General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): see the World TradeOrganization (WTO)
Group of 2 (G-2): informal term that came into use about 1986; to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants; members were Japan, US
Group of 3 (G-3): established - September 1990
aim - mechanism for policy coordination
members - (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela
Group of 5 (G-5): established - 22 September 1985
aim - to coordinate the economic policies of five major noncommunist economic powers
members - (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US
Group of 6 (G-6): note - also known as Groupe des Six Sur leDesarmement; not to be confused with the Big Six
established - 22 May 1984
aim - to achieve nuclear disarmament
members - (6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania
Group of 7 (G-7): note - membership is the same as the Big Seven
established - 22 September 1985
aim - to facilitate economic cooperation among the seven major noncommunist economic powers
members - (7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus Canada and Italy
Group of 8 (G-8): established - 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 - (9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Sweden
Group of 10 (G-10): note - also known as the Paris Club; includes the wealthiest members of the IMF who provide most of the money to be loaned and act as the informal steering committee; name persists despite increased membership
established - October 1962
aim - to coordinate credit policy
members - (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
observers - (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 - (19) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
Group of 24 (G-24): established - 1 August 1989
aim - to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America within the IMF
members - (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana,Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru,Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago,Venezuela
observers - (1) China
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 - (130 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, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tomeand Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, 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
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
Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM): note- acronym standing for the member countries, Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova; formerly known as GUUAM before Uzbekistan withdrew in 5 May 2005
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
high income countries: another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs; see developed countries (DCs)
Indian Ocean Commission (InOC): established - 21 December 1982
aim - to organize and promote regional cooperation in all sectors, especially economic
members - (5) Comoros, France (for Reunion), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles
industrial countries: another term for the developed countries; see developed countries (DCs)
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB): note - also known as BancoInteramericano de Desarrollo (BID)
established - 8 April 1959; effective - 30 December 1959
aim - to promote economic and social development in Latin America
members - (47) 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, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama,Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden,Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, 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
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): established - 1889
aim - fosters contacts among parliamentarians, considers and expresses views of international interest and concern with the purpose of bringing about action by parliaments and parliamentarians, contributes to the defense and promotion of human rights, contributes to better knowledge of representative institutions
members - (148) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile,China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazahstan,Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius,Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, 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, Somalia, Samoa, SanMarino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Thailand,Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (7) Andean Parliament, Central American Parliament,Community Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States,East African Legislative Assembly, European Parliament, Latin AmericanParliament, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): established - 26 October 1956; effective - 29 July 1957
aim - to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy
members - (145) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium,Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, 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, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, 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, Montenegro, 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 - (91 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, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel,Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Serbia, 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 - (189) includes all UN member countries except Dominica, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, and Tuvalu (188 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 - (15-25 individuals) all Swiss nationals
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU): established- December 1949
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (241 affiliated organizations in the following 155 countriesplus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Albania, Algeria, Angola,Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central AfricanRepublic, 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, Ethiopia,Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati,South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena,Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand,Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK,US, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine LiberationOrganization
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) - (102) 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, Comoros, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Estonia,Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Malta, MarshallIslands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ,Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal,Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis,Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia,South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania,Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia; note -Comoros and Saint Kitts and Nevis became full members on 1 November2006
signatory states (countries that have signed, but not ratified, thetreaty) - (40) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Cote d'Ivoire, CzechRepublic, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Jamaica, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Oman,Philippines, Russia, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles,Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Ukraine, UAE, 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 - (186) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,Haiti, 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, Montenegro,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NetherlandsAntilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome andPrincipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
subbureaus - (11) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Macau, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands
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 - (185 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosniaand Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova,Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia, 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,Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (2) Eritrea and Tuvalu
International Finance Corporation (IFC): established - 25 May 1955; effective - 24 July 1956
aim - to support private enterprise in international economic development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate
members - (177) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Brunei, Cuba, Guinea, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Suriname, Tuvalu
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): established -November 1974
aim - to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency
members - (165)
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 - (130 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, Kiribati, NorthKorea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, PapuaNew Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kittsand Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, SaoTome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia (suspended since 1992), Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and 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 - (76) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Belgium, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Chile, China (including Hong Kong andMacau), Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (suspended),Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic (suspended),Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico,Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Suriname (suspended), Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
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 - (179) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Bhutan, Brunei, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Marshall Islands,Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Palau, 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 March 1958
aim - to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized agency
members - (167) includes all UN member countries except Afghanistan,Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,Central African Republic, Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho,Liechtenstein, Mali, Federated States of Micronesia, Montenegro, Nauru,Niger, Palau, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia
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; 2012 Summer Olympics in London, UK
National Olympic Committees - (201 and the Palestine LiberationOrganization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra,Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei,Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, 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, 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, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SolomonIslands, 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 Liberation Organization
International Organization for Migration (IOM): note - established asProvisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrantsfrom Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration(ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee forMigration (ICM) in November 1980; current name adopted 14 November 1989
established - 5 December 1951
aim - to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration
members - (118) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia,Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iran,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda,Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
observers - (20) Bhutan, Burundi, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Guyana, HolySee, India, Indonesia, Macedonia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Papua NewGuinea, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia,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 - (103 national standards organizations) Algeria, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, CostaRica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, 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, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,Zimbabwe
correspondent members - (43 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei, BurkinaFaso, Burma, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia,Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan,Latvia, Lithuania, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Moldova,Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Swaziland, Togo,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Palestine Liberation Organization
subscriber members - (9) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Cambodia, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Lesotho, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
International Organization of the French-speaking World (OIF): note - name changed from Agency of Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) in 1997
established - 20 March 1970
aim - founded around a common language to promote and spread the cultures of its members and to reinforce cultural and technical cooperation between them
members - (55) Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, BurkinaFaso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canada - New Brunswick,Canada - Quebec, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus,Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, French Communityof Belgium, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Laos,Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania,Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, SaintLucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo,Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam
observers - (13) Armenia, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Mozambique, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine
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 - (191) includes all UN member countries except East Timor, Palau (190 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 - (55 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, 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
Latin American Economic System (LAES): note - also known as SistemaEconomico Latinoamericana (SELA)
established - 17 October 1975
aim - to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation
members - (27) Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad 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 - (26) 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, Ukraine,United Nations Development Program, United Nations Economic Commissionfor Latin 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
least developed countries (LLDCs): that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) initially identified by the UN General Assembly in 1971 as having no significant economic growth, per capita GDPs normally less than $1,000, and low literacy rates; also known as the undeveloped countries; the 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen
less developed countries (LDCs): the bottom group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); mainly countries and dependent areas with low levels of output, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs are generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, the group also includes a number of countries with high per capita incomes, areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes the advanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons (Four Tigers), least developed countries (LLDCs), low-income countries, middle-income countries, newly industrializing economies (NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped countries, undeveloped countries; the 172 LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "developing countries" which adds Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey but omits in its recently published statistics American Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara
low-income countries: another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
middle-income countries: another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
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 - (168) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Iraq, Kirabati, NorthKorea, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco,Montenegro, Nauru, NZ, Niger, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,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
new independent states (NIS): a term referring to all the countries of the FSU except the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
newly industrializing countries (NICs): former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
newly industrializing economies (NIEs): that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) that has experienced particularly rapid industrialization of their economies; formerly known as the newly industrializing countries (NICs); also known as advanced developing countries; usually includes the Four Dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan), and Brazil
Nonaligned Movement (NAM): established - 1-6 September 1961
aim - to establish political and military cooperation apart from the traditional East or West blocs
members - (114 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon,The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana,Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, NorthKorea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, SouthAfrica, 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 - (15) Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvadore, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Paraguay, Ukraine, Uruguay
guests - (24) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary,Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
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 - (45) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, 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) EC
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 - (56) 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, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,UK, US, Uzbekistan
partners for cooperation - (11) Afghanistan, 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) - (180)Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, CookIslands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Dominica, Djibouti, East Timor, Ecuador, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States ofMicronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway,Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SolomonIslands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
signatory states (countries that have signed, but not ratified, the Convention) - (6) The Bahamas, Burma, Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Israel
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 - (60) 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, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia,Serbia, 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 (suspended), 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 - (11) AU, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, ECO, LAS, Moro National Liberation Front, NAM, Russia, Thailand, Turkish Muslim Community of Kibris, UN
Pacific Community (SPC): 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 - (26) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna; note - UK withdrew in January 2005
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 - (4) East Timor, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Tokelau
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) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Partnership for Peace (PFP): established - 10-11 January 1994
aim - to expand and intensify political and military cooperation throughout Europe, increase stability, diminish threats to peace, and build relationships by promoting the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment to democratic principles that underpin NATO; program under the auspices of NATO
members - (20) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, 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 - (105) 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, Kenya, 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, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,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