MIGAMultilateral Investment Geographic Agency
MINUSTAHUnited Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
MONUCUnited Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of theCongo
NA not available
NAFTANorth American Free Trade Agreement
NAMNonaligned Movement
NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization
NCNordic Council
NEANuclear Energy Agency
NEGL negligible
NGANational Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
NIBNordic Investment Bank
NIC newly industrializing country
NIE newly industrializing economy
NIS new independent states
nm nautical mile
NMTNordic Mobile Telephone
NSGNuclear Suppliers Group
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
NZNew Zealand
OAPECOrganization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
OASOrganization of American States
OAUOrganization of African Unity; see African Union
ODA official development assistance
OECDOrganization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OECSOrganization of Eastern Caribbean States
OHCHROffice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
OICOrganization of the Islamic Conference
OIFInternational Organization of the French-speaking World
ONUBUnited Nations Operation in Burundi
OOF other official flows
OPANALAgency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and theCaribbean
OPCWOrganization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
OPECOrganization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
OSCEOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Ozone Layer ProtectionMontreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
PCAPermanent Court of Arbitration
PFPPartnership for Peace
PIFPacific Islands Forum
PPP purchasing power parity
Ramsar see Wetlands
RGRio Group
SAARCSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SACUSouthern African Customs Union
SACEPSouth Asia Co-operative Environment Programme
SADCSouthern African Development Community
SCOShanghai Cooperation Organization
SAFESouth African Far East Cable
SECISoutheast European Cooperative Initiative
SHF super-high-frequency
Ship PollutionProtocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for thePrevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
SICACentral American Integration System
SpartecaSouth Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement
SPCSecretariat of the Pacific Communities
SPFSouth Pacific Forum
sq km square kilometer
sq mi square mile
TATTrans-Atlantic Telephone
TEU Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit, a unit of measure for containerized cargo capacity
Tropical Timber 83International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber 94International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
UAEUnited Arab Emirates
UDEACCentral African Customs and Economic Union
UHF ultra-high-frequency
UKUnited Kingdom
UMAArab Maghreb Union
UNUnited Nations
UNAMSILUnited Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
UNCLOSUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, also know as LOS
UNCTADUnited Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDCPUnited Nations Drug Control Program
UNDOFUnited Nations Disengagement Observer Force
UNDPUnited Nations Development Program
UNEPUnited Nations Environment Program
UNESCOUnited Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
UNFICYPUnited Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus
UNFPAUnited Nations Population Fund
UNHCRUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEFUnited Nations Children's Fund
UNICRIUnited Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute
UNIDIRUnited Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
UNIDOUnited Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNIFILUnited Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
UNITARUnited Nations Institute for Training and Research
UNMEEUnited Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
UNMIKUnited Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
UNMILUnited Nations Mission in Liberia
UNMITUnited Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste
UNMOGIPUnited Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
UNMOVICUnited Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission
UNOCIUnited Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire
UNOMIGUnited Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
UNOPSUnited Nations Office of Project Services
UNRISDUnited Nations Research Institute for Social Development
UNRWAUnited Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in theNear East
UNSCUnited Nations Security Council
UNSSCUntied Nations System Staff College
UNTSOUnited Nations Truce Supervision Organization
UNUUnited Nations University
UNWTOWorld Tourism Organization
UPUUniversal Postal Union
USUnited States
USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used for information dated before 25 December 1991
UTCCoordinated Universal Time
UV ultra violet
VHF very-high-frequency
VSAT very small aperture terminal
WADBWest African Development Bank
WAEMUWest African Economic and Monetary Union
WCLWorld Confederation of Labor
WCOWorld Customs Organization
WetlandsConvention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially AsWaterfowl Habitat
WEUWestern European Union
WFPWorld Food Program
WFTUWorld Federation of Trade Unions
WhalingInternational Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
WHOWorld Health Organization
WIPOWorld Intellectual Property Organization
WMOWorld Meteorological Organization
WPWarsaw Pact
WTOWorld Trade Organization
ZCZangger Committee
CIACentral Intelligence Agency
======================================================================
Appendix B :: International Organizations and Groups
advanced developing countries
another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
advanced economies
a term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; it includes the following 28 advanced economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note - this group would presumably also cover the following seven smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino that are included in the more comprehensive group of "developed countries"
African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
note - regional multilateral development finance institutiontemporarily located in Tunis, Tunisia; the Bank Group consists of theAfrican Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and theNigerian Trust Fund established - 10 September 1964 aim - to promoteeconomic development and social progress regional members - (53)Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, CapeVerde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi,Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger,Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo,Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe nonregional members - (24)Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland,France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands,Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
African Union (AU)
note - replaces Organization of African Unity (OAU) established - 8 July 2001 aim - to achieve greater unity among African States; to defend states' integrity and independence; to accelerate political, social, and economic integration; to encourage international cooperation; to promote democratic principles and institutions members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara), Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group)
established - 6 June 1975 aim - to manage their preferential economicand aid relationship with the EU members - (79) Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso,Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands,Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, EquatorialGuinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada,Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati,Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands,Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique,Namibia, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda,Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu,Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and theCaribbean (OPANAL)
note - acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL) established - 14 February 1967 under the Treaty of Tlatelolco; effective - 25 April 1969 on the 11th ratification aim - to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons members - (33) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Andean Community of Nations (CAN)
note - formerly known as the Andean Group (AG) and the Andean Common Market (Ancom) established - 26 May 1969; present name established 1 October 1992; effective - 16 October 1969 aim - to promote harmonious development through economic integration members - (4) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru associate members - (5) Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay observers - (2) Mexico, Panama
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
note - also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA) established - 18 February 1974; effective - 16 September 1974 aim - to promote economic development members - (17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization; note - these are all the members of the Arab League excluding Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen
Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD)
established - 16 May 1968 aim - to promote economic and social development members - (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq (suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993), Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)
established - 17 February 1989 aim - to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of northern Africa members - (5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia
Arab Monetary Fund (AMF)
established - 27 April 1976; effective - 2 February 1977 aim - to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
Arctic Council
established - 18 September 1996 aim - to address the common concerns and challenges faced by Arctic governments and the people of the Arctic; to protect the Arctic environment members - (8) Canada, Denmark (Greenland, Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, US permanent participants - (6) Aleut International Association, Arctic Athabaskan Council, Gwich'in Council International, Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Russian Association of Indigenous People of the North, Saami Council observers - (8) China, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, UK
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
established - 25 July 1994 aim - to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern members - (26) Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, China, EU, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, US, Vietnam
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
established - 7 November 1989 aim - to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin members - (21) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Vietnam observers - (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
established - 19 December 1966 aim - to promote regional economiccooperation members - (48) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia,Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, CookIslands, Fiji, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan,Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, MarshallIslands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ,Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore,Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste,Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam nonregionalmembers - (19) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
established - 8 August 1967 aim - to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia members - (10) Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam dialogue partners - (11) Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, South Korea, NZ, Russia, US, UNDP; note - ASEAN promotes cooperation with Pakistan in some areas of mutual interest observers - (1) Papua New Guinea
Australia Group (AG)
established - June 1985 aim - to consult on and coordinate exportcontrols related to chemical and biological weapons members - (41)Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Commission, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, SouthKorea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US
Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS)
established - 1 September 1951; effective - 29 April 1952 aim - to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986; Australia and the US continue to hold annual meetings members - (3) Australia, NZ, US
Baltic Assembly (BA)
established - 12 May 1990 aim - to thoroughly discuss various cooperation issues between Baltic states members - (3) Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
established - 20 January 1930; effective - 17 March 1930 aim - to promote cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements members - (55) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Central Bank, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US; note - Serbia and Montenegro have separate central banks; their links with BIS are currently under review
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and EconomicCooperation (BIMSTEC)
established - June 1997 aim - to foster socio-economic cooperation among members members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Benelux Economic Union (Benelux)
note - acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg established - 3 February 1958; effective - 1 November 1960 aim - to develop closer economic cooperation and integration members - (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Big Seven
note - membership is the same as the Group of 7 established - 1975 aim - to discuss and coordinate major economic policies members - (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC)
established - 25 June 1992 aim - to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation members - (12) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine; note - Macedonia is in the process of joining observers - (17) Austria, Belarus, Black Sea Commission, Commission of the EC, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Energy Charter Secretariat, France, Germany, International Black Sea Club, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia, US; note - Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia have applied for observer status
Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom)
established - 4 July 1973; effective - 1 August 1973 aim - to promote economic integration and development, especially among the less developed countries members - (15) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago associate members - (5) Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands 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 - topromote economic development and cooperation regional members - (21)Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, BritishVirgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana,Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and CaicosIslands, Venezuela nonregional members - (5) Canada, China, Germany,Italy, UK
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
see Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
note - acronym from Banque 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 American Integration System (SICA)
established - 13 December 1991; operational 1 February 1993 aim - to strengthen democracy; to set up a new model of regional security; to promote freedom; to achieve a regional system of welfare and economic and social justice; to attain economic unity and strengthen the area as an economic bloc; to act as a bloc in international matters members - (7) Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama associated member - (1) Dominican Republic observers - (8) Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain
Central European Initiative (CEI)
note - evolved from the Quadrilateral 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, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yugoslavia
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
established - 7 October 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 as CMEA 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 promoteincreased 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 Customs Organization (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 bottomgroup in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition,and developing countries; IMF statistics include the following 126developing countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, 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 the Grenadines,Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - this category would presumablyalso cover the following 46 other countries that are traditionallyincluded in the more comprehensive group of "less developed countries":American Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, CaymanIslands, 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, NewCaledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau,Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre andMiquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, VirginIslands, 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 the European 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 - (16) Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, 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 - 28 May 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 with Central 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 North Atlantic 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 des Finances 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 in South Africa; has since gone out of existence; members included Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
established - created 1999; inaugerated 15-16 December 1999 aim - to promote open and constructive discussion between industrial and emerging-market countries on any issues related to global economic stability; helps to support growth and development across the globe members - (19) Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, UK, US
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
see the World Trade Organization (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 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 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 20 (G-20)
established - created 1999; inaugurated 15-16 December 1999 aim - to promote open and constructive discussion between industrial and emerging-market countries on any issues related to global economic stability; helps to support growth and development across the globe members - (19) Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, UK, US
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, Democratic Republic 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 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 77 (G-77)
established - 15 June1964; October 1967 first ministerial meeting aim- to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; namepersists in spite of increased membership members - (129 plus thePalestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola,Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,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 of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, 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, MarshallIslands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia,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, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,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
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
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
note - also known as the Cooperation Council 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
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 Banco Interamericano 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, Bosnia and 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, Costa Rica, 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, South Korea, 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, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, 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, Palestine Liberation 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 - topromote 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 African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland,France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, HolySee, 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, South Africa, 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 pendingfor Bahrain, Burundi, Cape Verde, Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Oman,Nepal until the necessary legal instruments 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 enterpriseand to represent business interests at national and internationallevels 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, DominicanRepublic, 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, SaudiArabia, 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 is restructuring