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Appendix A - Abbreviations
ABEDA: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
ACCT: Agency for the French-Speaking Community (see InternationalOrganization of the French-speaking World)
ACP Group: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
AfDB: African Development Bank
AFESD: Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
Air Pollution: Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides: Protocol to the 1979 Convention onLong-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control ofEmissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants: Protocol to the 1979Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on PersistentOrganic Pollutants
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85: Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long- Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary Fluxes by at Least 30%
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94: Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of SulphurEmissions
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds: Protocol to the 1979Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning theControl of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or TheirTransboundary Fluxes
AMF: Arab Monetary Fund
AMU: Arab Maghreb Union
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol: Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Antarctic Marine Living Resources: Convention on the Conservation ofAntarctic Marine Living Resources
Antarctic Seals: Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals
ANZUS: Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty
APEC: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Arabsat: Arab Satellite Communications Organization
ARF: ASEAN Regional Forum
AsDB: Asian Development Bank
ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations
AU: African Union
Autodin: Automatic Digital Network
BA: Baltic Assembly
bbl/day: barrels per day
BCIE: Central American Bank for Economic Integration
BDEAC: Central African States Development Bank
Benelux: Benelux Economic Union
BIMSTEC: Bay of Bengal Iniative for Multisectoral Technical andEconomic Cooperation
Biodiversity: Convention on Biological Diversity
BGN: United States Board on Geographic Names
BIS: Bank for International Settlements
BSEC: Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone
C: Commonwealth
c.i.f.: cost, insurance, and freight
CACM: Central American Common Market
CAEU: Council of Arab Economic Unity
CAN: Andean Community of Nations
Caricom: Caribbean Community and Common Market
CB: citizen's band mobile radio communications
CBSS: Council of the Baltic Sea States
CCC: Customs Cooperation Council
CDB: Caribbean Development Bank
CE: Council of Europe
CEI: Central European Initiative
CEMAC: Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa
CEPGL: Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries
CERN: European Organization for Nuclear Research
CEPT: Conference Europeanne des Poste et Telecommunications
CIS: Commonwealth of Independent States
CITES: see Endangered Species
Climate Change: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol: Kyoto Protocol to the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change
COCOM: Coordinating Committee on Export Controls
Comsat: Communications Satellite Corporation
COMESA: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
CTBTO: Preparation commission for the Nuclear-Ban-Treaty Operation
CY: calendar year
CP: Colombo Plan
DC: developed country
Desertification: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
DDT: dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane
DIA: United States Defense Intelligence Agency
DSN: Defense Switched Network
DST: daylight savings time
DWT: deadweight ton
EADB: East African Development Bank
EAEC: Eurasian Economic Community
EAPC: Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
EBRD: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
EC: European Community
ECA: Economic Commission for Africa
ECE: Economic Commission for Europe
ECLAC: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
ECO: Economic Cooperation Organization
ECOSOC: Economic and Social Council
ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States
ECSC: European Coal and Steel Community
EEC: European Economic Community
EFTA: European Free Trade Association
EEZ: exclusive economic zone
EIB: European Investment Bank
EMU: European Monetary Union
Endangered Species: Convention on the International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Entente: Council of the Entente
Environmental Modification: Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques
ESA: European Space Agency
ESCAP: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
ESCWA: Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
est.: estimate
EU: European Union
Euratom: European Atomic Energy Community
Eutelsat: European Telecommunications Satellite Organization
Ex-Im: Export-Import Bank of the United States
f.o.b.: free on board
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization
FAX: facsimile
FLS: Front Line States
FOC: flags of convenience
FSU: former Soviet Union
FY: fiscal year
FZ: Franc Zone
G-2: Group of 2
G-3: Group of 3
G-5: Group of 5
G-6: Group of 6
G-7: Group of 7
G-8: Group of 8
G-9: Group of 9
G-10: Group of 10
G-15: Group of 15
G-11: Group of 11
G-24: Group of 24
G-77: Group of 77
GATT: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; now WTO
GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council
GCTU: General Confederation of Trade Unions
GDP: gross domestic product
GMT: Greenwich Mean Time
GNP: gross national product
GRT: gross register ton
GSM: global system for mobile cellular communications
GUAM: Organization for Democracy and Economic Development; acronym for member states - Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova
GWP: gross world product
Hazardous Wastes: Basel Convention on the Control of TransboundaryMovements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
HF: high-frequency
HIV/AIDS: human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome
IADB: Inter-American Development Bank
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IANA: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (WorldBank)
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ICC: International Chamber of Commerce
ICCt: International Criminal Court
ICJ: International Court of Justice (World Court)
ICRC: International Committee of the Red Cross
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
ICSID: International Center for Secretariat of Investment Disputes
ICTR: International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
ICTY: International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
IDA: International Development Association
IDB: Islamic Development Bank
IDP: internally displaced person
IEA: International Energy Agency
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC: International Finance Corporation
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red CrescentSocieties
IGAD: Inter-Governmental Authority on Development
IHO: International Hydrographic Organization
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
Inmarsat: International Maritime Satellite Organization
InOC: Indian Ocean Commission
INSTRAW: International Research and Training Institute for theAdvancement of Women
Intelsat: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
Intersputnik: International Organization of Space Communications
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
IPU: Inter-parliamentary Union
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ISP: Internet Service Provider
ITU: International Telecommunication Union
ITUC: International Trade Union Confederation (the successor to ICFTU(International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) and the WCL (WorldConfederation of Labor)
kHz: kilohertz
km: kilometer
kW: kilowatt
kWh: kilowatt-hour
LAES: Latin American Economic System
LAIA: Latin American Integration Association
LAS: League of Arab States
Law of the Sea: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
LDC: less developed country
LLDC: least developed country
London Convention: see Marine Dumping
LOS: see Law of the Sea
m: meter
Marecs: Maritime European Communications Satellite
Marine Dumping: Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution byDumping Wastes and Other Matter
Marine Life Conservation: Convention on Fishing and Conservation ofLiving Resources of the High Seas
MARPOL: see Ship Pollution
Medarabtel: Middle East Telecommunications Project of theInternational Telecommunications Union
Mercosur: Southern Cone Common Market
MHz: megahertz
MICAH: International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti
MINURSO: United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency
MINUSTAH: United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
MONUC: United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
NA: not available
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement
NAM: Nonaligned Movement
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NC: Nordic Council
NEA: Nuclear Energy Agency
NEGL: negligible
NGA: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
NIB: Nordic Investment Bank
NIC: newly industrializing country
NIE: newly industrializing economy
NIS: new independent states
nm: nautical mile
NMT: Nordic Mobile Telephone
NSG: Nuclear Suppliers Group
Nuclear Test Ban: Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in theAtmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
NZ: New Zealand
OAPEC: Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
OAS: Organization of American States
OAU: Organization of African Unity; see African Union
ODA: official development assistance
OECD: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OECS: Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
OHCHR: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
OIC: Organization of the Islamic Conference
OIF: International Organization of the French-speaking World
ONUB: United Nations Operation in Burundi
OOF: other official flows
OPANAL: Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
OPCW: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
OSCE: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Ozone Layer Protection: Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
PCA: Permanent Court of Arbitration
PFP: Partnership for Peace
PIF: Pacific Islands Forum
PPP: purchasing power parity
Ramsar: see Wetlands
RG: Rio Group
SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SACU: Southern African Customs Union
SACEP: South Asia Co-opeative Environment Programme
SADC: Southern African Development Community
SCO: Shanghai Cooperation Organization
SAFE: South African Far East Cable
SECI: Southeast European Cooperative Initiative
SHF: super-high-frequency
Ship Pollution: Protocol of 1978 Relating to the InternationalConvention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
Sparteca: South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic CooperationAgreement
SPC: Secretariat of the Pacific Communities
SPF: South Pacific Forum
sq km: square kilometer
sq mi: square mile
TAT: Trans-Atlantic Telephone
Tropical Timber 83: International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber 94: International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
UAE: United Arab Emirates
UDEAC: Central African Customs and Economic Union
UHF: ultra-high-frequency
UK: United Kingdom
UN: United Nations
UNAMSIL: United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
UNCLOS: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, also know asLOS
UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDCP: United Nations Drug Control Program
UNDOF: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
UNDP: United Nations Development Program
UNEP: United Nations Environment Program
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and CulturalOrganization
UNFICYP: United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus
UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund
UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF: United Nations Children's Fund
UNICRI: United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice ResearchInstitute
UNIDIR: United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNIFIL: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
UNITAR: United Nations Institute for Training and Research
UNMEE: United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
UNMIK: United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
UNMIL: United Nations Mission in Liberia
UNMIT: United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste
UNMOGIP: United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
UNMOVIC: United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and InspectionCommission
UNOCI: United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire
UNOMIG: United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
UNOPS: United Nations Office of Project Services
UNRISD: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
UNSC: United Nations Security Council
UNSSC: Untied Nations System Staff College
UNTSO: United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
UNU: United Nations University
UNWTO: World Tourism Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
US: United States
USSR: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used for information dated before 25 December 1991
UTC: Coordinated Universal Time
UV: ultra violet
VHF: very-high-frequency
VSAT: very small aperture terminal
WADB: West African Development Bank
WAEMU: West African Economic and Monetary Union
WCL: World Confederation of Labor
WCO: World Customs Organization
Wetlands: Convention on Wetlands of International ImportanceEspecially As Waterfowl Habitat
WEU: Western European Union
WFP: World Food Program
WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions
Whaling: International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WP: Warsaw Pact
WTO: World Trade Organization
ZC: Zangger Committee
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Appendix B - International Organizations and Groups
advanced developing countries: another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
advanced economies: a term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; it includes the following 28 advanced economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note - this group would presumably also cover the following seven smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino that are included in the more comprehensive group of "developed countries"
African Development Bank (AfDB): note - its predecessor wasOrganization of African Unity (OAU)
established - 9 September 1999
aim - to promote economic and social development
regional members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso,Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, TheGambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland,Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
nonregional members - (24) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
African Union (AU): note - replaces Organization of African Unity(OAU)
established - 8 July 2001
aim - to achieve greater unity among African States; to defend states' integrity and independence; to accelerate political, social, and economic integration; to encourage international cooperation; to promote democratic principles and institutions
members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, TheGambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (WesternSahara), Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia,Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group): established - 6 June 1975
aim - to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with the EU
members - (79) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados,Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho,Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru,Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tomeand Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL): note - acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)
established - 14 February 1967 under the Treaty of Tlatelolco; effective - 25 April 1969 on the 11th ratification
aim - to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons
members - (33) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados,Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana,Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Andean Community of Nations (CAN): note - formerly known as the AndeanGroup (AG), the Andean Parliament, and most recently as the AndeanCommon Market (Ancom)
established - 26 May 1969; present name established 1 October 1992; effective - 16 October 1969
aim - to promote harmonious development through economic integration
members - (5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
associate members - (5) Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
observers - (2) Mexico, Panama
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA): note - also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)
established - 18 February 1974; effective - 16 September 1974
aim - to promote economic development
members - (17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization; note - these are all the members of the Arab League excluding Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen
Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD): established - 16 May 1968
aim - to promote economic and social development
members - (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq (suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993), Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Arab Maghreb Union (AMU): established - 17 February 1989
aim - to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of northern Africa
members - (5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia
Arab Monetary Fund (AMF): established - 27 April 1976; effective - 2February 1977
aim - to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs
members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Arctic Council: established - 18 September 1996
aim - to address the common concerns and challenges faced by Arctic governments and the people of the Arctic; to protect the Arctic environment
members - (8) Canada, Denmark (Greenland, Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, US
permanent participants - (6) Aleut International Association, ArcticAthabaskan Council, Gurch'in Council International, Inuit CircumpolarConference, Russian Association of Indigenous People of the North,Saami Council
observers - (5) France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, UK
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): established - 25 July 1994
aim - to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern
members - (26) Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada,China, East Timor, EU, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, SouthKorea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, US, Vietnam
Asian Development Bank (AsDB): established - 19 December 1966
aim - to promote regional economic cooperation
members - (47) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji,Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, FederatedStates of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Palau,Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, SriLanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam
nonregional members - (19) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): established - 7 November 1989
aim - to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin
members - (21) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Vietnam
observers - (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): established - 8 August 1967
aim - to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia
members - (10) Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
dialogue partners - (12) Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, South Korea, NZ, Pakistan, Russia, US, UNDP
observers - (1) Papua New Guinea
Australia Group: established - June 1985
aim - to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons
members - (40) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Commission,Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US
Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS): established - 1 September 1951; effective - 29 April 1952
aim - to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986; Australia and the US continue to hold annual meetings
members - (3) Australia, NZ, US
Baltic Assembly (BA): established - 12 May 1990
aim - to thoroughly discuss various cooperation issues between Baltic states
members - (3) Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Bay of Bengal Iniative for Multisectoral Technical and EconomicCoopertion (BIMSTEC): established - June 1997
aim - to foster socio-economic cooperation among members
members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Bank for International Settlements (BIS): established - 20 January 1930; effective - 17 March 1930
aim - to promote cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements
members - (55) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Central Bank, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US; note - Serbia and Montenegro have separate central banks; their links with BIS are currently under review
Benelux Economic Union (Benelux): note - acronym from Belgium,Netherlands, and Luxembourg
established - 3 February 1958; effective - 1 November 1960
aim - to develop closer economic cooperation and integration
members - (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Big Seven: note - membership is the same as the Group of 7
established - 1975
aim - to discuss and coordinate major economic policies
members - (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC): established - 25 June 1992
aim - to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation
members - (12) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine; note - Macedonia is in the process of joining
observers - (16) Austria, Belarus, Black Sea Commission, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Energy Charter Secretariat, France, Germany, International Black Sea Club, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia, US; note - Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia have applied for observer status
Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom): established - 4 July 1973; effective - 1 August 1973
aim - to promote economic integration and development, especially among the less developed countries
members - (15) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname,Trinidad and Tobago
associate members - (5) Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): established - 18 October 1969; effective - 26 January 1970
aim - to promote economic development and cooperation
regional members - (20) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia,Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad andTobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela
nonregional members - (5) Canada, China, Germany, Italy, UK
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC): see Monetary andEconomic Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC): note - acronym fromBanque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
established - 3 December 1975
aim - to provide loans for economic development
members - (10) African Development Bank (AfDB), Cameroon, Central African States Bank (BEAC), Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Kuwait
Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE): note - acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico
established - 13 December 1960 signature of Articles of Agreement; 31 May 1961 began operations
aim - to promote economic integration and development
members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
nonregional members - (5) Argentina, China, Colombia, Mexico, Spain
Central American Common Market (CACM): established - 13 December 1960, collapsed in 1969, reinstated in 1991
aim - to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market
members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua; note - Panama, although not a member, pursues full regional cooperation
Central European Initiative (CEI): note - evolved from theQuadrilateral Initiative and the Hexagonal Initiative
established - 11 November 1989 as the Quadrilateral Initiative, 27 July 1991 became the Hexagonal Initiative, July 1992 its present name was adopted
aim - to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas
members - (18) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine
centrally planned economies: a term applied mainly to the traditionally Communist states that looked to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward more democratic and market- oriented systems; also known formerly as the Second World or as as the Communist countries; through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, USSR, Vietnam
Colombo Plan (CP): established - May 1950 proposal was adopted; 1 July 1951 commenced full operations
aim - to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific
members - (25) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Fiji,India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives,Mongolia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, US, Vietnam
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA): note - formerly known as Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa (PTA)
established - 5 November 1993
aim - recognizing, promoting and protecting fundamental human rights, commitment to the principles of liberty and rule of law, maintaining peace and stability through the promotion and strengthening of good neighborliness, commitment to peaceful settlement of disputes among member states
members - (20) Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar,Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda,Zambia, Zimbabwe
Commonwealth (C): note - also known as Commonwealth of Nations
established - 31 December 1931
aim - to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire
members - (53) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan (suspended), Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia; note - on 7 December 2003 Zimbabwe withdrew its membership from the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): established - 8 December 1991; effective - 21 December 1991
aim - to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide a mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR
members - (12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Communist countries: traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; most of the original and the successor states are no longer Communist; see centrally planned economies
Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM): established in 1949 to control the export of strategic products and technical data from member countries to proscribed destinations; members were: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US; abolished 31 March 1994; COCOM members established a new organization, the Wassenaar Arrangement, with expanded membership on 12 July 1996 that focuses on nonproliferation export controls as opposed to East- West control of advanced technology
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA): note - also known asCMEA or Comecon
established 25 January 1949 to promote the development of socialist economies and abolished 1 January 1991; members included Afghanistan (observer), Albania (had not participated since 1961 break with USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos (observer), Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua (observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia (associate)
Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU): established - 3 June 1957; effective - 30 May 1964
aim - to promote economic integration among Arab nations
members - (10 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Council of Europe (CE): established - 5 May 1949; effective - 3 August 1949
aim - to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe
members - (46) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK
observers - (5) Canada, Holy See, Japan, Mexico, US
Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS): established - 6 March 1992
aim - to promote cooperation among the Baltic Sea states in the areas of aid to new democratic institutions, economic development, humanitarian aid, energy and the environment, cultural programs and education, and transportation and communication
members - (12) Denmark, Estonia, EC, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden
observers - (7) France, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine, UK, US
Council of the Entente (Entente): established - 29 May 1959
aim - to promote economic, social, and political coordination
members - (5) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo
countries in transition: a term used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the middle group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; 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, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - this group is identical to the group traditionally referred to as the "former USSR/Eastern Europe" except for the addition of Mongolia
Customs Cooperation Council (CCC): note - see World CustomsOrganization (WCO)
developed countries (DCs): the top group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); includes the market-oriented economies of the mainly democratic nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European ministates; also known as the First World, high-income countries, the North, industrial countries; generally have a per capita GDP in excess of $10,000 although four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000; the 34 DCs are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "advanced economies" 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, Isleof 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, SaintPierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu,Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara
East African Development Bank (EADB): established - 6 June 1967; effective - 1 December 1967
aim - to promote economic development
members - (3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
East Asia Summit (EAS): established - 14 December 2005
aim - to promote cooperation in political and security issues; to promote development, financial stability, energy security, economic integration and growth; to eradicate poverty and narrow the development gap in East Asia, and to promote deeper cultural understanding
members - (16) Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, NZ, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Economic and Monetary 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
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): note - an integral part of theEuropean Union; also known as the European Economic and Monetary Union
established - 1-2 December 1969 (proposed at summit conference of heads of government; 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed)
aim - to promote a single market by creating a single currency, the euro; timetable - 2 May 1998: European exchange rates fixed for 1 January 1999; 1 January 1999: all banks and stock exchanges begin using euros; 1 January 2002: the euro goes into circulation; 1 July 2002 local currencies no longer accepted
members - (12) Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to coordinate the economic and social work of the UN; includes five regional commissions (Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) and nine functional commissions (Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Population and Development, Statistical Commission, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development, and Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice)
members - (54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL): note - acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs
established - 20 September 1976
aim - to promote regional economic cooperation and integration
members - (3) Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda; note - organization collapsed because of fighting in 1998; reactivated in 2006
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): established - 28May 1975
aim - to promote regional economic cooperation
members - (15) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO): established - 27-29 January 1985
aim - to promote regional cooperation in trade, transportation, communications, tourism, cultural affairs, and economic development
members - (10) Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC): note - began as the NorthAtlantic Cooperation Council (NACC); an extension of NATO
established - 8 November 1991; effective - 20 December 1991
aim - to discuss cooperation on mutual political and security issues
members - (46) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium,Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan
Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC): established - May 2001
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): established - 8-9 January 1990 (proposals made); 15 April 1991 (bank inaugurated)
aim - to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned economies in Europe (Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its loans to privatization
members - (63) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, EC, European Investment Bank(EIB), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea,Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ,Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,UK, US, Uzbekistan
European Community (or European Communities, EC): established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market), and to establish a completely integrated common market and an eventual federation of Europe; merged into the European Union (EU) on 7 February 1992; member states at the time of merger were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
European Free Trade Association (EFTA): established - 4 January 1960; effective - 3 May 1960
aim - to promote expansion of free trade
members - (4) Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
European Investment Bank (EIB): established - 25 March 1957; effective - 1 January 1958
aim - to promote economic development of the EU and its predecessors, the EEC and the EC
members - (25) Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire
established - 1 July 1953; effective - 29 September 1954
aim - to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only
members - (20) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
observers - (8) European Commission, India, Israel, Japan, Russia, Turkey, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), US
European Space Agency (ESA): established - 31 May 1975
aim - to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and technology
members - (17) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
cooperating states - (4) Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania
European Union (EU): note - see European Union entry at the end of the "country" listings
First World: another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): established - 16 October 1945
aim - to raise living standards and increase availability of agricultural products; a UN specialized agency
members - (190) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Brunei, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, and Singapore (187 total); plus Cook Islands, EC, and Niue
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
Four Dragons: the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs) that have experienced unusually rapid economic growth; also known as the Four Tigers; this group consists of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan; these countries are included in the IMF's "advanced economies" group