Note In 6 editions of 36.

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

Published as “Note”

Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire

Published as “Note”

Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994; the cease-fire is generally holding but most provisions of the accord remain to be implemented.

defense is the responsibility of France BELARUS

no natural harbors

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

landlocked

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

• strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes;
• important communications station;
• important sea and air refueling site

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

• straddles Equator;
• very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean;
• dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them

• strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields;
• terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia;
• a vast wasteland

• controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere;
• controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea;
• size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics

insular and continental regions rather widely separated

• strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes;
• Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993

landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993

Published as “Note”

wildlife sanctuary

Published as “Note”

1 meteorological station

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France FALKLAND ISLANDS (ISLAS MALVINAS) (dependent territory of the UK)

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

defense is the responsibility of France GREECE

Published as “Note”

wildlife sanctuary

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France KAZAKHSTAN

• the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa;
• glaciers on Mt. Kenya;
• unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

landlocked; surrounded by South Africa

world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

landlocked

landlocked

most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

Published as “Note”

part of Comoro Archipelago

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France MEXICO

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

note: highway traffic impeded by land mines not removed at end of civil war

landlocked

defense is the responsibility of France ROMANIA

landlocked; predominantly rural population

Published as “Note”

• Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (the remains were taken to Paris in 1840);
• harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

Mount Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

Published as “Note”

climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

Published as “Note”

important meteorological station

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France TUNISIA

strategic location in central Mediterranean

landlocked

landlocked

Published as “Note”

landlocked

Published as “Note”

Not all international organizations and groups have abbreviations. A ABEDA -- Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa ACC -- Arab Cooperation Council ACCT -- Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique; see Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation ACP -- African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries AfDB -- African Development Bank AFESD -- Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development AG -- Andean Group AL -- Arab League ALADI -- Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion; see Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) AMF -- Arab Monetary Fund AMU -- Arab Maghreb Union ANZUS -- Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty APEC -- Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation AsDB -- Asian Development Bank ASEAN -- Association of Southeast Asian Nations B BAD -- Banque Africaine de Developpement; see African Development Bank (AfDB) BADEA -- Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique; see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA) BCIE -- Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico; see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) BDEAC -- Banque de Developpment des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale; see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) Benelux -- Benelux Economic Union BID -- Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo; see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) BIS -- Bank for International Settlements BOAD -- Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement; see West African Development Bank (WADB) BSEC -- Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone C C -- Commonwealth CACM -- Central American Common Market CAEU -- Council of Arab Economic Unity CARICOM -- Caribbean Community and Common Market CBSS -- Council of the Baltic Sea States CCC -- Customs Cooperation Council CDB -- Caribbean Development Bank CE -- Council of Europe CEAO -- Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest; see West African Economic Community (CEAO) CEEAC -- Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale; see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) CEI -- Central European Initiative CEMA -- Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; also known as CMEA or Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991 CEPGL -- Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs; see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) CERN -- Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire; see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) CG -- Contadora Group CIS -- Commonwealth of Independent States CMEA -- Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991 COCOM -- Coordinating Committee on Export Controls Comecon -- Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as CMEA; abolished 1 January 1991 CP -- Colombo Plan CSCE -- Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe D DC -- developed country E EADB -- East African Development Bank EBRD -- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EC -- European Community; see European Union (EU) ECA -- Economic Commission for Africa ECAFE -- Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East; see Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) ECE -- Economic Commission for Europe ECLA -- Economic Commission for Latin America; see Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) ECLAC -- Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ECO -- Economic Cooperation Organization ECOSOC -- Economic and Social Council ECOWAS -- Economic Community of West African States ECSC -- European Coal and Steel Community ECWA -- Economic Commission for Western Asia; see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) EEC -- European Economic Community EFTA -- European Free Trade Association EIB -- European Investment Bank Entente -- Council of the Entente ESA -- European Space Agency ESCAP -- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESCWA -- Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia EU -- European Union Euratom -- European Atomic Energy Community F FAO -- Food and Agriculture Organization FLS -- Front Line States FZ -- Franc Zone G G-2 -- Group of 2 G-3 -- Group of 3 G-5 -- Group of 5 G-6 -- Group of 6 (not to be confused with the Big Six) G-7 -- Group of 7 G-8 -- Group of 8 G-9 -- Group of 9 G-10 -- Group of 10 G-11 -- Group of 11 G-15 -- Group of 15 G-19 -- Group of 19 G-24 -- Group of 24 G-30 -- Group of 30 G-33 -- Group of 33 G-77 -- Group of 77 GATT -- General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GCC -- Gulf Cooperation Council H Habitat -- Commission on Human Settlements I IADB -- Inter-American Development Bank IAEA -- International Atomic Energy Agency IBEC -- International Bank for Economic Cooperation IBRD -- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ICAO -- International Civil Aviation Organization ICC -- International Chamber of Commerce ICEM -- Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration; see International Organization for Migration (IOM) ICFTU -- International Confederation of Free Trade Unions ICJ -- International Court of Justice ICM -- Intergovernmental Committee for Migration; see International Organization for Migration (IOM) ICRC -- International Committee of the Red Cross ICRM -- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement IDA -- International Development Association IDB -- Islamic Development Bank IEA -- International Energy Agency IFAD -- International Fund for Agricultural Development IFC -- International Finance Corporation IFCTU -- International Federation of Christian Trade Unions IFRCS -- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies IGADD -- Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development IIB -- International Investment Bank ILO -- International Labor Organization IMCO -- Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization; see International Maritime Organization (IMO) IMF -- International Monetary Fund IMO -- International Maritime Organization INMARSAT -- International Maritime Satellite Organization INTELSAT -- International Telecommunications Satellite Organization INTERPOL -- International Criminal Police Organization IOC -- International Olympic Committee IOM -- International Organization for Migration ISO -- International Organization for Standardization ITU -- International Telecommunication Union L LAES -- Latin American Economic System LAIA -- Latin American Integration Association LAS -- League of Arab States; see Arab League (AL) LDC -- less developed country LLDC -- least developed country LORCS -- League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies M MERCOSUR -- Mercado Comun del Cono Sur; see Southern Cone Common Market MINURSO -- United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara MTCR -- Missile Technology Control Regime N NACC -- North Atlantic Cooperation Council NAM -- Nonaligned Movement NATO -- North Atlantic Treaty Organization NC -- Nordic Council NEA -- Nuclear Energy Agency NIB -- Nordic Investment Bank NIC -- newly industrializing country; see newly industrializing economy (NIE) NIE -- newly industrializing economy NSG -- Nuclear Suppliers Group O OAPEC -- Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries OAS -- Organization of American States OAU -- Organization of African Unity OECD -- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECS -- Organization of Eastern Caribbean States OIC -- Organization of the Islamic Conference ONUMOZ -- see UNOMOZ ONUSAL -- United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador OPANAL -- Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe; see Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean OPEC -- Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OSCE -- Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe P PCA -- Permanent Court of Arbitration PFP -- Partnership for Peace R RG -- Rio Group S SAARC -- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SACU -- Southern African Customs Union SADC -- Southern African Development Community SADCC -- Southern African Development Coordination Conference SELA -- Sistema Economico Latinoamericana; see Latin American Economic System (LAES) SPARTECA -- South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement SPC -- South Pacific Commission SPF -- South Pacific Forum U UDEAC -- Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale; see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) UN -- United Nations UNAVEM II -- United Nations Angola Verification Mission UNAMIR -- United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda UNCTAD -- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNDOF -- United Nations Disengagement Observer Force UNDP -- United Nations Development Program UNEP -- United Nations Environment Program UNESCO -- United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization UNFICYP -- United Nations Force in Cyprus UNFPA -- United Nations Fund for Population Activities; see UN Population Fund (UNFPA) UNHCR -- United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees UNICEF -- United Nations Children's Fund UNIDO -- United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIFIL -- United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIKOM -- United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission UNITAR -- United Nations Institute for Training and Research UNMIH -- United Nations Mission in Haiti UNMOGIP -- United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan UNOMIG -- United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia UNOMIL -- United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia UNOMOZ -- United Nations Operation in Mozambique UNOMUR -- United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (ONUMOZ) UNOSOM -- United Nations Operation in Somalia UNPROFOR -- United Nations Protection Force UNRISD -- United Nations Research Institute for Social Development UNRWA -- United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East UNTAC -- United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia UNTSO -- United Nations Truce Supervision Organization UNU -- United Nations University UPU -- Universal Postal Union USSR/EE -- USSR/Eastern Europe W WADB -- West African Development Bank WCL -- World Confederation of Labor WEU -- Western European Union WFC -- World Food Council WFP -- World Food Program WFTU -- World Federation of Trade Unions WHO -- World Health Organization WIPO -- World Intellectual Property Organization WMO -- World Meteorological Organization WP -- Warsaw Pact (members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance) WTO -- see WToO WToO -- World Tourism Organization WTrO -- World Trade Organization (will be added in The World Factbook 1996) Z ZC -- Zangger Committee APPENDIX C International Organizations and Groups

Published as “Note”

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and ceases to exist. None of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, including Serbia and Montenegro, have been permitted to participate solely on the basis of the membership of the former Yugoslavia in the United Nations General Assembly and Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary bodies and in various United Nations specialized agencies.

The United Nations, however, permits the seat and nameplate of the SFRY to remain, permits the SFRY mission to continue to function, and continues to fly the flag of the former Yugoslavia. For a variety of reasons, a number of other organizations have not yet taken action with regard to the membership of the former Yugoslavia. The World Factbook therefore continues to list Yugoslavia under international organizations where the SFRY seat remains or where no action has yet been taken. advanced developing countries another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs) African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries (ACP) address -- Avenue Georges Henri 451, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 733 96 00 FAX -- [32] (2) 735 55 73 established -- 1 April 1976 aim -- to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with the EU members -- (70) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe African Development Bank (AfDB) note -- also known as Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD) address -- 01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01, Cote dIvoire telephone -- [225] 20 44 44 FAX -- [225] 21 77 53, 20 49 01, 20 49 09 established -- 4 August 1963 aim -- to promote economic and social development regional members -- (51) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, 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, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe nonregional members -- (26) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT) see -- Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) note -- acronym from Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique address -- 13 quai Andre-Citroen, F-75015 Paris, France telephone -- [33] (1) 44 37 33 00 FAX -- [33] (1) 45 79 14 98 established -- 21 March 1970 aim -- to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French-speaking countries members -- (37) Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zaire associate members -- (5) Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco, Saint Lucia participating governments -- (2) New Brunswick (Canada), Quebec (Canada) Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) note -- acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL) address -- Temistocles 78, Col Polanco, CP 011560, Mexico City 5 DF, Mexico telephone -- [52] (5) 280 4923, 280 5064 FAX -- [52] (5) 280 2965 established -- 14 February 1967 aim -- to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons members -- (28) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela Andean Group (AG) address -- c\o JUNAC, Paseo de la Republica 3895, Casilla 18-1177, Lima 27, Peru telephone -- [51] (14) 414212 FAX -- [51] (14) 420911 established -- 26 May 1969 effective -- 16 October 1969 aim -- to promote harmonious development through economic integration members -- (5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela associate member -- (1) Panama observers -- (26) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US, Uruguay, Yugoslavia Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA) note -- also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA) address -- Sayed Abdel Rahman El Mahdi Avenue, P.O. Box 2640, Khartoum, Sudan telephone -- [249] (11) 73646, 73498, 73709 FAX -- [249] (11) 70600 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 except for Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen Arab Cooperation Council (ACC) established -- 16 February 1989 aim -- to promote economic cooperation and integration, possibly leading to an Arab Common Market members -- (4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) address -- P.O. Box 21923, Safat 13080, Kuwait telephone -- [965] 2451580, 2451588 FAX -- [965] 2416758 established -- 16 May 1968 aim -- to promote economic and social development members -- (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt (suspended from 1979 to 1988), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization Arab League (AL) note -- also known as League of Arab States (LAS) address -- Midan Attahrir, Tahrir Square, P.O. Box 11642, Cairo, Egypt telephone -- [20] (2) 750 511 FAX -- [20] (2) 740 331 established -- 22 March 1945 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 Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) address -- 27 avenue Okba Agdal, Rabat, Morocco 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) address -- P.O. Box 2818, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates telephone -- [971] (2) 215000 FAX -- [971] (2) 326454 established -- 27 April 1976 effective -- 2 February 1977 aim -- to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs members -- (19 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) address -- Ministry of Trade and Industry, Public Relations, 8 Shenton Way No 48-01, Treasury Building, Singapore, Singapore established -- 7 November 1989 aim -- to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin members -- (18) all ASEAN members (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) plus Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, US observers -- (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference, South Pacific Forum Asian Development Bank (AsDB) address -- 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong, METRO Manila, Philippines telephone -- [63] (2) 711 3851 FAX -- [63] (2) 741 7961, 631 6816 established -- 19 December 1966 aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation regional members -- (40) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa nonregional members -- (16) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI) see -- Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) address -- Jalan Sisingamangaraja 70A, Kebayoran Baru, P.O. Box 2072, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia telephone -- [62] (21) 71 22 72, 71 19 88 FAX -- [62] (21) 739 82 34 established -- 9 August 1967 aim -- to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia members -- (6) Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand observers -- (3) Laos, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam Australia Group established -- 1984 aim -- to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons members -- (28) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US observer -- (1) Singapore Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS) address -- c/o Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bag 8, Queen Victoria Terrace, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia telephone -- [61] (62) 61 91 11 FAX -- [61] (62) 61 21 51 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 members -- (3) Australia, NZ, US Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico (BCIE) see -- Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) see -- Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Bank for International Settlements (BIS) address -- Centralbahnplatz 2, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (61) 280 80 80 FAX -- [41] (61) 280 91 00 established -- 20 January 1930 effective -- 17 March 1930 aim -- to promote cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements members -- (33) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD) see -- African Development Bank (AfDB) Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA) see -- Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA) Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (BDEAC) see -- Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD) see -- West African Development Bank (WADB) Benelux Economic Union (Benelux) note -- acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg address -- Rue de la Regence 39, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 519 38 11 FAX -- [32] (2) 513 42 06 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 -- NA 1975 aim -- to discuss and coordinate major economic policies members -- (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US Big Six note -- not to be confused with the Group of 6 established -- NA 1967 aim -- to foster economic cooperation members -- (6) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC) established -- 25 June 1992 aim -- to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation members -- (11) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine observer -- (1) Poland Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) address -- CARICOM, P.O. Box 10827, Bank of Guyana Building, 3rd floor, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, Guyana telephone -- [592] (2) 69281 through 69289 FAX -- [592] (2) 66091, 67816, 57341 established -- 4 July 1973 effective -- 1 August 1973 aim -- to promote economic integration and development, especially among the less developed countries members -- (14) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago associate members -- (2) British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands observers -- (9) Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) address -- P.O. Box 408, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados telephone -- [1] (809) 431 1600 FAX -- [1] (809) 426 7269 established -- 18 October 1969 effective -- 26 January 1970 aim -- to promote economic development and cooperation regional members -- (20) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela nonregional members -- (5) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, UK Cartagena Group see -- Group of 11 Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) note -- acronym from Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale address -- BP 969, Bangui, Central African Republic telephone -- [236] 61 09 22, 61 45 77 FAX -- [236] 61 21 35 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, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) note -- acronym from Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale address -- BDEAC, Place du Gouvernement, BP 1177, Brazzaville, Congo telephone -- [242] 83 01 26, 83 01 49, 81 02 12, 81 02 21 FAX -- [242] 83 02 66 established -- 3 December 1975 aim -- to provide loans for economic development members -- (9) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Kuwait Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) note -- acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico address -- Apartado Postal 772, Tegucigalpa DC, Honduras telephone -- [504] 372230 through 372239, 371184 through 371188 FAX -- [504] 370793 established -- 13 December 1960 aim -- to promote economic integration and development members -- (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua nonregional members -- (4) Argentina, Mexico, Taiwan, Venezuela Central American Common Market (CACM) address -- 4A Avda 10-25, Zona 14, Apdo Postal 1237, 01901 Guatemala City, Guatemala telephone -- [502] (2) 682151 FAX -- [502] (2) 681071 established -- 13 December 1960 effective -- 3 June 1961 aim -- to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market members -- (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua Central European Initiative (CEI) note -- evolved from the Hexagonal Group address -- Chairman of the National Coordinators, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Bem rakpart 47, Budapest II, Hungary established -- 27 July 1991 aim -- to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas members -- (10) Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia associate members -- (4) Bulgaria, Belarus, Romania, 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, GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yugoslavia Colombo Plan (CP) address -- Colombo Plan Bureau, P.O. Box 596, 12 Melbourne Avenue, Colombo 4, Sri Lanka telephone -- [94] (1) 581813, 581853, 581754 FAX -- [94] (1) 580721 established -- 1 July 1951 aim -- to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific members -- (24) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, US Commission for Social Development note -- formerly Social Commission address -- c/o ECOSOC/DPCSD, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 2320 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 5935 established -- 21 June 1946 as the Social Commission, renamed 29 July 1966 aim -- to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with social development programs of UN members -- (32) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice established -- 6 February 1992 aim -- to provide guidance, as part of the Economic and Social Council, on crime prevention and criminal justice members -- (40) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Commission on Human Rights address -- c/o United Nationas Office, Centre for Human Rights, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34 FAX -- [41] (22) 733 32 46 established -- 18 February 1946 aim -- to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with human rights programs of UN members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Commission on Human Settlements (Habitat) address -- c/o HABITAT, P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya telephone -- [254] (2) 621234 FAX -- [254] (2) 226473, 226479 established -- 12 October 1978 aim -- to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, in solving human settlement problems of UN members -- (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Commission on Narcotic Drugs address -- c/o International Drug Control Programme, Treaty Implementation and Legal Affairs Division, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone -- [43] (1) 211 310 FAX -- [43] (1) 230 7002 established -- 16 February 1946 aim -- Economic and Social Council organization dealing with illicit drugs programs of UN members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions with emphasis on producing and processing countries Commission on Science and Technology for Development established -- 30 April 1992 aim -- to promote international cooperation, as part of the Economic and Social Council, in the field of science and technology members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Commission on the Status of Women address -- c/o Economic and Social Council, Affairs Division, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Room S-2963, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA established -- 21 June 1946 aim -- to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with women's rights goals of UN members -- (45) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Commission on Sustainable Development established -- 12 February 1993 aim -- to monitor, as part of the Economic and Social Council, implementation of agreements reached at the UN Conference on Environment and Development members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Commonwealth (C) address -- c/o Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y5HX, UK telephone -- [44] (71) 839 3411 FAX -- [44] (71) 930 0827 established -- 31 December 1931 aim -- to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire members -- (49) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe special members -- (2) Nauru, Tuvalu Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) address -- Kirov Street 17, 220000 Minsk, Belarus telephone -- [7] (172) 293434, 293517 FAX -- [7] (172) 261894, 261944 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 Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEAO) see -- West African Economic Community (CEAO) Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (CEEAC) see -- Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs (CEPGL) see -- Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) 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 Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) see -- Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN) see -- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) Contadora Group (CG) was established 5 January 1983 (on the Panamanian island of Contadora) to reduce tensions and conflicts in Central America; has evolved into the Rio Group (RG); members included Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf see -- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 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; was abolished 31 March 1994; COCOM members are working on a new organization with expanded membership which 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 was 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) address -- BP 925100, Amman, Jordan telephone -- [962] (6) 66 43 26, 66 43 27, 66 43 28 FAX -- [962] (6) 66 33 43 established -- 3 June 1957 effective -- 30 May 1964 aim -- to promote economic integration among Arab nations members -- (11 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization Council of Europe (CE) address -- Palais de lEurope, F-67075 Strasbourg CEDEX, France telephone -- [33] 88 41 20 00 FAX -- [33] 88 41 27 81, 88 41 27 82 established -- 5 May 1949 effective -- 3 August 1949 aim -- to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe members -- (32) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK guests -- (9) Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Latvia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine observer -- (1) Israel Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) established -- 5 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 -- (10) Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden Council of the Entente (Entente) address -- BP 3734, Abidjan 01, Cote dIvoire telephone -- [225] 33 10 01, 33 28 35 FAX -- [225] 33 11 49 established -- 29 May 1959 aim -- to promote economic, social, and political coordination members -- (5) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) address -- Rue de lIndustrie 26-38, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 508 42 11 FAX -- [32] (2) 508 42 40 established -- 15 December 1950 aim -- to promote international cooperation in customs matters members -- (136) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe 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 35 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, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US developing countries an imprecise term for the less developed countries with growing economies; see -- less developed countries (LDCs) East African Development Bank (EADB) address -- 4 Nile Avenue, P.O. Box 7128, Kampala, Uganda telephone -- [256] (41) 230021, 230825 FAX -- [256] (41) 259763 established -- 6 June 1967 effective -- 1 December 1967 aim -- to promote economic development members -- (3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) address -- United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand telephone -- [66] (2) 2829161 through 2829200, 2829381 through 2829389 FAX -- [66] (2) 2811743 established -- 28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) aim -- to carryout the commitment of the Economic and Social Council of the UN to promote economic development members -- (49) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa associate members -- (10) American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) address -- (temporary) P.O. Box 927115, Amman, Jordan telephone -- [962] (6) 694351 FAX -- [962] (6) 694981, 694982 established -- 9 August 1973 as Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA) aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission for the UN's Economic and Social Council members -- (12 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) address -- United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718 established -- 26 June 1945 effective -- 24 October 1945 aim -- to coordinate the economic and social work of the UN; includes five regional commissions (see 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 10 functional commissions (see Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on the Status of Women, Population Commission, Statistical Commission, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and Commission on Transnational Corporations) members -- (54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) address -- P.O. Box 3001-3005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia telephone -- [251] (1) 51 72 00 FAX -- [251] (1) 51 44 16 established -- 29 April 1958 aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council members -- (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, 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, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe associate members -- (2) France, UK Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) see -- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) address -- Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 917 1234, 907 2893 FAX -- [41] (22) 917 0036 established -- 28 March 1947 aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council members -- (54) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) see -- Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) address -- Edificio Naciones Unidas, Avenida Dag Hammarskjold, Casilla 179 D, Santiago, Chile telephone -- [56] (2) 2102000 FAX [56] (2) 2080252, 2081946 established -- 25 February 1948 as Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council members -- (41) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela associate members -- (6) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA) see -- Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) note -- acronym from Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale address -- CEEAC, BP 2112, Libreville, Gabon telephone -- [241] 73 35 47, 73 35 48, 73 36 77 established -- 18 October 1983 aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation and establish a Central African Common Market members -- (10) Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zaire observer -- (1) Angola Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) note -- acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs address -- B.O. Box 58, Gisenyi, Rwanda telephone -- [250] 40228 FAX -- [250] 40785 established -- 26 September 1976 aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation and integration members -- (3) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) address -- 6 King George V Road, PMB 12745, Lagos, Nigeria telephone -- [234] (1) 636839, 636841, 636064, 630398 FAX -- [234] (1) 636822 established -- 28 May 1975 aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation members -- (16) Benin, Burkina, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) address -- 5 Hejab Avenue, Bd Keshavarz, P.O. Box 14155-6176, Teheran, Iran Islamic Republic telephone -- [98] (21) 658614, 656152, 658045 FAX -- [98] (21) 658046 established -- NA 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 associate member -- (1) "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) address -- One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2EH, UK telephone -- [44] (71) 338 6000 FAX -- [44] (71) 338 6100 established -- 15 April 1991 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 -- (59) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, European Union (EU), European Investment Bank (EIB), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan; note - includes all 25 members of the OECD; also includes the EU as a single entity European Community (or European Communities, EC) was established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ESC), 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) address -- 9-11 rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 749 11 11 FAX -- [41] (22) 733 92 91 established -- 4 January 1960 effective -- 3 May 1960 aim -- to promote expansion of free trade members -- (7) Austria, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland European Investment Bank (EIB) address -- Bd Konrad Adenauer 100, L-2950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg telephone -- [352] 43791 FAX -- [352] 437704 established -- 25 March 1957 effective -- 1 January 1958 aim -- to promote economic development of the EU members -- (12) Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) note -- acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire address -- CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 767 61 11 FAX -- [41] (22) 767 65 55 established -- 1 July 1953 effective -- 29 September 1954 aim -- to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only members -- (19) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK observers -- (6) EC, Israel, Russia, Turkey, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Yugoslavia European Space Agency (ESA) address -- 8-10 rue Mario Nikis, F-75738 Paris CEDEX 15, France telephone -- [33] (1) 42 73 76 54 FAX -- [33] (1) 42 73 75 60 established -- 31 July 1973 effective -- 1 May 1975 aim -- to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and technology members -- (13) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK associate member -- (1) Finland cooperating state -- (1) Canada European Union (EU) note -- evolved from the European Community (EC) address -- c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 299 11 11 FAX [32] (2) 295 01 38 through 295 01 40 established -- 7 February 1992 effective -- 1 November 1993 aim -- to coordinate policy among the 15 members in three fields: economics, building on the European Economic Community's (EEC) efforts to establish a common market and eventually a common currency; defense, within the concept of a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP); and justice and home affairs, including immigration, drugs, terrorism, and improved living and working conditions members -- (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK 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) address -- Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy telephone -- [39] (6) 52251 FAX [39] (6) 5225 3152, 5225 5155, 578 2610 established -- 16 October 1945 aim -- to raise living standards and increase availability of agricultural products, as a UN specialized agency members -- (170) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe associate member -- (1) Puerto Rico 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, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 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 includes Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan Four Tigers another term for the Four Dragons; see Four Dragons Franc Zone (FZ) address -- Direction Generale des Service Etrangers (Service de la Zone Franc), Banque de France, 39 rue Crois-des-Petits-Champs, BP 140-01, Paris Cedex 01, France telephone -- [33] (1) 42 92 31 26 FAX -- [33] (1) 42 92 39 88 established -- 20 December 1945 aim -- to form a monetary union among countries whose currencies are linked to the French franc members -- (15) Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo; note - France includes metropolitan France, the four overseas departments of France (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion), the two territorial collectivities of France (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon), and the three overseas territories of France (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna) Front Line States (FLS) established to achieve black majority rule in South Africa; members included Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) note -- was subsumed by the World Trade Organization (WTrO) on 1 January 1995 address -- rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 739 51 11 FAX -- [41] (22) 731 42 06 established -- 30 October 1947 effective -- 1 January 1948 aim -- to promote the expansion of international trade on a nondiscriminatory basis members -- (123) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Group of 2 (G-2) established -- informal term that came into use about 1986 aim -- to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants members -- (2) Japan, US Group of 3 (G-3) established -- NA October 1990 aim -- mechanism for policy coordination members -- (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela Group of 5 (G-5) established -- 22 September 1985 aim -- to coordinate the economic policies of the five major non-Communist economic powers members -- (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US Group of 6 (G-6) note -- also known as Groupe des Six Sur le Desarmement not to be confused with the Big Six established -- 22 May 1984 aim -- to achieve nuclear disarmament members -- (6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania Group of 7 (G-7) note -- membership is the same as the Big Seven established -- 22 September 1985 aim -- to facilitate economic cooperation among the seven major non- Communist economic powers members -- (7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus Canada and Italy Group of 8 (G-8) established -- NA 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 NA December 1975 and 3 June 1977 members -- (8) Australia, Canada, EU (as one member), Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, 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, Sweden, Yugoslavia 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 in spite of the addition of Switzerland on NA April 1984 address -- c/o IMF Office in Europe, 64-66 ave dIena, F-75116 Paris, France telephone -- [33] (1) 40 69 30 80 FAX -- [33] (1) 47 23 40 89 established -- NA October 1962 aim -- to coordinate credit policy members -- (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US nonstate participants -- (4) BIS, EU, IMF, OECD Group of 11 (G-11) note -- also known as the Cartagena Group established -- 22 June 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia aim -- to provide a forum for largest debtor nations in Latin America members -- (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela Group of 15 (G-15) note -- byproduct of the Non-Aligned Movement address -- Technical Support Facility, Ch du Champ dAncier 17, Case postale 326, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 798 42 10 FAX -- [41] (22) 798 38 49 established -- September 1989 aim -- to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to act as the main political organ for the Non-Aligned Movement members -- (15) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe Group of 19 (G-19) established -- NA October 1975 aim -- to represent the interests of the less developed countries (LDCs) that participated in the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC) held in several sessions between NA December 1975 and 3 June 1977 members -- (19) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia Group of 24 (G-24) address -- c/o European Commission, DGI, G-24 Coordination Unit, Rue de la Science 29, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 299 22 44 FAX -- [32] (2) 299 06 02 established -- NA January 1972 aim -- to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America within the IMF members -- (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire Group of 30 (G-30) address -- 1990 M Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20036, USA telephone -- [1] (202) 331 2472 established -- NA 1979 aim -- to discuss and propose solutions to the world's economic problems members -- (30) informal group of 30 leading international bankers, economists, financial experts, and businessmen organized by Johannes Witteveen (former managing director of the IMF) Group of 33 (G-33) established -- NA 1987 aim -- to promote solutions to international economic problems members -- (33) leading economists from 13 countries Group of 77 (G-77) established -- NA October 1967 aim -- to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name persists in spite of increased membership members -- (127 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, 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, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) note -- also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf address -- P.O. Box 7431, Riyadh 11462 Saudi Arabia telephone -- [966] (1) 4827777 FAX -- [966] (1) 4829089 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 Habitat see -- Commission on Human Settlements Hexagonal Group see -- Central European Initiative (CEI) high-income countries another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs; see -- developed countries (DCs) 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) address -- 1300 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 10577, USA telephone -- [1] (202) 632 1000 FAX -- [1] (202) 789 2835 established -- 8 April 1959 effective -- 30 December 1959 aim -- to promote economic and social development in Latin America members -- (46) 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, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) address -- BP 2653, Djibouti, Djibouti telephone -- [253] 354050, 352880 FAX -- [253] 356994 established -- 15-16 January 1986 aim -- to promote cooperation on drought-related matters members -- (7) Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) address -- Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone -- [43] (1) 2360 2045 FAX [43] (1) 234564 established -- 26 October 1956 effective -- 29 July 1957 aim -- to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy members -- (121) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC) was established on 22 October 1963 to promote economic cooperation and development; members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new charter International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) note -- also known as the World Bank address -- 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA telephone -- [1] (202) 477 1234 FAX -- [1] (202) 477 6391 established -- 22 July 1944 effective -- 27 December 1945 aim -- to provide economic development loans; a UN specialized agency members -- (178) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) address -- 38 Cours Albert 1st, F-75008 Paris, France telephone -- [33] (1) 49 53 28 75 FAX -- [33] (1) 49 53 29 42 established -- NA 1919 aim -- to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels members -- (59 national councils) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) address -- 1000 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 327, Montreal PQ H3A 2R2, Canada telephone -- [1] (514) 285 8219 FAX -- [1] (514) 288 4772 established -- 7 December 1944 effective -- 4 April 1947 aim -- to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a UN specialized agency members -- (183) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) address -- ICRC, 19 av de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 734 60 01 FAX -- [41] (22) 733 82 80 established -- NA 1863 aim -- to provide humanitarian aid in wartime members -- (25 individuals) all Swiss nationals International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) address -- International Trade Union House, Bd Emile Jacqmain 155, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 224 02 11 FAX -- [32] (2) 218 84 15, 219 75 03 established -- NA December 1949 aim -- to promote the trade union movement members -- (164 national organizations in the following 118 areas) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Court of Justice (ICJ) note -- also known as the World Court address -- Peace Palace, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands telephone -- [31] (70) 302 23 23 FAX -- [31] (70) 364 99 28 established -- 26 June 1945 effective -- 24 October 1945 aim -- primary judicial organ of the UN members -- (15 judges) elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council to represent all principal legal systems International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) address -- BP 6041, F-69411 Lyon CEDEX 06, France telephone -- [33] 71 44 70 00 FAX -- [33] 72 44 71 63 established -- 13 June 1956 aim -- to promote international cooperation among police authorities in fighting crime members -- (176) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe subbureaus -- (13) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, Montserrat, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands International Development Association (IDA) address -- 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA telephone -- [1] (202) 477 12 34 established -- 26 January 1960 effective -- 24 September 1960 aim -- UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic loans for low income countries members -- (157) Part I -- (24 more economically advanced countries) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US Part II -- (133 less developed nations) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Energy Agency (IEA) address -- 2 rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France telephone -- [33] (1) 45 24 82 00 FAX -- [33] (1) 45 24 99 88 established -- 15 November 1974 aim -- to promote cooperation on energy matters, especially emergency oil sharing and relations between oil consumers and oil producers; established by the OECD members -- (23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) note -- formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS) established -- 5 May 1919 aim -- to provide humanitarian aid in peacetime members -- (151) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe associate members -- (13) Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Comoros, Cyprus, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kiribati, Namibia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Suriname, Tuvalu, Vanuatu International Finance Corporation (IFC) address -- 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA telephone -- [1] (202) 477 1234 FAX -- [1] (202) 477 6391 established -- 25 May 1955 effective -- 20 July 1956 aim -- to support private enterprise in international economic development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate members -- (161) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) address -- Via del Serafico 107, I-00142 Rome, Italy telephone -- [39] (6) 54591 FAX -- [39] (6) 5043463 established -- NA November 1974 aim -- to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency members -- (157) Category I -- (21 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US Category II -- (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela Category III -- (124 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Investment Bank (IIB) established on 7 July 1970; to promote economic development; members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new charter International Labor Organization (ILO) address -- International Labor Office, 4 route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 799 61 11 FAX -- [41] (22) 798 86 85 established -- 11 April 1919 (affiliated with the UN 14 December 1946) aim -- UN specialized agency concerned with world labor issues members -- (171) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Maritime Organization (IMO) note -- name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982 address -- 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, UK telephone -- [44] (71) 735 7611 FAX -- [44] (71) 587 3210 established -- 17 March 1958 aim -- to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized agency members -- (149) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire associate members -- (2) Hong Kong, Macau International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT) address -- 99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX, UK telephone -- [44] (71) 728 1000 FAX -- [44] (71) 728 1044 established -- 3 September 1976 effective -- 26 July 1979 aim -- to provide worldwide communications for maritime shipping and other applications members -- (75) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Yugoslavia International Monetary Fund (IMF) address -- 700 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20431, USA telephone -- [1] (202) 623 7000 FAX -- [1] (202) 623 4661, 623 7491, 623 4662 established -- 22 July 1944 effective -- 27 December 1945 aim -- to promote world monetary stability and economic development; a UN specialized agency members -- (179) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Olympic Committee (IOC) note -- there are 194 National Olympic Committees of which 185 are recognized by the International Olympic Committee address -- Chateau de Vidy, CH-1007 Lausanne, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (21) 621 61 11 FAX -- [41] (21) 621 62 16 established -- 23 June 1894 aim -- to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games: 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States (20 July-4 August); 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan (date NA); 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia (date NA) National Olympic Committees -- (193 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazahkstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization ----- International Organization for Migration (IOM) note -- established as Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants from Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for Migration (ICM) in November 1980; current name adopted 14 November 1989 address -- 17 route des Morillons, CP 71, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 717 91 11 FAX -- [41] (22) 798 61 50 established -- 5 December 1951 aim -- to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration members -- (52) Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia observers -- (44) Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia Inc., Georgia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan International Friendship and Welfare Foundation, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, NZ, Niwano Peace Foundation, Partnership with the Children of the Third World, Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief/Episcopal Church, Refugee Council of Australia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe International Organization for Standardization (ISO) address -- CP 56, 1 rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 749 01 11 FAX -- [41] (22) 733 34 30 established -- NA February 1947 aim -- to promote the development of international standards members -- (76 national standards organizations) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe correspondent members -- (19) Bahrain, Barbados, Brunei, Estonia, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Qatar, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE subscriber members -- (4) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Grenada, Saint Lucia International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM) address -- CICR, 19 Av de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 734 60 01 FAX -- [41] (22) 733 20 57 established -- NA 1928 aim -- to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS; formerly League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or LORCS) in peacetime National Societies -- (161 countries) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAR, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Telecommunication Union (ITU) address -- Place des Nations, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 730 51 11 FAX -- [41] (22) 733 72 56 established -- 9 December 1932 effective -- 1 January 1934 affiliated with the UN -- 15 November 1947 aim -- to deal with world telecommunications issues; UN specialized agency members -- (184) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) address -- INTELSAT, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008-3098, USA telephone -- [1] (202) 944 6800 FAX -- [1] (202) 944 7860 established -- 20 August 1971 effective -- 12 February 1973 aim -- to develop and operate a global commercial telecommunications satellite system members -- (134) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe nonsignatory users -- (50) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, North Korea, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Mongolia, Nauru, Niue, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Western Samoa Islamic Development Bank (IDB) address -- P.O. Box 5925, Jeddah 21432, Saudi Arabia telephone -- [966] (2) 6361400 FAX -- [966] (2) 6366871 established -- 15 December 1973 aim -- to promote Islamic economic aid and social development members -- (48 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization Latin American Economic System (LAES) note -- also known as Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA) address -- SELA, Avda Francisco de Miranda, Torre Europa, piso 4, Chacaito, Apartado de Correos 17035, Caracas 1010-A, Venezuela telephone -- [58] (2) 905 5111 FAX -- [58] (2) 951 6953, 951 7246 established -- 17 October 1975 aim -- to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation members -- (27) Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) note -- also known as Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI) address -- Calle Cebollati 1461, Casilla de Correo 577, 11000 Montevideo, Uruguay telephone -- [598] (2) 40 11 21, 49 59 15 FAX -- [598] (2) 49 06 49 established -- 12 August 1980 effective -- 18 March 1981 aim -- to promote freer regional trade members -- (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela observers -- (16) Commission of the European Communities, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-American Development Bank, Italy, Nicaragua, Organization of American States, Panama, Portugal, Spain, United Nations Development Program, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean League of Arab States (LAS) see -- Arab League (AL) League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS) see -- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) 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, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, 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, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, 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, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Isle of Man, 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, 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, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe low-income countries another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs) London Suppliers Group see -- Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (MERCOSUR) see -- Southern Cone Common Market middle-income countries another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs) Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) established -- April 1987 aim -- to arrest missile proliferation by controlling the export of key missile technologies and equipment members -- (25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US Near Abroad 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 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) address -- c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jalan Taman Pejambon 6, Jakarta PUSAT, Indonesia established -- 1-6 September 1961 aim -- to establish political and military cooperation apart from the traditional East or West blocs members -- (110 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization observers -- (19) Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization, Antigua and Barbuda, Arab League, Armenia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvador, Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (New Caledonia), Mexico, Mongolia, Organization of African Unity, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Papua New Guinea, Socialist Party of Puerto Rico, UN, Uruguay guests -- (21) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland Nordic Council (NC) address -- Tyrgatan 7, Box 19506, S-104 32 Stockholm, Sweden telephone -- [46] (8) 453 47 00 FAX -- [46] (8) 411 75 36 established -- 16 March 1952 effective -- 12 February 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 -- the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) address -- Fabiansgatan 34, PB 249 SF-00171 Helsinki, Finland telephone -- [358] (0) 18001 FAX -- [358] (0) 1800309 established -- 4 December 1975 effective -- 1 June 1976 aim -- to promote economic cooperation and development members -- (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, 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 Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) note -- an extension of NATO address -- c/o NATO, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 728 41 11 FAX -- [32] (2) 728 45 79 established -- 8 November 1991 effective -- 20 December 1991 aim -- to discuss cooperation on mutual political and security issues members -- (38) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan observer -- (1) Finland North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) address -- B-110 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 728 41 11 FAX -- [32] (2) 728 45 79 established -- 17 September 1949 aim -- to promote mutual defense and cooperation members -- (16) Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) address -- Le Seine St. Germain, 12 bd des Iles, F-92130 Issy-les- Moulineaux, France telephone -- [33] (1) 45 24 10 10 FAX -- [33] (1) 45 24 11 10 established -- NA 1958 aim -- to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; associated with OECD members -- (23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) note -- also known as the London Suppliers Group address -- c/o IAEA, Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone -- [43] (1) 2360 2045 FAX -- [43] (1) 234564 established -- 1974 aim -- to establish guidelines for exports of technical information, processing equipment for uranium enrichment and nuclear materials to countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability members -- (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US observers -- (2) Argentina, European Commission Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL) see -- Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) address -- 2 rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France telephone -- [33] (1) 45 24 82 00 FAX -- [33] (1) 45 24 85 00, 45 24 81 76 established -- 14 December 1960 effective -- 30 September 1961 aim -- to promote economic cooperation and development members -- (25) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US special member -- (1) EU Organization of African Unity (OAU) address -- P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia telephone -- [251] (1) 517700 FAX -- [251] (1) 512622 established -- 25 May 1963 aim -- to promote unity and cooperation among African states members -- (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Organization of American States (OAS) address -- corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA telephone -- [1] (202) 458 3000 FAX [1] (202) 458 3967 established -- 30 April 1948 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 -- (31) Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Central American Parliament, Commission of the European Communities, Cyprus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) address -- POB 20501, Safat 13066, Kuwait telephone -- [965] 5340713 FAX -- [965] 5340694 established -- 9 January 1968 aim -- to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry members -- (10) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) address -- P.O. Box 179, The Morne, Castries, St. Lucia telephone -- [1] (809) 452 2537 FAX -- [1] (809) 453 1628 established -- 18 June 1981 effective -- 4 July 1981 aim -- to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation members -- (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines associate member -- (1) British Virgin Islands Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) address -- Obere Donaustrasse 93, A-1020 Vienna, Austria telephone -- [43] (1) 21 11 20 FAX -- [43] (1) 26 43 20 established -- 14 September 1960 aim -- to coordinate petroleum policies members -- (12) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) address -- Kilo 6, Mecca Road, P.O. Box 178, Jeddah 21411, Saudi Arabia telephone -- [966] (2) 680-0800 FAX -- [966] (2) 687-3568 established -- 22-25 September 1969 aim -- to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs members -- (48 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization observers -- (3) Kazakhstan, Mozambique, "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) note -- formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) address -- Thunovska 12, Mala Strana, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic telephone -- [422] (2) 24311069 FAX -- [422] (2) 24310629 established -- 1 January 1995 aim -- to discuss issues of mutual concern and to review implementation of the Helsinki Agreement members -- (53) Albania, 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, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia (suspended) observer -- (1) The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Paris Club see -- Group of 10 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, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) address -- Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands telephone -- [31] (70) 346 96 80 FAX -- [31] (70) 356 13 38 established -- 29 July 1899 aim -- to facilitate the settlement of international disputes members -- (80) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire, Zimbabwe Population Commission address -- c/o ECOSOC, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 754 1234 established -- 3 October 1946 aim -- to deal with population matters of importance to the UN, as part of Economic and Social Council organization members -- (27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Rio Group (RG) note -- formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established in December 1986 established -- NA 1988 aim -- to consult on regional Latin American issues members -- (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela; note - Panama was expelled in 1988 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 Social Commission see -- Commission for Social Development 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 Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) address -- P.O. Box 4222, Kathmandu, Nepal telephone -- [977] (1) 221785, 221787, 221794 FAX -- [977] (1) 227033 established -- 8 December 1985 aim -- to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation members -- (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka South Pacific Commission (SPC) address -- Anse Vata, BP D5 Noumea CEDEX, New Caledonia telephone -- [687] 26 20 00 FAX [687] 26 38 18 established -- 6 February 1947 effective -- 29 July 1948 aim -- to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters members -- (27) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa South Pacific Forum (SPF) address -- c/o forum Secretariat, Ratu Sukuna Road GPO Box 856, Suva, Fiji telephone -- [679] 312 600, 303 106 FAX -- [679] 302 204 established -- 5 August 1971 aim -- to promote regional cooperation in political matters members -- (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa observer -- (1) Palau South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA) address -- (see South Pacific Forum) established -- NA 1981 aim -- to redress unequal trade relationship of Australia and New Zealand with small island economies in Pacific region members -- (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa Southern African Customs Union (SACU) address -- Director General, Trade and Industry, Private Bag X84, Pretoria 0001, South Africa established -- 11 December 1969 aim -- to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters members -- (9) Bophuthatswana, Botswana, Ciskei, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Transkei, Venda Southern African Development Community (SADC) note -- evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) address -- Private Bag 008, Gaborone, Botswana telephone -- [267] (31) 51863, 51864, 51865 FAX -- [267] (31) 372848 established -- 17 August 1992 aim -- to promote regional economic development and integration members -- (11) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) address -- c/o Cancilleria de la Republica de Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina established -- 26 March 1991 aim -- to increase regional economic cooperation members -- (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay Statistical Commission address -- c/o ECOSOC, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718 established -- 21 June 1946 aim -- to deal with development and standardization of national statistics of interest to the UN, as part of the Economic and Social Council organization members -- (24) selected on a rotating basis from all regions Third World another term for the less developed countries; the term is fading from use; see -- less developed countries (LDCs) 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 Douaniere et Economique de l 'Afrique Centrale (UDEAC) see -- Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) United Nations (UN) address -- United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718 established -- 26 June 1945 effective -- 24 October 1945 aim -- to maintain international peace and security and to promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems members -- (184 excluding Yugoslavia) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, 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, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members are represented in the General Assembly observers -- (2 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See, Switzerland, Palestine Liberation Organization United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II) note -- successor to original UNAVEM address -- c/o United Nations, UNAVEM II, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718 established -- 20 December 1988 aim -- to verify the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola; established by the UN Security Council members -- (16) Argentina, Brazil, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, Zimbabwe United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) established -- 5 October 1993 aim -- to monitor ceasefire agreement, to support and provide safe conditions for displaced persons; established by the UN Security Council members -- (17) Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Congo, Egypt, Fiji, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Zimbabwe United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) note -- acronym retained from the predecessor organization UN International Children's Emergency Fund address -- UNICEF House, Three United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 326 7000 established -- 11 December 1946 aim -- to help establish child health and welfare services members -- (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) address -- Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34 FAX -- [41] (22) 907 00 57 established -- 30 December 1964 aim -- to promote international trade members -- (187) all UN members plus Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga United Nations Development Program (UNDP) address -- One United National Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 906 5788, 906 500 FAX [1] (212) 906 5365 established -- 22 November 1965 aim -- to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development members -- (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) address -- c/o UNDOF, P.O. Box 5368, Damascus, Syrian AR established -- 31 May 1974 aim -- to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli ceasefire; established by the UN Security Council members -- (4) Austria, Canada, Finland, Poland United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) address -- 7 place de Fontenoy, F-75700 Paris, France telephone -- [33] (1) 45 68 10 00 FAX -- [33] (1) 45 67 16 90 established -- 16 November 1945 effective -- 4 November 1946 aim -- to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture members -- (182) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe associate members -- (3) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) address -- One United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 906 5000 FAX -- [1] (212) 826 2057 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 Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 4 March 1964 aim -- to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council members -- (8) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, UK United Nations General Assembly address -- see United Nations established -- 26 June 1945 effective -- 24 October 1945 aim -- to function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN members -- (185) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) address -- Vienna International Center, P.O. Box 300, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone -- [43] (1) 211 310 FAX -- [43] (1) 23 21 56 established -- 17 November 1966 effective -- 1 January 1967 aim -- UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members members -- (166) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) established -- 11 December 1963 aim -- to help the UN become more effective through training and research members (Board of Trustees) - (24) Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Libya, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, UK, US, Yugoslavia United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 19 March 1978 aim -- to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restore peace, and reestablish Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council members -- (9) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Norway, Poland United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Mission, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 9 April 1991 aim -- to observe and monitor the demilitarized zone established between Iraq and Kuwait; established by the UN Security Council members -- (33) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) address -- c/o OUSGSPA, Room 3853, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 4457 FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718 established -- 13 August 1948 aim -- to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan ceasefire; established by the UN Security Council members -- (8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Uruguay United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) established -- 23 September 1993 aim -- to assist in implementing the agreement to transfer power back into the civilian government; established by the UN Security Council members -- (14) Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Canada, France, Indonesia, Madagascar, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, US, Venezuela United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) established -- 22 September 1993 aim -- to assist in the implementation of the peace agreement; established by the UN Security Council members -- (13) Austria, Bangladesh, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea- Bissau, India, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Slovakia, Uruguay United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 29 April 1991 aim -- to supervise the referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council members -- (27) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, US, Venezuela United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL) address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 20 May 1991 aim -- to verify ceasefire arrangements and to monitor the maintenance of public order pending the organization of a new National Civil Police; established by the UN Security Council members -- (14) Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Venezuela United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 1993 for a period of six months aim -- to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement reached 27 July 1993 and investigate reports of violations of that agreement; established by the UN Security Council members -- (7) Bangladesh, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR) address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 1993 for six months aim -- to monitor the Uganda/Rwanda border to verify that no military assistance reaches Rwanda across the border; established by the UN Security Council members -- (8) Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Hungary, Netherlands, Senegal, Slovakia, Zimbabwe United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) address -- Case postale 2500, Depot, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 739 81 11 FAX -- [41] (22) 731 95 46 established -- 3 December 1949 effective -- 1 January 1951 aim -- to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee problems members -- (47) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ) note -- supposed to shut down 31 January 1995 address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 16 December 1992 aim -- to supervise the ceasefire; established by the UN Security Council members -- (27) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, US, Uruguay, Zambia United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II) note -- UN peacekeepers left Somalia on 1 March 1995; some UN personnel remain in Somalia engaged in humanitarian work address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 24 April 1992 aim -- to facilitate an immediate cessation of hostilities, to maintain a ceasefire in order to promote a political settlement, and to provide urgent humanitarian assistance; established by the UN Security Council members -- (14) Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Zimbabwe United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) note -- acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities address -- 220 E. 42nd Street, 19th Floor, Room DN-1901, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 297 5000 FAX -- [1] (212) 557 6416 established -- NA July 1967 aim -- to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems members -- (52) selected on a rotating basis from all regions United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Mission, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879 established -- 28 February 1992 aim -- to create conditions for peace and security required for the negotiation of an overall settlement of the "Yugoslav" crisis; established by the UN Security Council members -- (35) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Venezuela United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) address -- Vienna International Center, P. O. Box 700, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone -- [43] (1) 211 31, ext. 4530 FAX -- [43] (1) 230 7487 established -- 8 December 1949 aim -- to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees members -- (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) established -- 1 July 1964 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 10 individual members United Nations Secretariat address -- see United Nations established -- 26 June 1945 effective -- 24 October 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 address -- c/o United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234 FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718 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; Argentina (1994-95), Brazil (1993-94), Czech Republic (1994-95), Djibouti (1993-94), NZ (1993-94), Nigeria (1994-95), Oman (1994-95), Pakistan (1993-94), Rwanda (1994-95), Spain (1993-94) United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) established by the UN Security Council on 28 February 1992 to contribute to the restoration and maintenance of peace and to the holding of free elections; disbanded sometime after the UN-supervised election in May 1993; members were Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, UK, US, Uruguay United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) address -- Government House, P.O. Box 490, Jerusalem, Israel telephone -- [972] (2) 734 223 established -- NA May 1948 aim -- to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli ceasefire and subsequently extended to work in the Sinai, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan; initially established by the UN Security Council members -- (19) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, 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; its mandate ended on 1 October 1994 when the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a self-governing territory in free association with the US United Nations University (UNU) established -- 6 December 1973 aim -- to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars members (associated institutes) -- (32) Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela Universal Postal Union (UPU) address -- Bureau International de lUPU, Weltpoststrasse 4, CH-3000 Berne 15, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (31) 350 31 11 FAX -- [41] (31) 350 31 10 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 -- (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Overseas Territories of the UK, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe ------ 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 East Germany and Albania West African Development Bank (WADB) note -- also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD) address -- BOAD, BP 1172, 68 av de la liberation, Lome, Togo telephone -- [228] 21 59 06, 21 42 44, 21 01 13 FAX -- [228] 21 52 67, 21 72 69 established -- 14 November 1973 aim -- to promote regional economic development and integration members -- (7) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo West African Economic Community (CEAO) note -- acronym from Communaute Economique de lAfrique de lOuest established on 3 June 1972 to promote regional economic development; its members were Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal; it was disbanded in 1994 Western European Union (WEU) address -- Rue de la Regence 4, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 500 44 11 FAX -- [32] (2) 511 35 19 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 -- (3) Iceland, Norway, Turkey associate partners -- (9) Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia observers -- (2) Denmark, Ireland World Bank see -- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) World Bank Group includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), and International Finance Corporation (IFC) World Confederation of Labor (WCL) address -- Rue de Treves 33, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium telephone -- [32] (2) 230 62 95 FAX -- [32] (2) 230 87 22 established -- 19 June 1920 as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968 aim -- to promote the trade union movement members -- (99 national organizations) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bonaire Island, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe World Court see -- International Court of Justice (ICJ) World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) address -- Branicka 112, Branik, CS-14700 Prague 4, Czech Republic telephone -- [42] (2) 46 21 40 FAX -- [42] (2) 46 13 78 established -- 3 October 1945 aim -- to promote the trade union movement members -- (116) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zimbabwe World Food Council (WFC) address -- c/o FAO, Via Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy telephone -- [39] (6) 522821 FAX -- [39] (6) 574 5091 established -- 17 December 1974 aim -- to study world food problems and to recommend solutions; ECOSOC organization members -- (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions World Food Program (WFP) address -- Via Cristoforo Colombo 426, I-00145 Rome, Italy telephone -- [39] (6) 522821 FAX -- [39] (6) 5123700, 5133537, 52282840 established -- 24 November 1961 aim -- to provide food aid in support of economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization members -- (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions World Health Organization (WHO) address -- CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 791 21 11, 791 32 23 FAX -- [41] (22) 791 07 46 established -- 22 July 1946 effective -- 7 April 1948 aim -- UN specialized agency concerned with health matters members -- (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niue, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe associate members -- (2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) address -- 34 chemin des Colombettes, Case Postale 18, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 730 9111 FAX -- [41] (22) 733 5428 established -- 14 July 1967 effective -- 26 April 1970 aim -- to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific works; a UN specialized agency members -- (147) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe World Meteorological Organization (WMO) address -- Case Postale 2300, 41 Av Giuseppe-Motta, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland telephone -- [41] (22) 730 81 11 FAX -- [41] (22) 734 23 26 established -- 11 October 1947 effective -- 4 April 1951 aim -- to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a specialized UN agency members -- (175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Caribbean Territories, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe World Tourism Organization (WTO or WToO) address -- Calle Capitan Haya 41, 28020 Madrid, Spain telephone -- [34] (1) 571 06 28 FAX -- [34] (1) 571 37 33 established -- 2 January 1975 aim -- to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic development, international understanding, and peace members -- (121) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe associate members -- (4) Aruba, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico observer -- (1) Holy See World Trade Organization (WTrO) will be added in The World Factbook 1996 Zangger Committee (ZC) established -- early 1970s aim -- to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty members -- (29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US APPENDIX D Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements A Air Pollution -- Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30% Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes Antarctic-Environmental Protocol -- Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty B Biodiversity -- Convention on Biological Diversity C Climate Change -- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change D Desertification -- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa E Endangered Species -- Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Environmental Modification -- Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques H Hazardous Wastes -- Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal L Law of the Sea -- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS) M Marine Dumping -- Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter; note - also known as the London Convention Marine Life Conservation -- Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas N Nuclear Test Ban -- Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water O Ozone Layer Protection -- Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer S Ship Pollution -- Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL) T Tropical Timber 83 -- International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983 Tropical Timber 94 -- International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 W Wetlands -- Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat; note - also known as Ramsar Whaling -- International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

Published as “Note”

Not all of the selected international environmental agreements have abbreviations. APPENDIX E Selected International Environmental Agreements Air Pollution see -- Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides see -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 see -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30% Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 see -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds see -- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes Antarctic-Environmental Protocol see -- Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty Antarctic Treaty opened for signature -- 1 December 1959 entered into force -- 23 June 1961 objective -- to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes, such as, for international cooperation in scientific research, and that it does not become the scene or object of international discord parties -- (42) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal note -- abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes opened for signature -- 22 March 1989 entered into force -- 5 May 1992 objective -- to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate parties -- (81) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Comoros, Cote dIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Zaire, Zambia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (9) Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Thailand, United States, Venezuela Biodiversity see -- Convention on Biological Diversity Convention on Biological Diversity note -- abbreviated as Biodiversity opened for signature -- 5 June 1992 entered into force -- 29 December 1993 objective -- to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity parties -- (111) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (64) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Yemen, former Yugoslavia Climate Change see -- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas note -- abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation opened for signature -- 29 April 1958 entered into force -- 20 March 1966 objective -- to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being overexploited parties -- (37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina, Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, former Yugoslavia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (21) Afghanistan, Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (Canada signed on behalf of Taiwan), Tunisia, Uruguay Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution opened for signature -- 13 November 1979 entered into force -- 16 March 1983 objective -- to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution parties -- (39) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, former Yugoslavia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (2) Holy See, San Marino Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) note -- abbreviated as Endangered Species opened for signature -- 3 March 1973 entered into force -- 1 July 1975 objective -- to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation by means of a system of import/export permits parties -- (130) Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (5) Cambodia, Ireland, Kuwait, Lesotho, Vietnam Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) note -- abbreviated as Marine Dumping opened for signature -- 29 December 1972 entered into force -- 30 August 1975 objective -- to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention parties -- (76) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, European Union, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, former Yugoslavia, Zaire Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques note -- abbreviated as Environmental Modification opened for signature -- 10 December 1976 entered into force -- 5 October 1978 objective -- to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace and trust among nations parties -- (63) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (17) Bolivia, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda, Zaire Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar) note -- abbreviated as Wetlands opened for signature -- 2 February 1971 entered into force -- 21 December 1975 objective -- to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value parties -- (83) Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinadad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia, Zambia Desertification see -- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa Endangered Species see -- Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Environmental Modification see -- Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques Hazardous Wastes see -- Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling note -- abbreviated as Whaling opened for signature -- 2 December 1946 entered into force -- 10 November 1948 objective -- to protect all species of whales from overfishing; to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to safeguard for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale stocks parties -- (39) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, India, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands (Netherlands also extended the convention to Netherlands Antilles), New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles (withdrawing effective 30 June 1995), Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (1) Austria former parties -- (10) Belize, Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, Iceland, Jamaica, Mauritius, Panama, Philippines, Uruguay International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983 note -- abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83 opened for signature -- 18 November 1983 entered into force -- 1 April 1985; this agreement will expire when the International Tropical Timber Ageement, 1994 goes into force objective -- to provide an effective framework for cooperation between tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources parties -- (52) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote dIvoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, European Union, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 note -- abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94 opened for signature -- 26 January 1994, but not yet in force objective -- to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary to reach this objective parties -- (3) Fiji, Japan, Liberia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (11) Cameroon, Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Indonesia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Togo, United States Law of the Sea see -- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS) Marine Dumping see -- Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) Marine Life Conservation see -- Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer note -- abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection opened for signature -- 16 September 1987 entered into force -- 1 January 1989 objective -- to protect the ozone layer by controling emissions of substances that deplete it parties -- (148) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal (Portugal has also extended the protocol to Macau), Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (1) Morocco Nuclear Test Ban see -- Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water Ozone Layer Protection see -- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL) note -- abbreviated as Ship Pollution opened for signature -- 17 February 1978 entered into force -- 2 October 1983 objective -- to preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such substances parties -- (91) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty note -- abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol opened for signature -- 4 October 1991, but not yet in force objective -- to enhance the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems parties -- (14) Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (27) Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides opened for signature -- 31 October 1988 entered into force -- 14 February 1991 objective -- to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes parties -- (25) Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (3) Belgium, Greece, Poland Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds opened for signature -- 18 November 1991, but not yet in force objective -- to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects parties -- (11) Austria, Finland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (12) Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, European Union, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, United States Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 opened for signature -- 14 June 1994, but not yet in force objective -- to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes parties -- (0) countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (28) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30% note -- abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 opened for signature -- 8 July 1985 entered into force -- 2 September 1987 objective -- to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes by 1993 parties -- (21) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine Ship Pollution see -- Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL) Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water note -- abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban opened for signature -- 5 August 1963 entered into force -- 10 October 1963 objective -- to obtain an agreement on general and complete disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race and eliminate incentives for the production and testing of all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons parties -- (125) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Western Samoa, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (11) Algeria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali, Paraguay, Portugal, Somalia, Vietnam Tropical Timber 83 see -- International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983 Tropical Timber 94 see -- International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS) note -- abbreviated as Law of the Sea opened for signature -- 10 December 1982 entered into force -- 16 November 1994 objective -- to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea and oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as well as enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine environment parties -- (72) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Fiji, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Paraguay, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (91) Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, France, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Western Samoa United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa note -- abbreviated as Desertification opened for signature -- 14 October 1994, but not yet in force objective -- to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements parties -- (1) Mexico countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (104) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, European Union, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - some late changes not included under country entries United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change note -- abbreviated as Climate Change opened for signature -- 9 May 1992 entered into force -- 21 March 1994 objective -- to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system parties -- (119) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvulu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe countries that have signed, but not yet ratified -- (54) Afghanistan, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Panama, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Ukraine, Yemen, former Yugoslavia Wetlands see -- Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar) Whaling see -- International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

Published as “Note”

• the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent;
• during summer more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period;
• mostly uninhabitable

Published as “Note”

• the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon;
• it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Published as “Note”

covered by glacial ice

Published as “Note”

automatic meteorological station

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Norway BRAZIL

Published as “Note”

remote location in the southern Indian Ocean

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France GABON

Published as “Note”

primarily used for research stations

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Australia HOLY SEE (VATICAN CITY)

Published as “Note”

• the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays,
• which provide good anchorage;
• reindeer,
• introduced early in this century,
• live on South Georgia

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK SPAIN

Published as “Note”

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast

Published as “Note”

defense is responsibility of Denmark GRENADA

• strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
• westernmost European country;
• more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

Published as “Note”

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Norway JAPAN

Published as “Note”

• northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;
• consists of nine main islands;
• glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area

Published as “Note”

there are 5 meteorological/radio stations

Published as “Note”

demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920) SWAZILAND

Published as “Note”

landlocked

Published as “Note”

there may be two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and Khowst

Published as “Note”

• term of present government expired 28 December 1994;
• factional fighting since 1 January 1994 has kept government officers from actually occupying ministries and discharging government responsibilities;
• the government's authority to remove cabinet members, including the Prime Minister, following the expiration of their term is questionable

Published as “Note”

the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded

landlocked

landlocked

• landlocked;
• strategic location between China and India;
• controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

Published as “Note”

• archipelago of 2,300 islands;
• Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean;
• island is site of joint US-UK military facility

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (dependent territory of the UK)

world's third-largest country (after Russia and Canada)

Published as “Note”

transportation network is in poor condition and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair

Published as “Note”

Georgian forces are poorly organized and not fully under the government's control GERMANY

dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes

strategic location in northeast Asia

landlocked

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated

landlocked

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls; archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

• landlocked;
• strategic location between China and India;
• contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

• largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world;
• despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

landlocked

landlocked

landlocked

defense is the responsibility of the UK ANTARCTICA

defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS (territory of Australia)

strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain

easternmost Caribbean island

• national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of hurricanes;
• only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

Published as “Note”

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK BRUNEI

Published as “Note”

important location between Cuba and Central America

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Published as “Note”

largest country in Caribbean

Published as “Note”

Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off military aid by 1993 CYPRUS

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

defense is responsibility of France GUAM (territory of the US)

no natural harbors on west coast

shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

defense is the responsibility of France MAURITANIA

defense is the responsibility of the UK MOROCCO

Published as “Note”

• strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;
• mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds;
• dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US NEPAL

defense is responsibility of the Netherlands NEW CALEDONIA (overseas territory of France)

• strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America;
• controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

Published as “Note”

• important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal;
• San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean;
• many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered;
• south coast relatively dry;
• fertile coastal plain belt in north

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US QATAR

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

Published as “Note”

30 islands (eight inhabited)

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK TUVALU

Published as “Note”

• important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal;
• Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US WAKE ISLAND (territory of the US)

strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

Published as “Note”

landlocked

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain ANGOLA

• landlocked;
• strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys;
• major river is the Danube;
• population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere

landlocked

crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of the EU

The US recognizes the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, formed by the Muslims and Croats in March 1994, remains in the implementation stages.

strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits

• landlocked;
• strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe;
• Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe

controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen

Published as “Note”

• archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets;
• strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;
• precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Denmark FIJI

• long boundary with Russia;
• Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent;
• population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

largest West European nation; occasional warm tropical wind known as mistral

strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

Published as “Note”

strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK GLORIOSO ISLANDS (possession of France)

strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

Published as “Note”

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK GUINEA

Published as “Note”

• urban;
• landlocked;
• enclave of Rome, Italy;
• world's smallest state;
• outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City HONDURAS

landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60 miles of Dublin

Published as “Note”

one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK MARSHALL ISLANDS

strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

Published as “Note”

largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK JOHNSTON ATOLL (territory of the US)

Published as “Note”

landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

Published as “Note”

defense is responsibility of Switzerland LITHUANIA

landlocked

the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

landlocked

Published as “Note”

second smallest independent state in world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France MONGOLIA

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

• about two-thirds mountains;
• some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline;
• strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic;
• one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world;
• Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with Russia

historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

• landlocked;
• smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco;
• dominated by the Apennines

controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast

landlocked

strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

• landlocked;
• crossroads of northern and southern Europe;
• along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe

strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second largest country in Europe

• lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes;
• only 35 km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel;
• because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters

• close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources;
• strategic location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

Published as “Note”

there are 24 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1994 est.)

Published as “Note”

Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, and subsequently to an elected Palestinian Council, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area.

The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Final status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years.

there are 199 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 25 in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

• Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary;
• rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity

strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

there are 42 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1994 est.)

strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Published as “Note”

• landlocked;
• highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers;
• there are 199 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 25 in East Jerusalem (August 1994 est.)

Published as “Note”

Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arragements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, and subsequently to an elected Palestinian Council, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area.

A transfer of powers and responsibilities in certain spheres for the rest of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 29 August 1994 Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Final status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years.

controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes

Published as “Note”

consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some reclaimed land leased by US Government

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK BHUTAN

• second-largest country in world (after Russia);
• strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route;
• nearly 90% of the population is concentrated in the region near the US/Canada border

Published as “Note”

reef about 8 km in circumference

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS (territory of Australia)

strategic location on southern border of US

Published as “Note”

vegetation scanty

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and China)

Published as “Note”

• Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds;
• strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US ANDORRA

• world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country;
• population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts;
• regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer

Published as “Note”

• treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs;
• primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

Published as “Note”

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard BANGLADESH

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand CORAL SEA ISLANDS (territory of Australia)

Published as “Note”

important nesting area for birds and turtles

Published as “Note”

• defense is the responsibility of Australia;
• visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy;
• Australia has control over the activities of visitors COSTA RICA

includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

Published as “Note”

includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

Published as “Note”

defense is responsibility of France FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS (overseas territory of France)

Published as “Note”

largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US GUATEMALA

Published as “Note”

• almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs;
• small area of trees in the center;
• primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife;
• feral cats

Published as “Note”

Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard HUNGARY

Published as “Note”

• sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs;
• primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife;
• feral cats

Published as “Note”

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard JERSEY (British crown dependency)

Published as “Note”

• strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
• Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands;
• North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging;
• closed to the public;
• former nuclear weapons test site;
• site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS);
• some low-growing vegetation

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US JORDAN (also see separate West Bank entry)

Published as “Note”

barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US KIRIBATI