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 - (54 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei,Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 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,Uzbekistan, 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
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 - (23) 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,Pan-American Health Organization, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain,Switzerland, United Nations Development Program, United NationsEconomic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
League of Arab States (LAS): note - also known as Arab League (AL)
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
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 - (114 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, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon,The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, NorthKorea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan,Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (13) Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, 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 American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): established - 17 December 1992
aim - to eliminate trade barriers, promote fair competition, increase investment opportunities, provide protection of intellectual property rights, create procedures to settle disputes
members - (3) Canada, Mexico, US
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): established - 4 April 1949
aim - to promote mutual defense and cooperation
members - (26) Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Slovakia, Slovenia, 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 - (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway,Portugal, Slovakia, 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 - (40) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, SouthKorea, 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, Serbia andMontenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan,Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan
partners for cooperation - (10) Afghanistan, 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 (countries that have ratified the Convention) - (160)Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile,China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, East Timor, Ecuador,El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia,Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,Zambia, Zimbabwe
signatory states (countries that have signed, but not ratified, the Convention) - (22) The Bahamas, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guinea- Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Liberia, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone; note - states have signed but not ratified the convention
Organization of African Unity (OAU): see African Union
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
observers - (56) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, EU, Finland,France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia,Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro,Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia,Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Yemen
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC): established - 9 January 1968
aim - to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry
members - (11) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, UAE
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): established - 18 June 1981; effective - 4 July 1981
aim - to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation
members - (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
associate members - (2) Anguilla, British Virgin Islands
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC): established - 14September 1960
aim - to coordinate petroleum policies
members - (11) Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC): established - 22-25September 1969
aim - to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs
members - (56 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei,Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan,Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (10) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, ECA, LAS, Moro National Liberation Front, NAM, OAU, Thailand, Turkish Muslim Community of Kibris, UN
Pacific Community: note - formerly known as the South Pacific Commission (SPC) established - 6 February 1947; effective - 29 July 1948
aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters
members - (27) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France,French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States ofMicronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands,Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands,Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): note - formerly known as South PacificForum (SPF)
established - 5 August 1971
aim - to promote regional cooperation in political matters
members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
observers - (2) East Timor, New Caledonia
Paris Club: established - 1956
aim - to provide a forum for debtor countries to negotiate rescheduling of debt service payments or loans extended by governments or official agencies of participating countries; to help restore normal trade and project finance to debtor countries
members - (19) Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Partnership for Peace (PFP): established - 10-11 January 1994
aim - to expand and intensify political and military cooperation throughout Europe, increase stability, diminish threats to peace, and build relationships by promoting the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment to democratic principles that underpin NATO; program under the auspices of NATO
members - (20) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia,Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland,Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA): established - 29 July 1899
aim - to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
members - (101) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium,Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, CostaRica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands,NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia andMontenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Rio Group (RG): note - formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established NA December 1986; composed of the Contadora Group and the Lima Group
established - NA 1988
aim - to consult on regional Latin American issues
members - (19) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Second World: another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states of the USSR and Eastern Europe, with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies
Shanghai Cooperative Organization (SCO): established - 15 June 2001
aim - to combat terrorism, extremism, and separatism; to safeguard regional security through mutual trust, disarmament, and cooperative security; and to increase cooperation in political, trade, economic, scientific and technological, cultural, and educational fields
members - (6) China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
socialist countries: in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note - the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries
South: a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): established - 8 December 1985
aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation
members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
South Pacific Forum (SPF): note - see Pacific Island Forum
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement(Sparteca): established - NA 1981
aim - to redress unequal trade relationships of Australia and New Zealand with small island economies in the Pacific region
members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Southern African Customs Union (SACU): established - 11 December 1969
aim - to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters
members - (5) Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland
Southern African Development Community (SADC): note - evolved from theSouthern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)
established - 17 August 1992
aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
members - (14) Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) or Southern Common Market: note - also known as Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (Mercosur)
established - 26 March 1991
aim - to increase regional economic cooperation
members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
associate members - (2) Bolivia, Chile
Third World: another term for the less developed countries; the term is obsolescent; see less developed countries (LDCs)
underdeveloped countries: refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above-average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)
undeveloped countries: refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)
United Nations (UN): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24October 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security and to promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems
constituent organizations - the UN is composed of six principal organs and numerous subordinate agencies and bodies as follows:
1) Secretariat
2) General Assembly: Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), International Research and Training Institute for theAdvancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the United Nations HighCommissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Center for HumanSettlements (UN-Habitat), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UnitedNations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Drug Control Program(UNDCP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations HighCommissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Institute forDisarmament Research (UNIDIR), United Nations Institute for Trainingand Research (UNITAR), United Nations Interregional Crime and JusticeResearch Institute (UNICRI), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS), United NationsRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East(UNRWA), United Nations Research Institute for Social Development(UNRISD), United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), and UnitedNations University (UNU), World Food Program (WFP)
3) Security Council: International Criminal Tribunal for the FormerYugoslavia (ICTY), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR),United Nations Compensation Commission, United Nations DisengagementObserver Force (UNDOF), United Nations Interim Administration Missionin Kosovo (UNMIK), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Mission ofSupport in East Timor (UNMISET), United Nations Military Observer Groupin India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), United Nations Mission for theReferendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), United Nations Mission inEthiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone(UNAMSIL), United Nations Monitoring and Verification Commission(UNMOVIC), United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), UnitedNations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(MONUC), United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), andUnited Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
4) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Commission for SocialDevelopment, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotics Drugs, Commissionon Population and Development, Commission on Science and Technology forDevelopment, Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on theStatus of Women, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and thePacific (ESCAP), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia(ESCWA), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Commission forEurope (ECE), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean(ECLAC), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank forReconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Center forSecretariat of Investment Disputes (ICSID), International CivilAviation Organization (ICAO), International Development Association(IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Fund forAgricultural Development (IFAD), International Labor Organization(ILO), International Maritime Organization (IMO), InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF), International Telecommunication Union (ITU),Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency (MIGA), StatisticalCommission, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO), United Nations Forum on Forests, United NationsIndustrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union(UPU), World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual PropertyOrganization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), WorldTourism Organization (WToO), and World Trade Organization (WTrO)
5) Trusteeship Council (inactive; no trusteeships at this time)
6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)
UN members - (191) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, PapuaNew Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, 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,Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members are represented in the GeneralAssembly
observers - (1 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See, Palestine Liberation Organization
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF): note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization, UN International Children's Emergency Fund
established - 11 December 1946
aim - to help establish child health and welfare services
members - (37) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): established - 30 December 1964
aim - to promote international trade
members - (192) all UN members plus Holy See
United Nations Development Program (UNDP): established - 22 November 1965
aim - to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development
members (executive board) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF): established - 31May 1974
aim - to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council
members - (6) Austria, Canada, Japan, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization(UNESCO): established - 16 November 1945; effective - 4 November 1946
aim - to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture
members - (190) 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,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, CookIslands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, FederatedStates of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (6) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Tokelau
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP): established - 15 December 1972
aim - to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters
members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations General Assembly: established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN
members - (191) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): established - 3December 1949; effective - 1 January 1951
aim - to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee problems
members (executive committee) - (64) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark,Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Holy See,Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, SouthKorea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,Philippines, Poland, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Somalia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia,Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yemen
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO): established - 17 November 1966; effective - 1 January 1967
aim - UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members
members - (171) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia,Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome andPrincipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR): established - 11 December 1963 adoption of the resolution establishing the Institute; effective - 24 March 1965
aim - to help the UN become more effective through training and research
members (Board of Trustees) - (21) Austria, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Ghana, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US; note - the UN Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK): established - 10 June 1999
aim - to promote the establishment of substantial autonomy and self- government in Kosovo; to perform basic civilian administrative functions; to support the reconstruction of key infrastructure and humanitarian and disaster relief
members - (48) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria,Cameroon, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji,Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India,Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal,Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Russia, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey,Ukraine UK, US, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL): established - 19March 1978
aim - to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and assist in reestablishing Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council
members - (7) France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Ukraine
United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM): establishedin 9 April 1991; to observe and monitor the demilitarized zoneestablished between Iraq and Kuwait; established by the UN SecurityCouncil; members were Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, China, Denmark,Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India,Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland,Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US,Uruguay, Venezuela; mandate ended 6 October 2003
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP): established - 24 January 1949
aim - to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council
members - (9) Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO): established - 29 April 1991
aim - to supervise the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council
members - (25) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, China, Croatia, Egypt,El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland,Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan,Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay
United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH): established- 21 December 1995; to establish an International Police Task Force(IPTF) to implement the Dayton Peace Agreement in Bosnia andHerzegovina; members Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada,Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland,France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria,Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,Ukraine, UK, US, Vanuatu; was terminated 31 December 2002
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE): established - 31 July 2000
aim - to monitor the cessation of hostilities
members - (42) Algeria, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, India, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL): established - 19 September 2003
aim - to support the cease-fire agreement and peace process; protect UN facilities and people; support humanitarian activities;and assist in national security reform
members - (43) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Croatia,Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Malawi, Mali,Moldova, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Senegal, South Africa,Sweden, Togo, Turkey, UK, US, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL): established - 22October 1999
aim - to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the agreement; to monitor the military and security situation in Sierra Leone; to monitor the disarmament and demobilization of combatants and members of the Civil Defense Forces (CFD); to assist in monitoring respect for international humanitarian law
members - (31) Bangladesh, Bolivia, Canada, China, Croatia, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Egypt, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea,Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mali, Nepal, NZ,Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand,Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP): established 1February 1996; to monitor the demilitarization of the Prevlakapeninsula in southern Croatia; members were Argentina, Bangladesh,Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Ghana,Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway,Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine; was terminated 15December 2002
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET): established - 17 May 2002
aim - to provide assistance to structures critical to political stability; to provide law enforcement and public security and to assist in the development of law enforcement agencies; to contribute to external security
members - (28) Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil,Croatia, Denmark, Fiji, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea,Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal,Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand,Turkey, Uruguay
United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC): note - formerly known as United Nations Special Commission for the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM)
established - NA December 1999
aim - to identify, account for, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the capacity to produce them
commissioners - (15) Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, UK, US
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG): established - 24August 1993
aim - to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement, to monitor weapons exclusion zone, and to supervise CIS peacekeeping force for Abkhazia; established by the UN Security Council
members - (23) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Denmark,Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, SouthKorea, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine,UK, US, Uruguay
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of theCongo (MONUC): established - 30 November 1999
aim - to establish contacts with the signatories to the cease-fire agreement and to plan for the observation of the cease-fire and disengagement of forces
members - (49) Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland,Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland,Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa, Spain,Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP): established - 4 March 1964
aim - to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council
members - (9) Argentina, Austria, Canada, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, South Korea, Slovakia, UK
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities
established - NA July 1967
aim - to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems
members (executive board ) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP): established 31 March 1995; to monitor border activity in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; members were Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, US; mandate ended 25 March 1999
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in theNear East (UNRWA): established - 8 December 1949
aim - to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees
members (advisory commission) - (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD): established - NA 1963
aim - to conduct research into the problems of economic development during different phases of economic growth
members - no country members, but a Board of Directors consisting of a chairman appointed by the UN secretary general and 11 individual members
United Nations Secretariat: established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24October 1945
aim - to serve as the primary administrative organ of the UN; a Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council
members - the UN Secretary General and staff
United Nations Security Council (UNSC): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security
permanent members - (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US
nonpermanent members - (10) elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly; Algeria (2004-05), Angola (2003-04), Benin (2004-05), Brazil (2004-05), Chile (2003-04), Germany (2003-04), Pakistan (2003- 04), Philippines (2004-05), Romania (2004-05), Spain (2003-04)
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET): established 25 October 1999 to provide security throughout the territory of East Timor; to establish an effective administration; to ensure the coordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance; to support capacity-building for self-government; 28 members including Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Ireland, Jordan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO): established -NA June 1948
aim - to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; currently supports timely deployment of reinforcements to other peacekeeping operations in the region as needed; initially established by the UN Security Council
members - (23) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile,China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden,Switzerland, US
United Nations Trusteeship Council: established on 26 June 1945, effective on 24 October 1945, to supervise the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members were China, France, Russia, UK, US; it formally suspended operations 1 November 1995 after the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a constitutional government in free association with the US; the Trusteeship Council was not dissolved
United Nations University (UNU): established - 3 December 1973
aim - to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars
members - (24 members of UNU Council and the Rector are appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Director General of UNESCO)
Universal Postal Union (UPU): established - 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947; effective - 1 July 1948
aim - to promote international postal cooperation; a UN specialized agency
members - (188) 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, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,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, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Warsaw Pact (WP): established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of dissolution were Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier members included GDR and Albania
West African Development Bank (WADB): note - also known as BanqueOuest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD); is a financial institution ofWAEMU
established - 14 November 1973
aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
regional members - (9) Central Bank of West African States, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
international/nonregional members - (5) African Development Bank, Belgium, European Investment Bank, France, Germany
West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): note - also known asUnion Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)
established - 1 August 1994
aim - to increase competitiveness of members' economic markets; to create a common market
members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
Western European Union (WEU): established - 23 October 1954; effective - 6 May 1955
aim - to provide mutual defense and to move toward political unification
members - (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
associate members - (6) Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Turkey
associate partners - (7) Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia
observers - (5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden
World Bank Group: includes International Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), andInternational Finance Corporation (IFC)
World Confederation of Labor (WCL): established - 19 June 1920 as theInternational Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4October 1968
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (102 national organizations) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil,Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic,Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, FrenchGuiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Liberia, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua,Niger, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Customs Organization (WCO): note - began as the CustomsCooperation Council (CCC)
established - 15 December 1950
aim - to promote international cooperation in customs matters
members - (162) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau,The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands,Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU): established - 3 October 1945
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (125 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin,Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, The Gambia, Ghana,Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan,Jordan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon,Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, New Caledonia, NZ,Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Russia,Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, SolomonIslands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
World Food Program (WFP): established - 24 November 1961
aim - to provide food aid in support of economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization
members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
World Health Organization (WHO): established - 22 July 1946; effective - 7 April 1948
aim - to deal with health matters worldwide; a UN specialized agency
members - (192) 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, Dominica, Dominican Republic, EastTimor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 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, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe