members - (27) Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia,Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,Uruguay, Venezuela
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA): note - also known 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 - (25) China, Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Costa Rica,Dominican Republic, EC, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-American Development Bank, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation onAgriculture, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latin America Economic System,Nicaragua, Organization of American States, Panama, Pan-American HealthOrganization, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, UnitedNations Development Program, United Nations Economic Commission forLatin America and the Caribbean
League of Arab States (LAS): note - also known as Arab League (AL)
established - 22 March 1945
aim - 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
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
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA): established - 12April 1988
aim - encourages flow of foreign direct investment among member countries by offering investment insurance, consultation, and negotiation on conditions for foreign investment and technical assistance; a UN specialized agency
members - (164) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Antigua and Barbuda, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti,Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kirabati, North Korea, Liberia, Liechtenstein,Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, NZ, Niger, SanMarino, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Tonga, Tuvalu
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
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 - (8) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, 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, and 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 - 1974; effective - 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 - (44) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan,Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,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, Macedonia,Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Russia, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US,Uzbekistan
partners for cooperation - (10) Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Mongolia, 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) - (167)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, Chad,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, Madagascar,Macedonia, 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, 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, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, 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) - (16) The Bahamas, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Liberia
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 - (59) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus,Czech Republic, 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, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia,Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, 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 member - (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, ECO, LAS, Moro National Liberation Front, NAM, OAU, Thailand, Turkish Muslim Community of Kibris, UN
Pacific Community: note - formerly known as the South PacificCommission (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 - (3) East Timor, French Polynesia, 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 - (22) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - a nation that becomes a member of NATO is no longer a member of PFP
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA): established - 29 July 1899
aim - to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
members - (103) 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, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia,Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria,Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, 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 - 1988
aim - to consult on regional Latin American issues
members - (19) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, CARICOM, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, 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 1901
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
observer - (1) Mongolia
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 American Community of Nations (CSN): established - 9 December 2004
aim - to coordinate common policies regarding multilateral organizations, to integrate physical infrastructure, and to consolidate the merger of CAN and Mercosur
members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay, Venezuela
South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP): established -January 1983
aim - to promote regional cooperation in South Asia in the field of environment, both natural and human, and on issues of economic and social development; to support conservation and management of natural resources of the region
members - (8) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
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 - 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 - (6) Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Third World: another term for the less developed countries; the term is obsolescent; see less developed countries (LDCs)
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 (OHCHR), 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 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 (WTO)
5) Trusteeship Council (inactive; no trusteeships at this time)
6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)
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, Nepal, Poland, Slovakia
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) includes all UN member countries except Brunei, Liechtenstein, and Singapore (188 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue
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) - (66) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark,Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea,Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya,South Korea, 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, Zambia
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) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Estonia, Iceland,Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Federated States ofMicronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, SolomonIslands, Tuvalu, US
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 - (50) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia,Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt,Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland,Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia,Mauritius, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, 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 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 - (24) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Croatia, Egypt, ElSlavador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland,Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan,Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE): established - 31 July 2000
aim - to monitor the cessation of hostilities
members - (41) Algeria, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Iran,Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway,Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, 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 - (48) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China,Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Ethiopia, Finland, France, The Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland,Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,Moldova, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro,South Africa, Sweden, Togo, Ukraine, UK, US, Zambia
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 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 - (16) Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Sweden
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 - 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; note - the organization's mandate has been extended up to early 2006
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 Operation in Burundi (ONUB): established - 21 May 2004
aim - to support and help implement the efforts undertaken by Burundians to restore lasting peace and bring about national reconciliation
members - (44) Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad,China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea,India, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique,Nambia, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia
United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI): established - 27February 2004
aim - to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the peace agreement signed by them in January 2003
members - (41) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chad,China, Republic of the Congo, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, ElSalvador, France, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Ireland,Jordan, Kenya, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria,Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia
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 - (47) Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China, Czech Republic,Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan,Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal,Niger, Nigeria, 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
(10) Argentina, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Slovakia, UK, Uruguay
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities
established - 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 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 - 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 10 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), Argentina (2005-06), Benin (2004- 05), Brazil (2004-05), Denmark (2005-06), Greece (2005-06), Japan (2005-06), Philippines (2004-05), Romania (2004-05), Tanzania (2005-06)
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH): established - 30 April 2004
aim - to stabilize Haiti in many areas for at least six months
members - (20) Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Jordan, Nepal, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka, US, Uruguay
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO): established -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) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau (187total); plus Holy See; note - includes the following dependencies orareas of special interest: Australia (Norfolk Island), China (HongKong, Macau), Denmark (Faroe Islands, Greenland), France (FrenchGuiana, French Polynesia, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion,St. Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna), Netherlands (Aruba,Netherlands Antilles), NZ (Cook Island, Niue, Tokelau), UK (Guernsey,Jersey, Isle of Man; Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, CaymanIslands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, SaintHelena, Turks and Caicos), US (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico,Virgin Islands)
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; affiliate members - (8) Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland. Slovakia, Slovenia
associate members - (3) Iceland, Norway, Turkey; affiliate associate members - (2) Bulgaria, Romania
observers - (5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden; affiliate observers - (2) Cyprus, Malta
World Bank Group: includes International Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA),International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral InvestmentGuarantee Agency (MIGA)
World Confederation of Labor (WCL): established - 19 June 1920 as theInternational Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4October 1
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, 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 the Grenadines, Sao Tome andPrincipe, 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 - (164) Afghanistan, 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 AfricanRepublic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d?Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, 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, 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) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein (190 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): established - 14 July 1967; effective - 26 April 1970
aim - to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific works; a UN specialized agency
members - (181) includes all UN member countries except Afghanistan, Comoros, East Timor, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu (180 total); plus Holy See
World Meteorological Organization (WMO): established - 11 October 1947; effective - 4 April 1951
aim - to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a UN specialized agency
members - (187) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, EastTimor, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands,Nauru, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, SanMarino, Tuvalu (179 total); plus British Caribbean Territories, CookIslands, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, NewCaledonia, and Niue
World Tourism Organization (WToO): established - 2 January 1975
aim - to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic development, international understanding, and peace
members - (144) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras,Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan,Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland,Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (7) Aruba, Flanders, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico
observers - (2) Holy See, Palestine Liberation Organization
World Trade Organization (WTO): note - succeeded General Agreement onTariff and Trade (GATT)
established - 15 April 1994; effective - 1 January 1995
aim - to provide a forum to resolve trade conflicts between members and to carry on negotiations with the goal of further lowering and/or eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers
members - (148) Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, BurkinaFaso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EC, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong,Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands,NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, PapuaNew Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela,Zambia, Zimbabwe
observers - (31) Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen; note - must start accession negotiations within five years of becoming observers
Zangger Committee (ZC): established - early 1970s
aim - to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT)
members - (35) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg,Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey Ukraine, UK,US
advanced developing countries: another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
advanced economies: a term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; it includes the following 28 advanced economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note - this group would presumably also cover the following seven smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino that are included in the more comprehensive group of "developed countries"
centrally planned economies: a term applied mainly to the traditionally Communist states that looked to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward more democratic and market- oriented systems; also known formerly as the Second World or as as the Communist countries; through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, USSR, Vietnam
countries in transition: a term used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the middle group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; IMF statistics include the following 28 countries in transition: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - this group is identical to the group traditionally referred to as the "former USSR/Eastern Europe" except for the addition of Mongolia
developed countries (DCs): the top group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); includes the market-oriented economies of the mainly democratic nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European ministates; also known as the First World, high-income countries, the North, industrial countries; generally have a per capita GDP in excess of $10,000 although four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000; the 34 DCs are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "advanced economies" that adds Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan but drops Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey
developing countries: a term used by the International Monetary Fund(IMF) for the bottom group in its hierarchy of advanced economies,countries in transition, and developing countries; IMF statisticsinclude the following 126 developing countries: Afghanistan, Algeria,Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, CentralAfrican Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, TheGambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya,Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - this category wouldpresumably also cover the following 46 other countries that aretraditionally included in the more comprehensive group of "lessdeveloped countries": American Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands,Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands,Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia, GazaStrip, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey,Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Isle of Man, Martinique, Mayotte,Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, NorthernMariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, SaintHelena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and CaicosIslands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, WesternSahara
former Soviet Union (FSU): former term often used to identify as a group the successor nations to the Soviet Union or USSR; this group of 15 countries consists of: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE): the middle group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); these countries are in political and economic transition and may well be grouped differently in the near future; this group of 27 countries consists of: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia; this group is identical to the IMF group "countries in transition" except for the IMF's inclusion of Mongolia
high income countries: another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs; see developed countries (DCs)