established - 14 February 1967 under the Treaty of Tlatelolco; effective - 25 April 1969 on the 11th ratification
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 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 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
members - (45) Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, Hong Kong,India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States ofMicronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Palau, 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
Australia Group: established - June 1985
aim - to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons
members - (39) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Commission,Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, 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 - (55) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Central Bank, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US; note - Serbia and Montenegro have separate central banks; their links with BIS are currently under review
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 - 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 - 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 - (12) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine; note - Macedonia is in the process of joining
observers - (8) Austria, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Poland, 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 - (5) Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
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 - (10) African Development Bank (AfDB), Cameroon, Central African States Bank (BEAC), Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, 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 - (5) Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, 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, July 1992 its present name was 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, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine
Colombo Plan (CP): established - May 1950 proposal was adopted; 1 July 1951 commenced full operations
aim - to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific
members - (25) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Fiji,India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives,Mongolia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, US, Vietnam
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 - (53) 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), Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia; note - on 7 December 2003 Zimbabwe withdrew its membership from the Commonwealth
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 that 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, Sudan, Syria, 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 - (46) 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,Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia,Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK
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
Customs Cooperation Council (CCC): note - see World CustomsOrganization (WCO)
East African Development Bank (EADB): established - 6 June 1967; effective - 1 December 1967
aim - to promote economic development
members - (3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
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 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 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
established - 1-2 December 1969 (proposed at summit conference of heads of government; 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed)
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
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
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, 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, 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): established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), 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 - (25) Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,Slovakia, Slovenia, 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 - (8) European Commission, India, 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 states - (2) Canada, Hungary
European Union (EU): note - see European Union entry at the end of the "country" listings
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 - (187) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Belarus, Brunei, Liechtenstein, Russia, and Singapore (185 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue
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 - 1964
aim - to form a monetary union among countries whose currencies are linked to the French franc
members - (16) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
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
GUUAM: note-acronym standing for the member countries, Georgia,Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova
established - 7 June 2001
aim - commits the countries to cooperation and assistance in social and economic development, the strengthening and broadening of trade and economic relations, and the development and effective use of transport and communications, highways, and related infrastructure crossing the boundaries of the member states
members - (4) Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine; note - Uzbekistan withdrew from GUUAM 5 May 2005
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): see the World TradeOrganization (WTO)
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 despite increased membership
established - October 1962
aim - to coordinate credit policy
members - (19) Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, 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; name persists despite increased membership
established - September 1989
aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to act as the main political organ for the Nonaligned Movement
members - (17) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
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 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 3 (G-3): established - 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 77 (G-77): established - 15 June1964; October 1967 first ministerial meeting
aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name persists in spite of increased membership
members - (131 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, 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, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, FederatedStates of Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidadand Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine LiberationOrganization
Group of 8 (G-8): established - 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 December 1975 and 3 June 1977
members - (8) Canada, 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 - (8) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Sweden
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): note - also known as the CooperationCouncil for the Arab States of the Gulf
established - 25 May 1981
aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political, and military affairs
members - (6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE
Indian Ocean Commission (InOC): established - 21 December 1982
aim - to organize and promote regional cooperation in all sectors, especially economic
members - (5) Comoros, France (for Reunion), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB): note - also known as BancoInteramericano de Desarrollo (BID)
established - 8 April 1959; effective - 30 December 1959
aim - to promote economic and social development in Latin America
members - (46) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium,Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia,Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France,Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad andTobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD): note - formerly known as Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)
established - 15-16 January 1986 as the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development; revitalized - 21 March 1996 as the Inter- Governmental Authority on Development
aim - to promote a social, economic, and scientific community among its members
members - (7) Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): established - 26 October 1956; effective - 29 July 1957
aim - to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy
members - (137) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burkina Faso, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile,China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia,Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar,Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia andMontenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE,UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD): note - also known as the World Bank
established - 22 July 1944; effective - 27 December 1945
aim - to provide economic development loans; a UN specialized agency
members - (184) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Cuba, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, and Tuvalu
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): established - 1919
aim - to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels
members - (89 national committees) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,Canada, Caribbean, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland,France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico,Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway,Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): established - 7December 1944; effective - 4 April 1947
aim - to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a UN specialized agency
members - (188) includes all UN member countries except Dominica, East Timor, Liechtenstein, and Tuvalu (187 total); plus Cook Islands
International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti (MICAH): established17 December 1999 to promote respect for human rights; members includedArgentina, Benin, Canada, France, India, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo,Tunisia, US; closed 2001
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): established - 17February 1863
aim - to provide humanitarian aid in wartime
members - (25 individuals) all Swiss nationals
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU): established- December 1949
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (231 affiliated organizations in the following 153 countriesplus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Albania, Algeria, Angola,Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands,Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,Eritrea, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, FrenchPolynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, HongKong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy,Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon,Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montserrat,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
International Court of Justice (ICJ): note - also known as the WorldCourt
established - 3 February 1946 superseded Permanent Court of International Justice
aim - primary judicial organ of the UN
members - (15 judges) elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council to represent all principal legal systems
International Criminal Court (ICCt): established - 11 April 2002
aim - to hold all individuals and countries accountable to international laws of conduct; to specify international standards of conduct; to provide an important mechanism for implementing these standards; to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice
members (countries that have ratified the treaty) - (97) Afghanistan,Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada,Central African Republic, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti,Dominica, East Timor, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras,Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, South Korea, Latvia, Lesotho,Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali,Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru,Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, SanMarino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan,Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia
signatory states (countries that have signed, but not ratified, thetreaty) - (46) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire,Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau,Haiti, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar,Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Oman, Philippines,Russia, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, SolomonIslands, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Ukraine, UAE, US, Uzbekistan, Yemen,Zimbabwe
International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol): established - September 1923 set up as the International Criminal Police Commission; 13 June 1956 constitution modified and present name adopted
aim - to promote international cooperation among police authorities in fighting crime
members - (182) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, CostaRica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, SaoTome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
subbureaus - (14) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British VirginIslands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, Montserrat,Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, VirginIslands
International Development Association (IDA): established - 26 January 1960; effective - 24 September 1960
aim - to provide economic loans for low-income countries; UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate
members - (166)
International Energy Agency (IEA): established - 15 November 1974
aim - to promote cooperation on energy matters, especially emergency oil sharing and relations between oil consumers and oil producers; established by the OECD
members - (27) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal,Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRCS): note - formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties (LORCS)
established - 5 May 1919
aim - to organize, coordinate, and direct international relief actions; to promote humanitarian activities; to represent and encourage the development of National Societies; to bring help to victims of armed conflicts, refugees, and displaced people; to reduce the vulnerability of people through development programs
members - (182) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands,Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated Statesof Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tomeand Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
observers - (5 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Comoros, East Timor, Eritrea, Israel, Tuvalu, Palestine Liberation Organization
International Finance Corporation (IFC): established - 25 May 1955; effective - 24 July 1956
aim - to support private enterprise in international economic development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate
members - (177) 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,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, CostaRica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madgascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States ofMicronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sebia and Montenegro, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): established -November 1974
aim - to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency
members - (163)
Category I - (23 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria,Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Category II - (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria, Gabon,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,UAE, Venezuela
Category III - (128 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola,Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, CookIslands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana,Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,India, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, SouthKorea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Macedonia,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome andPrincipe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidadand Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO): note - name changed from International Hydrographic Bureau on 22 September 1970
established - June 1919; effective - June 1921
aim - to train hydrographic surveyors and nautical cartographers to achieve standardization in nautical charts and electronic chart displays; to provide advice on nautical cartography and hydrography; to develop the sciences in the field of hydrography and techniques used for descriptive oceanograrphy
members - (74) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Belgium, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Chile, China (including Hong Kong andMacau), Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Croatia, Cuba,Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji,Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia,Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovenia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Thailand,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,Uruguay, Venezuela
membership pending - (3) Bulgaria, Mauritania, Qatar
International Labor Organization (ILO): established - 28 June 1919 set up as part of Treaty of Versailles; 11 April 1919 became operative; 14 December 1946 affiliated with the UN
aim - to deal with world labor issues; a UN specialized agency
members - (177) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Bhutan, Brunei, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Marshall Islands,Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga andTuvalu; note - includes the following dependencies: Netherlands(Netherlands Antilles and Aruba)
International Maritime Organization (IMO): note - name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982
established - 6 March 1948 set up as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization; effective - 17 Mar 1958
aim - to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized agency
members - (164) includes all UN member countries except Afghanistan,Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,Central African Republic, Chad, East Timor, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho,Liechtenstein, Mali, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niger,Palau, Rwanda, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia,Zimbabwe
associate members - (3) Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Macau
International Monetary Fund (IMF): established - 22 July 1944; effective - 27 December 1945
aim - to promote world monetary stability and economic development; a UN specialized agency
members - (184) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Cuba, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu; note - includes the following dependencies or areas of special interest: China (Hong Kong and Macau), Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba)
International Olympic Committee (IOC): established - 23 June 1894
aim - to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games: 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy; 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China; 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada
National Olympic Committees - (201 and the Palestine LiberationOrganization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra,Angola (suspended), Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands,Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala,Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles,NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama,Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, PuertoRico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tomeand Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,Virgin Islands, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine LiberationOrganization
International Organization for Migration (IOM): note - established asProvisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrantsfrom Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration(ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee forMigration (ICM) in Novem
established - 5 December 1951
aim - to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration
members - (109) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Estonia, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, SouthKorea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, SouthAfrica, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania,Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
observers - (25) Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi,China, Cuba, Estonia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Holy See, India, Indonesia,Jamaica, Macedonia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea,Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Spain,Turkmenistan, Vietnam
International Organization for Standardization (ISO): established -February 1947
aim - to promote the development of international standards with a view to facilitating international exchange of goods and services and to developing cooperation in the sphere of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity
members - (99 national standards organizations) Algeria, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bahrain,Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia,Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia andMontenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidadand Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
correspondent members - (36 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)Albania, Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brunei, Democratic Republic of theCongo, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea, HongKong, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macau, Madagascar,Malawi, Moldova, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Swaziland,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Palestine Liberation Operation
subscriber members - (11) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Cambodia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Lesotho, Niger, Tajikistan
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM): established - 1928
aim - to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the InternationalCommittee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and InternationalFederation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS; formerlyLeague of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or LORCS) in peacetime
National Societies - (182 countries); note - same as membership forInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRCS)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU): established - 17 May 1865 set up as the International Telegraph Union; 9 December 1932 adopted present name; effective - 1 January 1934; affiliated with the UN - 15 November 1947
aim - to deal with world telecommunications issues; a UN specialized agency
members - (189) includes all UN member countries except East Timor, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis (188 total); plus Holy See
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