associate members - (5) Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
observers - (7) Aruba, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): established - 18 October 1969; effective - 26 January 1970
aim - to promote economic development and cooperation
regional members - (21) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia,Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela
nonregional members - (5) Canada, China, Germany, Italy, UK
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC): see Economic andMonetary 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 - (7) Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Taiwan
Central American Common Market (CACM): established - 13 December 1960, collapsed in 1969, reinstated in 1991
aim - to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market
members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua; note - Panama, although not a member, pursues full regional cooperation
Central European Initiative (CEI): note - evolved from theQuadrilateral Initiative and the Hexagonal Initiative
established - 11 November 1989 as the Quadrilateral Initiative, 27 July 1991 became the Hexagonal Initiative, July 1992 its present name was adopted
aim - to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas
members - (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 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
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): established - 7October 2002
aim - to coordinate military and political cooperation, to develop multilateral structures and mechanisms of cooperation for ensuring national security of the member states
members - (7) Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
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 - (19) Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,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 (suspended), The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan (reinstated 2004), 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
Comuinidade dos Paises de Lingua Portuguesa (CPLP): established - 1996
aim - to establish a forum for friendship among Portuguese-speaking nations where Portuguese is an official language
members - (8) Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste
associate observers - (3) Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Senegal
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 - (47) 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, Montenegro, 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
Developing Eight (D-8): established - 15 June 1997
aim - to improve developing countries' positions in the world economy, diversify and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision-making at the international level, provide better standards of living
member - (8) Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey
East African Community (EAC): note - originally established in 1967, it was disbanded in 1977
established - January 2001
aim - to establish a political and economic union among the countries
members - (5) Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
East African Development Bank (EADB): established - 6 June 1967; effective - 1 December 1967
aim - to promote economic development
members - (4) Kenya, Rwanda, 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 - (15) Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, 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
Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC or EurasEC): note - merged withCentral Asian Cooperation Organization (CACO) in 2005
established - May 2001
aim - to create a common economic and energy policy
members - (6) Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
observers - (3) Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine
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 - (50) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic,Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US,Uzbekistan
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): established - 8-9 January 1990 (proposals made); 15 April 1991 (bank inaugurated)
aim - to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned economies in Europe (Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its loans to privatization
members - (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 - (27) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland,Portugal, Romania, 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) EC, 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 - (5) Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, 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 - (192) includes all UN member countries except Brunei, Liechtenstein, and Singapore (189 total); plus Cook Islands, EC, Faroe Islands, 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
Franc Zone (FZ): note - also known as Conference des Ministres desFinances des Pays de la Zone Franc
established - 1964
aim - to form a monetary union among countries whose currencies were linked to the French franc
members - (16) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
Front Line States (FLS): established to achieve black majority rule inSouth Africa; has since gone out of existence; members included Angola,Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): see the World TradeOrganization (WTO)
General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU): established - 16 April 1992
aim - to consolidate trade union actions to protect citizens' social and labor rights and interests, to help secure trade unions' rights and guarantees, and to strengthen international trade union solidarity
members - (11) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
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 - (2) Colombia, Mexico; note - Panama shows interest in joining
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): also known as Groupe des Six Sur le Desarmement (not to be confused with the Big Six) was established in 22 May 1984 with the aim of achieving nuclear disarmament; its members were 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 - (18) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, 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 - (129 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, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,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, Federated States ofMicronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua,Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands,Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria,Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
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 and Mayotte), 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 - (6) Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda; note - Eritrea declared its suspension in 2007
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 - (154 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosniaand Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, CostaRica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia,Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar,Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,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, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Tajikistan,Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, PalestineLiberation Organization
associate members - (8) Andean Parliament, Central American Parliament, East African Legislative Assembly, European Parliament, Inter- Parliamentary Committee of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, Latin American Parliament, Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, 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; note - membership pending for Bahrain, Burundi, Cape Verde,Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Oman, Nepal until the necessary legalinstruments are deposited with the IAEA
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 - (185) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Cuba, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, and Tuvalu
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): established - 1919
aim - to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels
members - (91 national committees) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,Cameroon, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, 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, 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; note - Peru isrestructuring
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 - (190) includes all UN member countries except Dominica, Liechtenstein, and Tuvalu (189 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 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) - (108) 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, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Latvia, Lesotho,Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal,Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste,Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia
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 - (187) 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, 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, HolySee, 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, Netherlands Antilles,NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, PapuaNew Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,Timor-Leste, 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 - (168) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, 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,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg,Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, MarshallIslands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, PapuaNew Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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 - (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland,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, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,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, 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, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tomeand 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, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, 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 - (181) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Brunei, Cuba, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Suriname, Tuvalu
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): established -November 1974
aim - to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency
members - (165)
List A - (23 industrialized aid contributors) Austria, Belgium, Canada,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, UK, US
List B - (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria, Gabon,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,UAE, Venezuela
List C - (130 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, 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, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India,Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea,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, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tomeand Principe, Senegal, Serbia (suspended since 1992), Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, 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 - (80) 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, Ireland, 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,Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname (suspended), Sweden, Syria,Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, 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 - (181) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Bhutan, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, and Tuvalu; 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, 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 - (185) 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 Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO): established - 15April 1999
aim - acts as watchdog over Inmarsat (International Maritime Satellite Organization), a private company, to make sure it follows ICAO standards and recommended practices; plays an active role in the development of international telecommunications policies
members - (92) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei,Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, CookIslands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya,South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Malta,Marshall Islands, Maurtius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco,Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Venezuela, Vietnam
International Olympic Committee (IOC): established - 23 June 1894
aim - to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games: 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada; 2012 Summer Olympics in London, UK; 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia
National Olympic Committees - (204 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, 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, Montenegro, 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, 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, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE,UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, VirginIslands, 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 - (122) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republicof the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Libya,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, SierraLeone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
observers - (16) Bahrain, Bhutan, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Guyana, Holy See, Indonesia, Macedonia, Mozambique, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Turkmenistan
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 - (105 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, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, 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 - (41 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei, BurkinaFaso, Burma, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea,Estonia, Gabon, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan,Latvia, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Rwanda, Senegal,Seychelles, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Yemen,Zambia, Palestine Liberation Organization
subscriber members - (10) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Cambodia, Dominica, Guyana, Honduras, Laos, Lesotho, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname
International Organization of the French-speaking World (OIF): note - name changed from Agency of Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) in 1997; also known as Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
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 - (53) Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, 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, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, French Community of Belgium, Gabon, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam