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,Azerbaijan, Moldova
GWP: gross world product
Habitat: United Nations Center for Human Settlements
Hazardous Wastes: Basel Convention on the Control of TransboundaryMovements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
HF: high-frequency
IADB: Inter-American Development Bank
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IBEC: International Bank for Economic Cooperation
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (WorldBank)
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ICC: International Chamber of Commerce
ICCt: International Criminal Court
ICFTU: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
ICJ: International Court of Justice (World Court)
ICRC: International Committee of the Red Cross
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
ICSID: International Center for Secretariat of Investment Disputes
ICTR: International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
ICTY: International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
IDA: International Development Association
IDB: Islamic Development Bank
IEA: International Energy Agency
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC: International Finance Corporation
IFCTU: International Federation of Christian Trade Unions
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties
IGAD: Inter-Governmental Authority on Development
IGADD: Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development
IHO: International Hydrographic Organization
IIB: International Investment Bank
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
Inmarsat: International Mobile Satellite Organization
InOC: Indian Ocean Commission
INSTRAW: International Research and Training Institute for theAdvancement of Women
Intelsat: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
Intersputnik: International Organization of Space Communications
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ITU: International Telecommunication Union
kHz: kilohertz
km: kilometer
kW: kilowatt
kWh: kilowatt-hour
LAES: Latin American Economic System
LAIA: Latin American Integration Association
Law of the Sea: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
LDC: less developed country
LLDC: least developed country
London Convention: see Marine Dumping
LOS: see Law of the Sea
m: meter
Marecs: Maritime European Communications Satellite
Marine Dumping: Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution byDumping Wastes and Other Matter
Marine Life Conservation: Convention on Fishing and Conservation ofLiving Resources of the High Seas
MARPOL: see Ship Pollution
Medarabtel: Middle East Telecommunications Project of theInternational Telecommunications Union
Mercosur: Southern Cone Common Market
MHz: megahertz
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency
MINURSO: United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
MIPOHUH: United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti
MONUC: United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
NA: not available
NAM: Nonaligned Movement
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NC: Nordic Council
NEA: Nuclear Energy Agency
NEGL: negligible
NIB: Nordic Investment Bank
NIC: newly industrializing country
NIE: newly industrializing economy
NIS: new independent states
NM: nautical mile
NMT: Nordic Mobile Telephone
NSG: Nuclear Suppliers Group
Nuclear Test Ban: Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in theAtmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
NZ: New Zealand
OAPEC: Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
OAS: Organization of American States
OAU: Organization of African Unity
ODA: official development assistance
OECD: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OECS: Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
OIC: Organization of the Islamic Conference
OOF: other official flows
OPANAL: Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean
OPCW: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
OSCE: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Ozone Layer Protection: Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
PCA: Permanent Court of Arbitration
PDRY: People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or SouthYemen]; used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91
PFP: Partnership for Peace
Ramsar: see Wetlands
RG: Rio Group
SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SACU: Southern African Customs Union
SADC: Southern African Development Community
SCO: Shanghai Cooperative Organization
SFRY: Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
SHF: super-high-frequency
Ship Pollution: Protocol of 1978 Relating to the InternationalConvention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
Sparteca: South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic CooperationAgreement
SPC: South Pacific Commission
SPF: South Pacific Forum
sq km: square kilometer
sq mi: square mile
TAT: Trans-Atlantic Telephone
Tropical Timber 83: International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber 94: International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
UAE: United Arab Emirates
UDEAC: Central African Customs and Economic Union
UHF: ultra-high-frequency
UK: United Kingdom
UN: United Nations
UNAMA: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
UNAMSIL: United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDCP: United Nations Drug Control Program
UNDOF: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
UNDP: United Nations Development Program
UNEP: United Nations Environment Program
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and CulturalOrganization
UNFICYP: United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus
UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund
UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNHCRHR: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
UNICEF: United Nations Children's Fund
UNICRI: United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice ResearchInstitute
UNIDIR: United Nations Disarmament Research
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNIFIL: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
UNIKOM: United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission
UNITAR: United Nations Institute for Training and Research
UNMEE: United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
UNMIBH: United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina
UNMIK: United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
UNMISET: United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor
UNMOGIP: United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
UNMOP: United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka
UNMOT: United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan
UNMOVIC: United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and InspectionCommission
UNOMIG: United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
UNOMSIL: United Nations Mission of Observers in Sierra Leone
UNOPS: United Nations Office of Project Services
UNPREDEP: United Nations Preventive Deployment Force
UNRISD: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
UNSC: United Nations Security Council
UNSSC: United Nations System Staff College
UNTAET: United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
UNTSO: United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
UNU: United Nations University
UPU: Universal Postal Union
US: United States
USSR: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used for information dated before 25 December 1991
USSR/EE: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Eastern Europe
VHF: very-high-frequency
VSAT: very small aperture terminal
WADB: West African Development Bank
WAEMU: West African Economic and Monetary Union
WCL: World Confederation of Labor
Wetlands: Convention on Wetlands of International ImportanceEspecially As Waterfowl Habitat
WEU: Western European Union
WFC: World Food Council
WFP: World Food Program
WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions
Whaling: International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WP: Warsaw Pact
WTO: see WToO for World Tourism Organization or WTrO for World TradeOrganization
WToO: World Tourism Organization
WTrO: World Trade Organization
YAR: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen]; used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91
ZC: Zangger Committee
This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003
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Appendix B - International Organizations and Groups
advanced developing countries: another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
advanced economies: a term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; it includes the following 28 advanced economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note - this group would presumably also cover the following seven smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino which are included in the more comprehensive group of "developed countries"
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group): established - 6 June 1975
aim - to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with the EU
members - (77) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados,Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia,Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi,Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States ofMicronesia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Palau,Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe
African Development Bank (AfDB): note - also known as Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)
established - 4 August 1963
aim - to promote economic and social development
regional members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, BurkinaFaso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Coted'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon,The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe,Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan,Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
nonregional members - (24) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
African Union (AU): note - replaces Organization of African Unity(OAU)
established - 8 July 2001
aim - to achieve greater unity among African States; to defend states' integrity and independence; to accelerate political, social, and economic integration; to encourage international cooperation; to promote democratic principles and institutions
members - (52) 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, 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
Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT): note - formerlyAgency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation
established - 20 March 1970; name changed 1996
aim - to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French- speaking countries
members - (51) Albania, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea,France, French Community of Belgium, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco,Morocco, New Brunswick (Canada), Niger, Quebec (Canada), Romania,Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles,Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam
observers - (4) Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia
Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL): note - acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)
established - 14 February 1967 under the Treaty of Tlatelolco; effective - 25 April 1969 on the 11th ratification of the treaty
aim - to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons
members - (33) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados,Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana,Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Andean Community of Nations (CAN): note - formerly known as the AndeanGroup (AG), the Andean Parliament, and most recently as the AndeanCommon Market (Ancom)
established - 26 May 1969; present name established 1 October 1992; effective - 16 October 1969
aim - to promote harmonious development through economic integration
members - (5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA): note - also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)
established - 18 February 1974; effective - 16 September 1974
aim - to promote economic development
members - (17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization; note - these are all the members of the Arab League excluding Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen
Arab Cooperation Council (ACC): established - 16 February 1989
aim - to promote economic cooperation and integration, possibly leading to an Arab Common Market
members - (4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen; note - the ACC has remained inactive since the Gulf crisis
Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD): established - 16 May 1968
aim - to promote economic and social development
members - (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq (suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993), Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Arab League (AL): note - also known as League of Arab States (LAS)
established - 22 March 1945
aim - to promote economic, social, political, and military cooperation
members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Arab Maghreb Union (AMU): established - 17 February 1989
aim - to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of northern Africa
members - (5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia
Arab Monetary Fund (AMF): established - 27 April 1976; effective - 2February 1977
aim - to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs
members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): established - 7 November 1989
aim - to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin
members - (21) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Vietnam
observers - (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, Pacific Islands Forum
Asian Development Bank (AsDB): established - 19 December 1966
aim - to promote regional economic cooperation
regional members - (44) Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, HongKong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, FederatedStates of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua NewGuinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka,Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan,Vanuatu, Vietnam
nonregional members - (17) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): established - 8 August 1967
aim - to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia
members - (10) Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
associate member - (1) Papua New Guinea
dialogue partners - (12) Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, NZ, Russia, US, UNDP
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): established - NA 1994
aim - to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern
members - (10) Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
dialogue partners - (13) Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Russia, US
Australia Group: established - NA 1984
aim - to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons
members - (34) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Commission, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, SouthKorea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS): established - 1 September 1951; effective - 29 April 1952
aim - to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986; Australia and the US continue to hold annual meetings
members - (3) Australia, NZ, US
Bank for International Settlements (BIS): established - 20 January 1930; effective - 17 March 1930
aim - to promote cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements
members - (50) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic,Denmark, Estonia, European Central Bank, Finland, France, Germany,Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan,South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,Turkey, UK, US
Benelux Economic Union (Benelux): note - acronym from Belgium,Netherlands, and Luxembourg
established - 3 February 1958; effective - 1 November 1960
aim - to develop closer economic cooperation and integration
members - (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Big Seven: note - membership is the same as the Group of 7
established - NA 1975
aim - to discuss and coordinate major economic policies
members - (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US
Big Six: note - not to be confused with the Group of 6
established - NA 1967
aim - to foster economic cooperation
members - (6) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC): established - 25 June 1992
aim - to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation
members - (11) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine
observers - (9) Austria, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia
Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom): established - 4 July 1973; effective - 1 August 1973
aim - to promote economic integration and development, especially among the less developed countries
members - (15) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname,Trinidad and Tobago
associate members - (4) Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
observers - (8) Aruba, Bermuda, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): established - 18 October 1969; effective - 26 January 1970
aim - to promote economic development and cooperation
regional members - (20) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia,Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad andTobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela
nonregional members - (5) Canada, China, Germany, Italy, UK
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC): see Monetary andEconomic Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC): note - acronym fromBanque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
established - 3 December 1975
aim - to provide loans for economic development
members - (11) African Development Bank (AfDB), Cameroon, Central African States Bank (BEAC), Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Kuwait
Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE): note - acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico
established - 13 December 1960 signature of Articles of Agreement; 31 May 1961 began operations
aim - to promote economic integration and development
members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
nonregional members - (4) Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Taiwan
Central American Common Market (CACM): established - 13 December 1960, collapsed in 1969, reinstated in 1991
aim - to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market
members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua; note - Panama, although not a member, pursues full regional cooperation
Central European Initiative (CEI): note - evolved from theQuadrilateral Initiative and the Hexagonal Initiative
established - 11 November 1989 as the Quadrilateral Initiative, 27 July 1991 became the Hexagonal Initiative, NA July 1992 present name adopted
aim - to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas
members - (17) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro,Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine
centrally planned economies : a term applied mainly to the traditionally Communist states that looked to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward more democratic and market- oriented systems; also known formerly as the Second World or as the Communist countries; through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, USSR, Vietnam
Colombo Plan (CP): established - NA May 1950 proposal was adopted; 1July 1951 commenced full operations
aim - to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific
members - (25) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma,Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos,Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, US, Vietnam
provisional member - (1) Mongolia
Commonwealth (C): note - also known as Commonwealth of Nations
established - 31 December 1931
aim - to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire
members - (54) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica,Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya,Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius,Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan (suspended), PapuaNew Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, SolomonIslands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidadand Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe (suspended)
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): established - 8 December 1991; effective - 21 December 1991
aim - to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide a mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR
members - (12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Communist countries: traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; most of the original and the successor states are no longer Communist; see centrally planned economies
Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM): established in 1949 to control the export of strategic products and technical data from member countries to proscribed destinations; members were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US; abolished 31 March 1994; COCOM members established a new organization, the Wassenaar Arrangement, with expanded membership on 12 July 1996 which focuses on nonproliferation export controls as opposed to East- West control of advanced technology
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA): note - also known asCMEA or Comecon
established 25 January 1949 to promote the development of socialist economies and abolished 1 January 1991; members included Afghanistan (observer), Albania (had not participated since 1961 break with USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos (observer), Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua (observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia (associate)
Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU): established - 3 June 1957; effective - 30 May 1964
aim - to promote economic integration among Arab nations
members - (10 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Council of Europe (CE): established - 5 May 1949; effective - 3 August 1949
aim - to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe
members - (44) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands,Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia,Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK
guests - (1) Serbia and Montenegro
observers - (6) Canada, Holy See, Israel, Japan, Mexico, US
Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS): established - 6 March 1992
aim - to promote cooperation among the Baltic Sea states in the areas of aid to new democratic institutions, economic development, humanitarian aid, energy and the environment, cultural programs and education, and transportation and communication
members - (12) Denmark, Estonia, EC, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden
Council of the Entente (Entente): established - 29 May 1959
aim - to promote economic, social, and political coordination
members - (5) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo
countries in transition: a term used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the middle group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 28 countries in transition: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - this group is identical to the group traditionally referred to as the "former USSR/Eastern Europe" except for the addition of Mongolia
Customs Cooperation Council (CCC): note - see World CustomsOrganization (WCO)
developed countries (DCs): the top group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); includes the market-oriented economies of the mainly democratic nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European ministates; also known as the First World, high-income countries, the North, industrial countries; generally have a per capita GDP in excess of $10,000 although four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000; the 34 DCs are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "advanced economies" which adds Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan but drops Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey
developing countries: a term used by the International Monetary Fund(IMF) for the bottom group in its hierarchy of advanced economies,countries in transition, and developing countries; recently publishedIMF statistics include the following 126 developing countries:Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba,The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia,Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica,Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, MarshallIslands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua,Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia,South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Uganda,Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note -this category would presumably also cover the following 46 othercountries that are traditionally included in the more comprehensivegroup of "less developed countries": American Samoa, Anguilla, BritishVirgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, CocosIslands, 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, NorfolkIsland, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico,Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turksand Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, WestBank, Western Sahara
East African Development Bank (EADB): established - 6 June 1967; effective - 1 December 1967
aim - to promote economic development
members - (3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to coordinate the economic and social work of the UN; includes five regional commissions (Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) and nine functional commissions (Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Population and Development, Statistical Commission, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development, and Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice)
members - (54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL): note - acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs
established - 20 September 1976
aim - to promote regional economic cooperation and integration
members - (3) Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): established - 28May 1975
aim - to promote regional economic cooperation
members - (15) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO): established - 27-29 January 1985
aim - to promote regional cooperation in trade, transportation, communications, tourism, cultural affairs, and economic development
members - (10) Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
associate member - (1) "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): note - an integral part of theEuropean Union; also known as the European Economic and Monetary Union
proposed - 1-2 December 1969 at summit conference of heads of government; signed - 7 February 1992 - Maastricht Treaty
aim - to promote a single market by creating a single currency, the euro; timetable - 2 May 1998: European exchange rates fixed for 1 January 1999; 1 January 1999: all banks and stock exchanges begin using euros; 1 January 2002: the euro goes into circulation; 1 July 2002 local currencies no longer accepted
members - (12) Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; note - Denmark, Sweden, and UK decided not to join
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC): note - began as the NorthAtlantic Cooperation Council (NACC); an extension of NATO
established - 8 November 1991; effective - 20 December 1991
aim - to discuss cooperation on mutual political and security issues
members - (46) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium,Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US,Uzbekistan
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): established - 8-9 January 1990 (proposals made); 15 April 1991 (bank inaugurated)
aim - to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned economies in Europe (Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its loans to privatization
members - (62) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, EU, European Investment Bank(EIB), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea,Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan
European Community (or European Communities, EC): was established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ESC), the European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market), and to establish a completely integrated common market and an eventual federation of Europe; merged into the European Union (EU) on 7 February 1992; member states at the time of merger were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
European Free Trade Association (EFTA): established - 4 January 1960; effective - 3 May 1960
aim - to promote expansion of free trade
members - (4) Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
European Investment Bank (EIB): established - 25 March 1957; effective - 1 January 1958
aim - to promote economic development of the EU and its predecessors, the EEC and the EC
members - (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire
established - 1 July 1953; effective - 29 September 1954
aim - to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only
members - (20) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
observers - (7) European Commission, Israel, Japan, Russia, Turkey, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), US
European Space Agency (ESA): established - 31 May 1975
aim - to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and technology
members - (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
cooperating state - (1) Canada
European Union (EU): note - evolved from the European Community (EC)
established - 7 February 1992; effective - 1 November 1993
aim - to coordinate policy among the 15 members in three fields: economics, building on the European Economic Community's (EEC) efforts to establish a common market and eventually a common currency to be called the 'euro', which superseded the EU's accounting unit, the ECU; defense, within the concept of a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP); and justice and home affairs, including immigration, drugs, terrorism, and improved living and working conditions
members - (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK
membership applicants - (13) Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey
First World: another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): established - 16 October 1945
aim - to raise living standards and increase availability of agricultural products; a UN specialized agency
members - (184) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, BurkinaFaso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, CentralAfrican Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EC, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda,Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbiaand Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, SolomonIslands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
former Soviet Union (FSU): former term often used to identify as a group the successor nations to the Soviet Union or USSR; this group of 15 countries consists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE): the middle group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); these countries are in political and economic transition and may well be grouped differently in the near future; this group of 27 countries consists of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia; this group is identical to the IMF group "countries in transition" except for the IMF's inclusion of Mongolia
Four Dragons: the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs) that have experienced unusually rapid economic growth; also known as the Four Tigers; this group consists of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan; these countries are included in the IMF's "advanced economies" group
Franc Zone (FZ): note - also known as Conference des Ministres desFinances des Pays de la Zone Franc
established - NA 1964
aim - to form a monetary union among countries whose currencies are linked to the French franc
members - (15) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo; note - France's three overseas territories, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna, use the Comptoires Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF)
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; members were Japan, US
Group of 3 (G-3): established - NA September 1990
aim - mechanism for policy coordination
members - (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela
Group of 5 (G-5): established - 22 September 1985
aim - to coordinate the economic policies of five major noncommunist economic powers
members - (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US
Group of 6 (G-6): note - also known as Groupe des Six Sur 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, Serbia and Montenegro, Sweden
Group of 10 (G-10): note - also known as the Paris Club; includes the wealthiest members of the IMF who provide most of the money to be loaned and act as the informal steering committee; name persists in spite of the addition of Switzerland on NA April 1984
established - NA October 1962
aim - to coordinate credit policy
members - (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
nonstate participants - (4) BIS, EU, IMF, OECD
Group of 11 (G-11): note - also known as the Cartagena Group; established in 21-22 June 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia; aim was to provide a forum for largest debtor nations in Latin America; members were Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Group of 15 (G-15): note - byproduct of the Nonaligned Movement
established - NA September 1989
aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to act as the main political organ for the Nonaligned Movement
members - (19) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
Group of 24 (G-24): established - 1 August 1989
aim - to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America within the IMF
members - (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana,Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru,Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago,Venezuela
Group of 77 (G-77): established - 15 June1964; NA October 1967 first ministerial meeting
aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name persists in spite of increased membership
members - (133 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,Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala,Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon,Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States ofMicronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua,Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tomeand Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE,Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, 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