associates - (3) Armenia, Cyprus, Ghana
observers - (14) Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Mozambique, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Thailand, Ukraine
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM): established - 1928
aim - to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the InternationalCommittee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and InternationalFederation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS; formerlyLeague of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or LORCS) in peacetime
National Societies - (185 countries and the Palestine Liberation Organization); note - same as membership for International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
International Telecommunications Satellites Organization (ITSO): established - August 1964
aim - to act as a watchdog over Intelsat, Ltd., a private company, to make sure it provides on a global and non-discriminatory basis public telecommunication services
members - (148) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, CostaRica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See,Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein,Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Somalia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Telecommunication Union (ITU): established - 17 May 1865 set up as the International Telegraph Union; 9 December 1932 adopted present name; effective - 1 January 1934; affiliated with the UN - 15 November 1947
aim - to deal with world telecommunications issues; a UN specialized agency
members - (191) includes all UN member countries except Palau, Timor- Leste (190 total); plus Holy See
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC): note - its predecessors were the Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the World Confederation of Labor (WCL)
established - 3 November 2006
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (311 affiliated organizations in the following 154 countriesand the Palestine Liberation Organization as of December 2007) Albania,Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Argentina, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium,Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Comoros, Chad, Chile, Colombia, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea,Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan,Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco,Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe, and the Palestine Liberation Organization
Islamic Development Bank (IDB): established - 15 December 1973 by declaration of intent; effective - 12 August 1974
aim - to promote Islamic economic aid and social development
members - (55 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei,Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan,Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Latin American Economic System (LAES): note - also known as SistemaEconomico Latinoamericana (SELA)
established - 17 October 1975
aim - to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation
members - (27) Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia,Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama,Paraguay, Peru, Secretaria General Iberoamericana (SEGIB), Suriname,Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA): note - also known asAsociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)
established - 12 August 1980; effective - 18 March 1981
aim - to promote freer regional trade
members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (26) China, Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Costa Rica,Dominican Republic, EC, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-American Development Bank, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation onAgriculture, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latin America Economic System,Nicaragua, Organization of American States, Panama, Pan-American HealthOrganization, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine,United Nations Development Program, United Nations Economic Commissionfor Latin America and the Caribbean
League of Arab States (LAS): note - also known as Arab League (AL)
established - 22 March 1945
aim - aim - to promote economic, social, political, and military cooperation
members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan,Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (3) Eritrea, India, Venezuela
least developed countries (LLDCs): that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) initially identified by the UN General Assembly in 1971 as having no significant economic growth, per capita GDPs normally less than $1,000, and low literacy rates; also known as the undeveloped countries; the 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen
less developed countries (LDCs): the bottom group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); mainly countries and dependent areas with low levels of output, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs are generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, the group also includes a number of countries with high per capita incomes, areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes the advanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons (Four Tigers), least developed countries (LLDCs), low-income countries, middle-income countries, newly industrializing economies (NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped countries, undeveloped countries; the 172 LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "developing countries" which adds Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey but omits in its recently published statistics American Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara
low-income countries: another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
middle-income countries: another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA): established - 12April 1988
aim - encourages flow of foreign direct investment among member countries by offering investment insurance, consultation, and negotiation on conditions for foreign investment and technical assistance; a UN specialized agency
members - (173) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Comoros, Cuba, Kiribati, North Korea,Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, NZ, Niger, San Marino,Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Tonga, Tuvalu
Near Abroad: Russian term for the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, in which 25 million ethnic Russians live and in which Moscow has expressed a strong national security interest; the 14 countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
new independent states (NIS): a term referring to all the countries of the FSU except the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
newly industrializing countries (NICs): former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
newly industrializing economies (NIEs): that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) that has experienced particularly rapid industrialization of their economies; formerly known as the newly industrializing countries (NICs); also known as advanced developing countries; usually includes the Four Dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan), and Brazil
Nonaligned Movement (NAM): established - 1-6 September 1961
aim - to establish political and military cooperation apart from the traditional East or West blocs
members - (117 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei,Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, CentralAfrican Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republicof the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Ethiopia, 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,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa,Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda,UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (15) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvadore, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Paraguay, Serbia, Ukraine, Uruguay
guests - (24) Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Italy,Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Nordic Council (NC): established - 16 March 1952; effective - 12February 1953
aim - to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental cooperation
members - (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden
observers - (3) the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB): established - 4 December 1975; effective - 1 June 1976
aim - to promote economic cooperation and development
members - (8) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden
North: a popular term for the rich industrialized countries generally located in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the counterpart of the South; see developed countries (DCs)
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): established - 17 December 1992
aim - to eliminate trade barriers, promote fair competition, increase investment opportunities, provide protection of intellectual property rights, and create procedures to settle disputes
members - (3) Canada, Mexico, US
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): established - 4 April 1949
aim - to promote mutual defense and cooperation
members - (26) Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark,Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, UK, US
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA): note - also known as OECD Nuclear EnergyAgency
established - 1 February 1958
aim - to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; associated with OECD
members - (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway,Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG): note - also known as the LondonSuppliers Group or the London Group
established - 1974; effective - 1975
aim - to establish guidelines for exports of nuclear materials, processing equipment for uranium enrichment, and technical information to countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability
members - (45) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine,UK, US
observer - (1) European Commission (a policy-planning body for the EU)
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): established - 14 December 1960; effective - 30 September 1961
aim - to promote economic cooperation and development
members - (30) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
special member - (1) EC
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): note - formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) established 3 July 1975
established - 1 January 1995
aim - to foster the implementation of human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law; to act as an instrument of early warning, conflict prevention, and crisis management; and to serve as a framework for conventional arms control and confidence building measures
members - (56) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus,Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany,Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,UK, US, Uzbekistan
partners for cooperation - (11) Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Mongolia, Morocco, Thailand, Tunisia
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): established - 29 April 1997
aim - to enforce the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction; to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among the signatories of the Convention
members (countries that have ratified the Convention) - (184)Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbadoes, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Djibouti,Ecuador, 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, Ireland,Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, 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, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, SanMarino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SolomonIslands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
signatory states (countries that have signed, but not ratified, the Convention) - (5) The Bahamas, Burma, Dominican Republic, Guinea- Bissau, Israel
Organization of African Unity (OAU): see African Union
Organization of American States (OAS): established - 14 April 1890 as the International Union of American Republics; 30 April 1948 adopted present charter; effective - 13 December 1951
aim - to promote regional peace and security as well as economic and social development
members - (35) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba (excluded from formal participation since 1962), Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (63) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, EU,Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Holy See, Hungary,Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea,Latvia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway,Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, SaudiArabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Vanuatu, Yemen
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC): established - 9 January 1968
aim - to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry
members - (11) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia (suspended), UAE
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): established - 18 June 1981; effective - 4 July 1981
aim - to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation
members - (9) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC): established - 14September 1960
aim - to coordinate petroleum policies
members - (13) Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC): established - 22-25September 1969
aim - to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs
members - (56 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei,Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan,Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (14) AU, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic,ECO, Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation, LAS,Moro National Liberation Front, NAM, OAU, Parliamentary Union of theOIC Member States, Russia, Thailand, Turkish Muslim Community ofKibris, UN
Pacific Community (SPC): local name of the Secretariat of the PacificCommunity
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): note - formerly known as South PacificForum (SPF)
established - 5 August 1971
aim - to promote regional cooperation in political matters
members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
associate members - (2) French Polynesia, New Caledonia
partners - (13) Canada, China, EU, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, UK, US
observers - (5) Asia Development Bank, The Commonwealth, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna
Paris Club: established - 1956
aim - to provide a forum for debtor countries to negotiate rescheduling of debt service payments or loans extended by governments or official agencies of participating countries; to help restore normal trade and project finance to debtor countries
members - (19) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Partnership for Peace (PFP): established - 10-11 January 1994
aim - to expand and intensify political and military cooperation throughout Europe, increase stability, diminish threats to peace, and build relationships by promoting the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment to democratic principles that underpin NATO; program under the auspices of NATO
members - (24) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - a nation that becomes a member of NATO is no longer a member of PFP
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA): established - 29 July 1899
aim - to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
members - (108) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republicof the Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea,Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia,Zimbabwe
Rio Group (RG): note - formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established NA December 1986; composed of the Contadora Group and the Lima Group
established - 1988
aim - to consult on regional Latin American issues
members - (21) Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, CARICOM, Chile,Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Uruguay, Venezuela
Schengen Convention: established - established - signed June 1990; effective March 1995
aim - aim - to allow free movement within an area without internal border controls
members - (25) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland; note - UK and Ireland have not joined; Liechtenstein and Cyprus will probably join in 2009; Bulgaria and Romania are still not fully implemented
Second World: another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states of the USSR and Eastern Europe, with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC): established - 6 February 1947; effective 29 July 1948
aim - to serve island development in 22 Pacific countries; to develop technical assistance and professional, scientific, and research support; to build planning and management capability
members - (26) America Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France,French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States ofMicronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, NZ,Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands,Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, US, Wallis and Futuna
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): established - 15 June 2001
aim - to combat terrorism, extremism, and separatism; to safeguard regional security through mutual trust, disarmament, and cooperative security; and to increase cooperation in political, trade, economic, scientific and technological, cultural, and educational fields
members - (6) China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
observers - (4) India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan
guests - (6) Afghanistan, ASEAN, CIS, EurAsEC, Turkmenistan, UN
socialist countries: in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note - the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries
South: a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)
South American Community of Nations (CSN): established - 9 December 2004
aim - to coordinate common policies regarding multilateral organizations, to integrate physical infrastructure, and to consolidate the merger of CAN and Mercosur
members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (2) Mexico, Panama
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): established - 8 December 1985
aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation
members - (8) Afghanistan. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
observers - (9) Australia, Burma, China, EU, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, US
South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP): established -January 1983
aim - to promote regional cooperation in South Asia in the field of environment, both natural and human, and on issues of economic and social development; to support conservation and management of natural resources of the region
members - (8) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
South Pacific Forum (SPF): note - see Pacific Island Forum
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement(Sparteca): established - 1981
aim - to redress unequal trade relationships of Australia and New Zealand with small island economies in the Pacific region
members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI): established - 6December 1996
aim - to encourage cooperation among participating states and to facilitate their integration into European structures
members - (13) Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey
observers - (18) Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, UK, US
Southern African Customs Union (SACU): established - 11 December 1969
aim - to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters
members - (5) Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland
Southern African Development Community (SADC): note - evolved from theSouthern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)
established - 17 August 1992
aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
members - (14) Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) or Southern Common Market: note - also known as Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (Mercosur)
established - 26 March 1991
aim - to increase regional economic cooperation
members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
associate members - (5) Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Third World: another term for the less developed countries; the term is obsolescent; see less developed countries (LDCs)
African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID): established - 31 July 2007
aim - to contribute to the restoration of security conditions which will allow safe humanitarian assistance throughout Darfur, to contribute to the protection of civilian populations under imminent threat of physical attack, to monitor, observe compliance with, and verify the implementation of various ceasefire agreements
members - (31) Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, China, Egypt,Ethiopia, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya,Libya, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda,Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, UK, Yemen,Zambia
underdeveloped countries: refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above-average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)
undeveloped countries: refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)
Union Latina: established - 15 May 1954; became functional 1983
aim - to project, protect, and promote the common heritage and unifying idenitites of the Latin, and Latin-influenced, world
members - (37) Andorra, Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile,Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Italy,Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,Senegal, Spain, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (3) Argentina, Holy See, Order of Malta
Union of South American Nations (UNASUR - Spanish; UNASUL - Portuguese): formerly South American Community of Nations which terminated on 16 April 2007
established - 23 May 2008
aim - to model a community after the European Union which will include a common currency, parliament, and passport
members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
United Nations (UN): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24October 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security and to promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems
constituent organizations - the UN is composed of six principal organs and numerous subordinate agencies and bodies as follows:
1) Secretariat
2) General Assembly: Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UN-AIDS), International Research and Training Institute for theAdvancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the United Nations HighCommissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Organization for the Prohibitionof Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Preparation Committee for the Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), United Nations Center for HumanSettlements (UN-Habitat), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UnitedNations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), United Nations Development Program(UNDP), United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), United NationsEnvironment Program (UNEP),United Nations Fund for InternationalPartnerships (UNFIP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR), United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR),United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), UnitedNations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI),United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Office ofProject Services (UNOPS), United Nations Relief and Works Agency forPalestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations ResearchInstitute for Social Development (UNRISD), United Nations System StaffCollege (UNSSC), United Nations University (UNU), World Food Program(WFP)
3) Security Council: International Criminal Tribunal for the FormerYugoslavia (ICTY), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR),United Nations Compensation Commission, United Nations DisengagementObserver Force (UNDOF), African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operationin Darfur (UNAMID), United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste(UNMIT), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo(UNMIK), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), UnitedNations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Military ObserverGroup in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), United Nations Operation in Coted'Ivoire (UNOCI), United Nations Mission for the Referendum in WesternSahara (MINURSO), United Nations Mission in the Central AfricanRepublic and Chad (MINURCAT), United Nations Mission in the Sudan(UNMIS), United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), UnitedNations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(MONUC), United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), UnitedNations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and United NationsTruce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
4) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Commission for SocialDevelopment, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,Commission on Narcotics Drugs, Commission on Population andDevelopment, Commission on Science and Technology for Development,Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on the Status ofWomen, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP),Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), EconomicCommission for Africa (ECA), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE),Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Foodand Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment (IBRD), International Center for Secretariat of InvestmentDisputes (ICSID), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),International Development Association (IDA), International FinanceCorporation (IFC), International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD), International Labor Organization (ILO), International MaritimeOrganization (IMO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU), Multilateral Investment GeographicAgency (MIGA), Statistical Commission, United Nations Educational,Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Forum onForests, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Health Organization (WHO), WorldIntellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World MeteorologicalOrganization (WMO), World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and World TradeOrganization (WTO)
5) Trusteeship Council (inactive; no trusteeships at this time)
6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF): note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization, UN International Children's Emergency Fund
established - 11 December 1946
aim - to help establish child health and welfare services
members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): established - 30 December 1964
aim - to promote international trade
members - (193) all UN members plus Holy See
United Nations Development Program (UNDP): established - 22 November 1965
aim - to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development
members (executive board) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF): established - 31May 1974
aim - to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council
members - (6) Austria, Canada, Croatia, India, Japan, Poland
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization(UNESCO): established - 16 November 1945; effective - 4 November 1946
aim - to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture
members - (193) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein (191 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue
associate members - (6) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Tokelau
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP): established - 15 December 1972
aim - to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters
members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations General Assembly: established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN
members - (192) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): established - 3December 1949; effective - 1 January 1951
aim - to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee problems
members (executive committee) - (76) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China,Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon,Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mexico, Montenegro,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria,Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Serbia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland,Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yemen,Zambia
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO): established - 17 November 1966; effective - 1 January 1967
aim - UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members
members - (172) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Estonia, Iceland,Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Federated States ofMicronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, SolomonIslands, Tuvalu, US
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR): established - 11 December 1963 adoption of the resolution establishing the Institute; effective - 24 March 1965
aim - to help the UN become more effective through training and research
members (Board of Trustees) - (21) Algeria, Brazil, Burkino Faso, China, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Estonia, France (2), Ghana, India, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland (2), Thailand, US; note - the UN Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members
United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT): established - 25 August 2006
aim - to support the Government, to support the electoral process, to ensure the restoration and maintenance of public security
members - (14) Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Singapore
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK): established - 10 June 1999
aim - to promote the establishment of substantial autonomy and self- government in Kosovo; to perform basic civilian administrative functions; to support the reconstruction of key infrastructure and humanitarian and disaster relief
note - gives civilian support only; works closely with NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR)
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL): established - 19March 1978
aim - to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and assist in reestablishing Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council
members - (28) Belgium, China, Croatia, Cyprus, El Salvador, France,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland,Italy, South Korea, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Nepal, Norway,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Slovenia, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP): established - 24 January 1949
aim - to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council
members - (8) Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO): established - 29 April 1991
aim - to supervise the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council
members - (28) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Croatia,Djibouti, Egypt, El Slavador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras,Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan,Paraguay, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Yemen
United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad(MINURCAT): established - 25 September 2007
aim - to create the security and conditions which will to contribute to the protection of refugees, displaced persons, and citizens in danger, to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance in eastern Chad and the northeastern Central African Republic, to create favorable conditions for the recontruction and economic and social development of these areas
members - (22) Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Spain, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE): established 31July 2000; aim was to monitor the cessation of hostilities; mandateended July 2008; members were Algeria, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Guatemala, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Namibia,Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania,Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Tunisia,Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL): established - 19 September 2003
aim - to support the cease-fire agreement and peace process, protect UN facilities and people, support humanitarian activities, and assist in national security reform
members - (45) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Croatia,Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia,Finland, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea,Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia,Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Togo, Ukraine, UK, US, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL): established on 22 October 1999; aim was to to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the agreement; to monitor the military and security situation in Sierra Leone; to monitor the disarmament and demobilization of combatants and members of the Civil Defense Forces (CFD); to assist in monitoring respect for international humanitarian law; mandate ended 31 December 2005; members were Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS): established - March 2005
aim - to support implementation of the comprehensive Peace Agreement by Monitoring and verifying the implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement, by observing and monitoring movements of armed groups, and by helping disarm, demobilizing and reintegrating armed bands
members - (61) Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia,Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia,Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Germany,Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, SouthKorea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia,Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherland, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SriLanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay,UK, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET): established on 17 May 2002 to provide assistance to structures critical to public security and to assist in the development of law enforcement agencies; to contribute to extenal security; members were Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Sweden; completed its mandate 20 May 2005
United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC): formerly known as United Nations Special Commission for the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM); established December 1999 with the aim to identify, account for, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the capacity to produce them; commissioners were from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, UK, US; finished operations 29 June 2007
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG): established - 24August 1993
aim - to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement, to monitor weapons exclusion zone, and to supervise CIS peacekeeping force for Abkhazia; established by the UN Security Council
members - (32) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Croatia, Czech Republic,Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia,Jordan, South Korea, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria,Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Yemen
United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB): was established 21 May 2004 to support and help implement the efforts undertaken by Burundians to restore lasting peace and bring about national reconciliation; members were Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique, Nambia, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia; mandate was completed 31 December 2006
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of theCongo (MONUC): established - 30 November 1999
aim - to establish contacts with the signatories to the cease-fire agreement and to plan for the observation of the cease-fire and disengagement of forces
members - (48) Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark,Egypt, France, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan,Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal,Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia,Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia
United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI): established - 27February 2004
aim - to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the peace agreement signed by them in January 2003
members - (41) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Chad, China,Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia, Ghana,Guatemala, Guinea, India, Ireland, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia,Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda,Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP): established - 4March 1964
aim - to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council
members - (7) Argentina, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, UK
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities
established - July 1967
aim - to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems
members (executive board ) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in theNear East (UNRWA): established - 8 December 1949
aim - to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees
members (advisory commission) - (22) Australia, Belgium, Canada,Denmark, EC, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon,Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Turkey, UK, US
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD): established - 1963
aim - to conduct research into the problems of economic development during different phases of economic growth
members - no country members, but a Board of Directors consisting of a chairman appointed by the UN secretary general and 12 individual members
United Nations Secretariat: established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24October 1945
aim - to serve as the primary administrative organ of the UN; a Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council
members - the UN Secretary General and staff
United Nations Security Council (UNSC): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security
permanent members - (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US
nonpermanent members - (10) elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly; Belgium (2007-08), Burkina Faso (2008-09), Costa Rica (2008-09), Croatia (2008-09), Indonesia (2007-08), Italy (2007-08), Libya (2008-09), Panama (2007-08), South Africa (2007-08), Vietnam (2008-09); note - Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda have been elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms starting 1 January 2009
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH): established - 30 April 2004
aim - to stabilize Haiti in many areas for at least six months
members - (17) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Jordan, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, US, Uruguay
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO): established -June 1948
aim - to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; currently supports timely deployment of reinforcements to other peacekeeping operations in the region as needed; initially established by the UN Security Council
members - (23) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile,China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden,Switzerland, US
United Nations Trusteeship Council: established on 26 June 1945, effective on 24 October 1945, to supervise the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members were China, France, Russia, UK, US; it formally suspended operations 1 November 1995 after the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a constitutional government in free association with the US; the Trusteeship Council was not dissolved
United Nations University (UNU): established - 3 December 1973
aim - to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars
members - (24 members of UNU Council and the Rector are appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Director General of UNESCO)
Universal Postal Union (UPU): established - 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947; effective - 1 July 1948
aim - to promote international postal cooperation; a UN specialized agency
members - (191) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau (189total); plus Holy See and Overseas Territories of the UK; note -includes the following dependencies or areas of special interest:Australia (Norfolk Island), China (Hong Kong, Macau), Denmark (FaroeIslands, Greenland), France (French Polynesia including ClippertonIsland, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Mayotte, New Caledonia,Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, ScatteredIslands [Bassas da India, Europe, Juan de Nova, Glorioso Islands,Tromelin], Wallis and Futuna), Netherlands (Aruba, NetherlandsAntilles), NZ (Cook Island, Niue, Tokelau), UK (Guernsey, Isle of Man,Jersey; Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, BritishVirgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar,Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and SouthSandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos), US (American Samoa, Guam, NorthernMariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)
Warsaw Pact (WP): established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of dissolution were: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier members included German Democratic Republic (GDR) and Albania
West African Development Bank (WADB): note - also known as BanqueOuest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD); is a financial institution ofWAEMU
established - 14 November 1973
aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
regional members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea- Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): note - also known asUnion Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)
established - 1 August 1994
aim - to increase competitiveness of members' economic markets; to create a common market
members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
Western European Union (WEU): established - 23 October 1954; effective - 6 May 1955
aim - to provide mutual defense and to move toward political unification
members - (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
associate members - (6) Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Turkey
associate partners - (7) Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia
observers - (5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden