The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 1995 Africa
Note Zimbabwe, in 6 editions.
The entry for Zimbabwe published Note in 6 editions of 36, from 1990 to 1995. The text changed in 1 edition. Each is shown as published. Note in every entry.
- edition changed the text
- 1
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 1995
Published as “Note” (1990 to 1995).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
1990 edition
First publishedThe same text in 5 editions, 1990 to 1994.
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Published as “Note”
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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
Rewritten: too little of the 1994 text remains to mark the changes.
landlocked
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
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
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
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Zimbabwe: Note.” The World Factbook, 1990–1995 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/zimbabwe/note.