@Appendixes

Appendix B: United Nations System

Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups

advanced developing countries another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs) _________________________________________________________________

advanced economies a new term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 28 advanced economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note-this group would presumably also cover the following seven smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino which are included in the more comprehensive group of "developed countries" _________________________________________________________________

African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries (ACP) address-Avenue Georges Henri 451, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium telephone- (2) 743 06 00 FAX- (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 Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the 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, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________

African Development Bank (AfDB) note-also known as Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD) address-01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01, Cote d'Ivoire telephone- 20 41 18 FAX- 20 40 06 established-4 August 1963 aim-to promote economic and social development regional members-(53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe nonpermanent members-(25) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US _________________________________________________________________

Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT) see Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) _________________________________________________________________

Agence de la francophonie (ACCT) see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT) _________________________________________________________________

Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT); acronym from Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique _________________________________________________________________

Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT) note-formerly Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation address-13 quai Andre-Citroen, F-75015 Paris, France telephone- (1) 44 37 33 00 FAX- (1) 45 79 14 98 established-21 March 1970 name changed-1996 aim-to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French-speaking countries members-(40) Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (may have dropped out), Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam 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- (5) 280 4923, 280 5064, 280 2715 FAX- (5) 280 2965 established-14 February 1967 aim-to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons members-(30) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________

Andean Group (AG) note-known also as the Andean Parliament address-Carrera 7a, No. 13-58, Oficina 401, Apartado Aereo 039165, Santafe de Bogota, Columbia telephone- (1) 284 41 91, 284 40 28, 284 33 74 FAX- (1) 184 32 70 established-26 May 1969 effective-16 October 1969 aim-to promote harmonious development through economic integration members-(5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela associate members-(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-Abdel Rahman El Mahdi Avenue, P.O. Box 2640, Khartoum, Sudan telephone- (11) 770498, 773646, 773709 FAX- (11) 770600 established-18 February 1974 effective-16 September 1974 aim-to promote economic development members-(17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization; note-these are all the members of the Arab League excluding Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen _________________________________________________________________

Arab 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- 4844500 FAX- 4815750, 4815760, 4815770 established-16 May 1968 aim-to promote economic and social development members-(21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt (suspended from 1979 to 1988), Iraq (suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993), Sudan (suspended 1993), 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- (2) 750 511 FAX- (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 telephone- (7) 77 26 82, 77 26 76, 77 26 68 FAX- (7) 77 26 93 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- (2) 215000, 328500 FAX- (2) 326454 established-27 April 1976 effective-2 February 1977 aim-to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs members-(20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, 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-438 Alexandra Road, Alexandra Point Building, 19th Floor 01/04, Singapore 119958, Singapore telephone- 276 1880 FAX- 276 1775 established-7 November 1989 aim-to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin members-(19) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Vietnam observers-(3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference, South Pacific Forum _________________________________________________________________

Asian Development Bank (AsDB) address-6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong, 0401 METRO Manila, Philippines telephone- (2) 711 3851 FAX- (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, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam 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) note-the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) consists of the 9 ASEAN members, 2 observers, 2 consultative partners, and 8 dialogue partners: Australia, Canada, EU, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, US address-70 A Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Kebayoran Baru, P.O. Box 2072, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia telephone- (21) 7262410, 7262991, 7262272, 7251988 FAX- (21) 7398234, 7243348 established-9 August 1967 aim-to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia members-(9) Brunei, Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam observers-(2) Cambodia, Papua New Guinea consultative partners-(2) China, Russia _________________________________________________________________

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; note-may now include only 23 countries 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- (62) 61 91 11 FAX- (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; Australia and the US continue to hold annual meetings 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- (61) 280 80 80 FAX- (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 (suspended) pending members-(9) Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore _________________________________________________________________

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- (2) 519 38 11 FAX- (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) address-I Hareket Kosku, Dolmabahce Sarayi, Besiktas 80680, Istanbul, Turkey telephone- (1) 227 7300 through 227 7305 FAX- (1) 227 7306 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 observers-(7) Austria, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia _________________________________________________________________

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- (2) 69281 through 69289 FAX- (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- (809) 431 1600 FAX- (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- 61 09 22, 61 45 77 FAX- 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, Republic of the 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, Republic of the Congo telephone- 83 01 26, 83 01 49, 81 02 12, 81 02 21 FAX- 83 02 66 established-3 December 1975 aim-to provide loans for economic development members-(9) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the 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- 372230 through 372239, 371184 through 371188 FAX- 370793 established-3 December 1960 aim-to promote economic integration and development members-(5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua nonregional members-(3) Argentina, Mexico, Taiwan _________________________________________________________________

Central American Common Market (CACM) address-c/o SIECA, Apart Postal 1237, 4a Avenida 10-25, Zona 14, Guatemala 01901, Guatemala telephone- (2) 682151, 682152, 682153, 682154 FAX- (2) 681071 established-13 December 1960 effective-3 June 1961 aim-to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market members-(6) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama _________________________________________________________________

Central European Initiative (CEI) note-evolved from the Hexagonal Group address-Ministry of Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Al I Ch Szucha 23, PL-00 580 Warsaw, Poland established-27 July 1991 aim-to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas members-(16) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine _________________________________________________________________

centrally planned economies a term applied mainly to the traditionally communist states that looked to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward more democratic and market-oriented systems; also known formerly as the Second World or as the communist countries; through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, 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- (1) 581813, 581853, 581754 FAX- (1) 581754 established-1 July 1951 aim-to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific members-(24) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK, US _________________________________________________________________

Commission for Social Development note-formerly Social Commission address-Division Policy Coordination ECOSOC Affairs, Department Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, United Nations, Room S-29631, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (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 address-Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division, Vienna International Center, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone- (1) 21345, extension 4272 FAX- (1) 21345 5898 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 Nations Office, Centre for Human Rights, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone- (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34 FAX- (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 Narcotic Drugs address-c/o United Nations Drug Control Programme, Treaty Implementation and Legal Affairs Division, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone- (1) 213450 FAX- (1) 21345-5885 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 Population and Development address-Division for Policy and Coordination and ECOSOC Affairs, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, United Nations, Room 2963, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX-1] (212) 963 5935 established-3 October 1946 aim-to deal with population matters of importance to the UN, as part of Economic and Social Council members-(47) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

Commission on Science and Technology for Development address-United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 758 2718 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-Division for Policy and Coordination and ECOSOC Affairs, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, United Nations, Room S-2963, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 963 5935 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 address-Division for Sustainable Development, UN DPCSD, Room DC2-2274, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 0902 FAX- (212) 963 4260 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) note-also known as Commonwealth of Nations address-c/o Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, UK telephone- (171) 839 3411 FAX- (171) 930 0827 established-31 December 1931 aim-to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire members-(52) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, NZ, Nigeria (suspended), Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe special members-(2) Nauru (soon to become full member), Tuvalu _________________________________________________________________

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) address-Kirov Street 17, 220000 Minsk, Belarus telephone- 293434, 293517 FAX- 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 _________________________________________________________________

Commonwealth of Nations see Commonwealth (C) _________________________________________________________________

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 for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) _________________________________________________________________

Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN) see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) _________________________________________________________________

Contadora Group (CG) 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; 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 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-International Trade Centre Building, 12th Floor, 1191 Cornish El Nile, P.O. Box 1, Mohamad Freed, Cairo, Egypt telephone- (2) 754252, 755321 FAX- (2) 754090 telephone- (6) 66 43 26, 66 43 27, 66 43 28 FAX- (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 l'Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg CEDEX, France telephone- (3) 88 41 20 00 FAX- (3) 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-(40) Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK guests-(4) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia observers-(5) Canada, Israel, Italy, Japan, US _________________________________________________________________

Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) address-Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Box 16121, S-10323 Stockholm, Sweden telephone- (8) 405 1000 FAX- (8) 723 1176 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-(11) Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden _________________________________________________________________

Council of the Entente (Entente) address-BP 3734, Abidjan 01, Cote d'Ivoire telephone-225] 33 10 01, 33 28 35 FAX- 33 11 49 established-29 May 1959 aim-to promote economic, social, and political coordination members-(5) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo _________________________________________________________________

countries in transition a new term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the middle group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 28 countries in transition: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note-this group is identical to the group traditionally referred to as the "former USSR/Eastern Europe" except for the addition of Mongolia _________________________________________________________________

Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)
note-also known as World Customs Organization (WCO)
address-Rue de l'Industrie 26-38, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
telephone- (2) 508 42 11
FAX- (2) 508 42 40
established-5 December 1950
aim-to promote international cooperation in customs matters
members-(142) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium,
Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, 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, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
Panama, 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, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, 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; note-similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "advanced economies" which adds Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan but drops Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey _________________________________________________________________

developing countries
a new term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the
bottom group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in
transition, and developing countries; recently published IMF
statistics include the following 126 developing countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and
Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,
Zimbabwe; note-this category would presumably also cover the following
46 other countries that are traditionally included in the more
comprehensive group of "less developed countries": American Samoa,
Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas
Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands,
French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland,
Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Isle
of Man, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue,
Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands,
Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon,
Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands,
Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara
_________________________________________________________________

East African Development Bank (EADB) address-4 Nile Avenue, P.O. Box 7128, Kampala, Uganda, or Bruce House, P.O. Box 47685, Nairobi Kenya, or Nic Investment House, P.O. Box 9401, Miranbo Street, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania telephone- (41) 230021, 230825 or (2) 340642, 340656 or (51) 113194, 113195 FAX- (41) 259763 or (51) 113197 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- (2) 2881234 FAX- (2) 2881000 established-28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) aim-to carry out the commitment of the Economic and Social Council of the UN to promote economic development members-(51) 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, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam associate members-(9) American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands _________________________________________________________________

Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) address-28 Abdel Hameed Sharaf Street, P.O. Box 927115, Amman, Jordan telephone- (6) 694351 FAX- (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 Commission for Africa (ECA) address-P.O. Box 3001-3005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia telephone- (1) 51 72 00 FAX- (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 Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, 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- (22) 917 1234, 907 2893 FAX- (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-(55) 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, Tajikistan, 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- (2) 2102000 FAX- (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-(7) Anguilla, 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- 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, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe 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- 40228 FAX- 40785 established-26 September 1976 aim-to promote regional economic cooperation and integration members-(3) Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda _________________________________________________________________

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) address-6 King George V Road, PMB 12745, Lagos, Nigeria telephone- (1) 636839, 636841, 636064, 630398 FAX- (1) 636822 established-28 May 1975 aim-to promote regional economic cooperation members-(16) Benin, Burkina Faso, 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-No. 5 Khayahan-A-Hejab, Bd Keshavarz, P.O. Box 14155-6176, Teheran, Iran Islamic Republic telephone- (21) 653349, 654888, 655100, 658614, 656152, 658045, 659052 FAX- (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 members-(1) "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" _________________________________________________________________

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) note-began as the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC); an extension of NATO address-c/o NATO, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium telephone- (2) 728 41 11 FAX- (2) 728 45 79 established-8 November 1991 effective-20 December 1991 aim-to discuss cooperation on mutual political and security issues members-(44) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) address-EBRD Headquarters, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2EH, UK telephone- (171) 338 6000, 338 7931 FAX- (171) 338 6100, 338 6139 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-(60) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, 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, Romania, Russia, 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-1202 Geneva 20, Switzerland telephone- (22) 749 13 35 FAX- (22) 733 92 91 established-4 January 1960 effective-3 May 1960 aim-to promote expansion of free trade members-(4) Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland _________________________________________________________________

European Investment Bank (EIB) address-Bd Konrad Adenauer 100, L-2950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg telephone- 43791 FAX- 437704 established-25 March 1957 effective-1 January 1958 aim-to promote economic development of the EU and its predecessors, the EEC and the EC members-(15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK _________________________________________________________________

European Monetary Union (EMU) note-an integral part of the European Union address-c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Bruxelles, telephone- (2) 199 11 11 proposed-7 February 1992 aim-to promote a single market by creating a single currency, the euro; time table-2 May 1998: European exchange rates are likely to be fixed for 1 January 1999; 1 January 1999: all banks and stock exchanges begin using euros; 1 January 2002: the euro goes into circulation; 1 July 2002 local currencies no longer accepted members-(0) likely to be included in the first wave of members: Austria, Beligum, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; note-Denmark, Sweden, and UK decided not to join, and Greece did not meet all the criteria to take part _________________________________________________________________

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- (22) 767 61 11 FAX- (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-(7) EU, Israel, Japan, Russia, Turkey, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Yugoslavia (suspended) _________________________________________________________________

European Space Agency (ESA) address-8-10 rue Mario Nikis, F-75738 Paris CEDEX 15, France telephone- (1) 53 69 76 54 FAX- (1) 53 69 75 60 established-31 July 1973 effective-1 May 1975 aim-to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and technology members-(14) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK 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- (2) 299 11 11 FAX- (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 to be called the 'euro', which will supercede the EU's accounting unit, the ECU; 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 membership applicant-(12) Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia _________________________________________________________________

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- (6) 52251
FAX- (6) 5225 3152
established-16 October 1945
aim-to raise living standards and increase availability of
agricultural products, as a UN specialized agency
members-(175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the 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, EU, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, 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, 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, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, 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, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members-(1) Puerto Rico
_________________________________________________________________

former Soviet Union (FSU) a collective term often used to identify as a group the successor nations to the Soviet Union or USSR; this group of 15 countries consists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________

former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/ EE) the middle group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); these countries are in political and economic transition and may well be grouped differently in the near future; this group of 27 countries consists of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; this group is identical to the IMF group "countries in transition" except for the IMF's inclusion of Mongolia _________________________________________________________________

Four Dragons the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs) that have experienced unusually rapid economic growth; also known as the Four Tigers; this group consists of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan; these countries are included in the IMF's "advanced economies" group _________________________________________________________________

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- (1) 42 92 31 26 FAX- (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 Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the 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); note-Guinea-Bissau was to become a member on 2 May 1997 _________________________________________________________________

Front Line States (FLS) established to achieve black majority rule in South Africa; has since gone out of existence; members included Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
was established 30 October 1947 to promote the expansion of
international trade on a nondiscriminatory basis; subsumed by the
World Trade Organization (WTrO) on 1 January 1995; members at the time
were Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon,
Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of the 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), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

Group of 2 (G-2) informal term that came into use about 1986; to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants 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 five major noncommunist 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 noncommunist 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 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 were 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 d'Iena, F-75116 Paris, France telephone- (1) 40 69 30 80 FAX- (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 d'Ancier 17, Case postale 326, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland telephone- (22) 798 42 10 FAX- (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, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia _________________________________________________________________

Group of 24 (G-24) address-c/o European Commission, DGIA- G-24 Coordination Unit, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium telephone- (2) 299 22 44 FAX- (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, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________

Group of 30 (G-30) address-1990 M Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20036, US telephone- (202) 331 2472 FAX- (202) 785 9423 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 business leaders 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)
address-Office of the Chairman, United Nations, Room S-3959, P.O. Box
20, New York, NY 10017, US
telephone- (212) 963 3816, 963 0192, 963 4777
FAX- (212) 963 3515, 963 1753
established-NA October 1967
aim-to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name
persists in spite of increased membership
members-(129 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the 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, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia,
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, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia,
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 7153, Riyadh 11462, Saudi Arabia telephone- (1) 482 7777 FAX- (1) 482 9109 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 _________________________________________________________________

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) _________________________________________________________________

Indian Ocean Commission (InOC) address-Q4 avenue Sir Guy Forget, BP7, Quatre Bornes, Mauritius telephone- 425 9564, 425 1652 FAX- 425 1209 established-July 1982 aim-to organize and promote regional cooperation in all sectors, especially economic members-(5) Comoros, France (for Reunion), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles _________________________________________________________________

industrial countries another term for the developed countries; see developed countries (DCs) _________________________________________________________________

Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) note-also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) address-1300 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20577, US telephone- (202) 623 1000 FAX- (202) 623 3096 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) see Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) _________________________________________________________________

Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) note-formerly known as Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD) address-P. O. Box 2653, Djibouti, Djibouti telephone- 354050, 354486 FAX- 356994 established-15-16 January 1986 as the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development revitalized-21 March 1996 as the Inter- Governmental Authority on Development aim-to promote a social, economic, and scientific community among its members members-(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- (1) 20600
FAX- (1) 20607
established-26 October 1956
effective-29 July 1957
aim-to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy
members-(124) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, 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, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), 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, US
telephone- (202) 477 1234
FAX- (202) 477 6391
established-22 July 1944
effective-27 December 1945
aim-to provide economic development loans; a UN specialized agency
members-(181) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
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,
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, Samoa, 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, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) address-38 Cours Albert 1st, F-75008 Paris, France telephone- (1) 49 53 28 28 FAX- (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-(62 national councils) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
address-ICAO, 999 University Street, Montreal H3C 5H7, Canada
telephone- (514) 954 8219
FAX- (514) 954 6077
established-7 December 1944
effective-4 April 1947
aim-to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a UN
specialized agency
members-(185) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, 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, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,
Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, 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, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) address-ICRC, 19 av de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland telephone- (22) 734 60 01 FAX- (22) 733 20 57 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- (2) 224 02 11
FAX- (2) 201 58 15, 203 07 56
established-NA December 1949
aim-to promote the trade union movement
members-(19,487 affiliated organizations in the following 136
countries) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium,
Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France,
French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius,
Mexico, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands,
New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, 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, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,
UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

International Court of Justice (ICJ) note-also known as the World Court address-Peace Palace, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands telephone- (70) 302 23 23 FAX- (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- (4) 72 44 70 00
FAX- (4) 72 44 71 63
established-13 June 1956
aim-to promote international cooperation among police authorities in
fighting crime
subbureaus-(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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the 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, Zambia, Zimbabwe
subbureaus-(11) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Macau, Montserrat,
Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands
_________________________________________________________________

International Development Association (IDA)
address-1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, US
telephone- (202) 477 1234
FAX- (202) 477 6391
established-26 January 1960
effective-24 September 1960
aim-UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic
loans for low income countries
members-(159)
Part I-(26 developed countries) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Russia, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US
Part II-(133 less developed countries) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,
Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, 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, Rwanda,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

International Energy Agency (IEA) address-2 rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France telephone- (1) 45 24 82 00 FAX- (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) address-Chemin des Crets 17, CP 372, Petit-Saconnex, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland telephone- (22) 730 4222 FAX- (22) 733 0395 established-5 May 1919 aim-to organize, coordinate, and direct international relief actions; to promote humanitarian activities; to represent and encourage the development of National Societies; to bring help to victims of armed conflicts, refugees, and displaced people; to reduce the vulnerability of people through development programs members-(170) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, 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, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 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, Samoa, 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, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, 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-1850 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, US
telephone- (202) 473 0631
FAX- (202) 676 0631
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-(170) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Republic of the 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, 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, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, 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, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
address-Via del Serafico 107, I-00142 Rome, Italy
telephone- (6) 54591
FAX- (6) 5043463
established-NA November 1974
aim-to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency
members-(160)
Category I-(22 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, 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-(126 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola,
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, 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, Georgia, 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, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome
and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia
(suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) note-name changed from International Hydrographic Bureau on 22 September 1970 address-BP 445, 7 avenue President J F Kennedy, Monte Carlo MC 98011 CEDEX, Monaco telephone- (93) 50 65 87 FAX- (93) 25 20 03 established-NA June 1919 effective-NA June 1921 aim-to train hydrographic surveyors and nautical cartographers to achieve standardization in nautical charts and electronic chart displays; to provide advice on nautical cartography and hydrography; to develop the sciences in the field of hydrography and techniques used for descriptive oceanography members-(60) Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, UAE, US, UK, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia permanent members-(10) Algeria, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Estonia, Jamaica, Mauritania, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia _________________________________________________________________

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- (22) 799 61 11
FAX- (22) 798 86 85
established-11 April 1919 (affiliated with the UN 14 December 1946)
aim-to deal with world labor issues; a UN specialized agency
members-(174) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,
Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the 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, 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 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, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), 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- (171) 735 7611
FAX- (171) 587 3210
established-17 March 1958
aim-to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized
agency
members-(155) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the 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,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, 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,
Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
South Africa, 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)
associate members-(2) Hong Kong, Macau
_________________________________________________________________

International Maritime Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) see International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) _________________________________________________________________

International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) note-formerly International Maritime Satellite Organization address-99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX, UK telephone- (171) 728 1212 FAX- (171) 728 1602 established-3 September 1976 effective-26 July 1979 aim-to provide worldwide communications for commercial, distress, and safety applications, at sea, in the air, and on land members-(79) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, 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, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________

International Monetary Fund (IMF)
address-700 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20431, US
telephone- (202) 623 7000
FAX- (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-(182) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
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,
Palua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, 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, 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- (21) 621 61 11
FAX- (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); 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake
City, United States (date NA)
National Olympic Committees-(196 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic
of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, 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,
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, 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, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, Samoa, 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, Yemen,
Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), 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- (22) 717 91 11 FAX- (22) 798 61 50 established-5 December 1951 aim-to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration members-(59) Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Senegal, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uganda, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia observers-(48) Afghanistan, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia Inc., Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Japan International Friendship and Welfare Foundation, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, 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, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) address-CP 56, 1 rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland telephone- (22) 749 01 11 FAX- (22) 733 34 30 established-NA February 1947 aim-to promote the development of international standards with a view to facilitating international exchange of goods and services and to developing cooperation in the sphere of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity members-(86 national standards organizations) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Libya, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, 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-(24) Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei, Estonia, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malawi, Malta, Mozambique, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE subscriber members-(9) Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Namibia, Saint Lucia _________________________________________________________________

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
address-CICR, 19 avenue de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
telephone- (22) 734 60 01
FAX- (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-(163 countries) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, 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, 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, Samoa, 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, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
address-Place des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
telephone- (22) 730 6184
FAX- (22) 733 7256, 730 6614
established-9 December 1932
effective-1 January 1934
affiliated with the UN-15 November 1947
aim-to deal with world telecommunications issues; a UN specialized
agency
members-(187) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
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, 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 Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, 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, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia
(suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat)
address-Intelsat, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC
20008-3098, US
telephone- (202) 944 7500
FAX- (202) 944 7890
established-20 August 1971
effective-12 February 1973
aim-to develop and operate a global commercial telecommunications
satellite system
members-(140) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, 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, Malta,
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,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
nonsignatory users-(44) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Belize,
Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cuba, Djibouti,
Eritrea, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, North Korea,
Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Mongolia,
Nauru, Niue, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao
Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine,
Vanuatu
_________________________________________________________________

Islamic Development Bank (IDB) address-P.O. Box 5925, Jeddah 21432, Saudi Arabia telephone- (2) 6361400 FAX- (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 Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, 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- (2) 905 5111 FAX- (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- (2) 40 11 21, 49 59 15 FAX- (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-(20) China, 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, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen _________________________________________________________________

less developed countries (LDCs)
the bottom group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former
USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries
(LDCs); mainly countries and dependent areas with low levels of
output, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs are
generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, the group
also includes a number of countries with high per capita incomes,
areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes the
advanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons
(Four Tigers), least developed countries (LLDCs), low-income
countries, middle-income countries, newly industrializing economies
(NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped countries, undeveloped
countries; the 172 LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa,
Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French
Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip, Ghana,
Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, 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, Samoa,
Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra
Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu,
UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands,
Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe;
note-similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term
"developing countries" which adds Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and
Turkey but omits in its recently published statistics American Samoa,
Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas
Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands,
French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland,
Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guernsey, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Isle
of Man, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue,
Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands,
Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon,
Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands,
Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara
_________________________________________________________________

low-income countries another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs) _________________________________________________________________

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-16 April 1987 aim-to arrest the proliferation of missiles (unmanned delivery vehicles of mass destruction) by controlling the export of key missile technologies and equipment members-(28) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US _________________________________________________________________

Near Abroad Russian term for the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, in which 25 million ethnic Russians live and in which Moscow has expressed a strong national security interest; the 14 countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________

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-Permanent Rep of Colombia to the United Nations, New York, NY
10017, US
telephone- (212) 963 1234
FAX- (212) 758 2718
established-1-6 September 1961
aim-to establish political and military cooperation apart from the
traditional East or West blocs
members-(112 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize,
Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, 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, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine
Liberation Organization
observers-(20) Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization, Antigua and
Barbuda, Arab League, Armenia, Azerbaijan, 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, Socialist Party of
Puerto Rico, UN, Uruguay
guests-(22) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
_________________________________________________________________

Nordic Council (NC) address-Store Strandstraede 18, PB 3043, DK-1021 Kobenhavn K, Denmark telephone- 33 96 04 00 FAX- 33 11 18 70 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-(3) the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden _________________________________________________________________

Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) address-Fabianinkatu 34, P.O. Box 249, FIN-00171 Helsinki, Finland telephone- (0) 18001 FAX- (0) 1800210 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-see Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) _________________________________________________________________

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) address-B-1110 Brussels, Belgium telephone- (2) 707 4111 FAX- (2) 707 4579 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-AEN/NEA, Le Seine St. Germain, 12 bd des Iles, F-92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France telephone- (1) 45 24 10 10 FAX- (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 or the London Group address-c/o Permanent Mission of Japan in Vienna, Prinz-Eugen Strasse 8-10, A-1040 Vienna, Austria telephone- (1) 505 5467 FAX- (1) 505 6167 established-NA 1974 effective-NA 1975 aim-to establish guidelines for exports of nuclear materials, processing equipment for uranium enrichment, and technical information to countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability members-(34) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US observer-(1) European Commission (a policy-planning body for the EU) _________________________________________________________________

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- (1) 45 24 82 00 FAX- (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-(29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US special members-(1) EU _________________________________________________________________

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) note-formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) address-Karntner Ring 5-7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria telephone- (1) 514 36-190 FAX- (1) 514 36-96 established-1 January 1995 aim-to foster the implementation of human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law; to act as an instrument of early warning, conflict prevention and crisis management; and to serve as a framework for conventional arms control and confidence building measures members-(55) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 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) partners for cooperation-(7) Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, Tunisia _________________________________________________________________

Organization of African Unity (OAU) address-P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia telephone- (1) 517700 FAX- (1) 512622 established-25 May 1963 aim-to promote unity and cooperation among African states members-(53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________

Organization of American States (OAS) address-corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006, US telephone- (202) 458 3000 FAX- (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-P.O. Box 20501, Safat 13066, Kuwait telephone- 4844500 FAX- 4815747 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-OECS, P.O. Box 179, The Morne, Castries, St. Lucia telephone- (809) 45 22537, 45 22538, 45 36401 FAX- (809) 45 31628 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 members-(2) Anguilla, British Virgin Islands _________________________________________________________________

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) address-Obere Donaustrasse 93, A-1020 Vienna, Austria telephone- (1) 21 11 20 FAX- (1) 216 43 20 established-14 September 1960 aim-to coordinate petroleum policies members-(11) Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) address-6 km Makkah Al-Mukarramah Road, P.O. Box 178, Jeddah 21411, Saudi Arabia telephone- (2) 680-0800 FAX- (2) 687-6568 established-22-25 September 1969 aim-to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs members-(53 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization observers-(6) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, Guyana, Moro National Liberation Front (Philippines), Togo, "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" _________________________________________________________________

Paris Club see Group of 10 _________________________________________________________________

Partnership for Peace (PFP) address-NATO Office of Information and Press, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium telephone- (2) 728 44 15 FAX- (2) 728 45 79 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-(27) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
address-Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, NL-2517 KJ The Hague,
Netherlands
telephone- (70) 302 42 42
FAX- (70) 302 41 67
established-29 July 1899
aim-to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
members-(83) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile,
China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 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, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta,
Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda,
Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

Population Commission see Commission on Population and Development _________________________________________________________________

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-(12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________

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 _________________________________________________________________

Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA) note-see Latin American Economic System (LAES) _________________________________________________________________

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- (1) 221785, 226350, 221792, 228029 FAX- (1) 227033, 223991 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, 98848 Noumea CEDEX, New Caledonia telephone- 26 20 00 FAX- 26 38 18 established-6 February 1947 effective-29 July 1948 aim-to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters members-(26) 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, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna _________________________________________________________________

South Pacific Forum (SPF) address-c/o Forum Secretariat, Ratu Sukuna Road, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji telephone- 312 600, 303 106 FAX- 301 102, 305 573 established-5 August 1971 aim-to promote regional cooperation in political matters members-(16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu _________________________________________________________________

South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (Sparteca) address-c/o forum Secretariat, Ratu Sukuna Road GPO Box 856, Suva, Fiji telephone- 312 600, 303 106 FAX- 302 204 established-NA 1981 aim-to redress unequal trade relationships of Australia and New Zealand with small island economies in the Pacific region members-(15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu _________________________________________________________________

Southern African Customs Union (SACU) address-Director, State Revenue, Private Bag 13185, Windhoek, Namibia, or Director General, Trade and Industry, Private Bag X84, Pretoria 0001, South Africa, or Director of Customs and Excise, Private Bag 0041, Gaborone, Botswana, or Director of Customs and Excise, P. O. Box 891, Maseru 100, Lesotho, or Chief Customs Officer, P.O. Box 489, Manzini, Swaziland established-11 December 1969 aim-to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters members-(5) Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland _________________________________________________________________

Southern African Development Community (SADC) note-evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) address-Private Bag 0095, Gaborone, Botswana telephone- (31) 351863, 351864, 351865 FAX- (31) 372848 established-17 August 1992 aim-to promote regional economic development and integration members-(12) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________

Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) note-also known as Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (Mercosur) address-Rincon 575 P 12, 11000 Montevideo, Uruguay telephone- (2) 964590 FAX- (2) 964591 established-26 March 1991 aim-to increase regional economic cooperation members-(4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay associate member-(1) Chile _________________________________________________________________

Statistical Commission address-Division for Policy and Coordination and ECOSOC Affairs, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, United Nations, Room 2963, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 963 5935 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, US
telephone- (212) 963 1234
FAX- (212) 963 4879
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 Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Republic of the 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, Samoa, 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, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), 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 III) successor to original UNAVEM and UNAVEM II; established 20 December 1988; renewed for third time 8 February 1995; aim was to assist the parties in restoring peace and achieving national reconciliation in Angola on the basis of the Peace Accords, the Lusaka Protocol, and relevant Security Council resolutions; established by the UN Security Council; members Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, Fiji, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Jordan, Mongolia, Mali, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Sweden, Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe; disbanded 30 June 1997 _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) established 5 October 1993 to support and provide safe conditions for displaced persons and human rights monitors, and to assist in training a new national police force; established by the UN Security Council; members were Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Jordan, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe; terminated 8 March 1996 _________________________________________________________________

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, US telephone- (212) 326 7000 FAX- (212) 888 7465, 888 7454 established-11 December 1946 aim-to help establish child health and welfare services members-(36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) address-UNCTAD, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone- (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34 FAX- (22) 907 00 57 established-30 December 1964 aim-to promote international trade members-(188) all UN members plus Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO) established 31 March 1995 to separate Croatian and Krajina Serb forces; to monitor demilitarization of the Prevlaka Peninsula; to maintain a presence on Croatia's international borders; to monitor and report the crossing of military personnel, equipment, supplies and weapons; to facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance; to aid refugees and displaced persons; to protect ethnic minorities; and to clear mines; established by the UN Security Council; members were Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US; disbanded January 1996 _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) address-One United National Plaza, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 906 5788, 906 5000 FAX- (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 Department of Peace-keeping Operations, United Nations, Room S-3260E, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 963 4879 established-31 May 1974 aim-to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council members-(4) Austria, Canada, Japan, Poland _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
address-7 place de Fontenoy, F-75352 Paris 07SP, France
telephone- (1) 45 68 10 00
FAX- (1) 45 67 16 90
established-16 November 1945
effective-4 November 1946
aim-to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture
members-(185) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook
Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, 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, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, 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, Samoa, San
Marino, 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, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,
Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members-(4) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Macau,
Netherlands Antilles
_________________________________________________________________

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) address-P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya telephone- (2) 230800, 520600 FAX- (2) 226890 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-Chief of Mission, P.O. Box 1642, Nicosia, Cyprus telephone- (2) 359 700 FAX- (2) 359 753 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, Finland, Hungary, 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- (1) 211 310
FAX- (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-(169) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, 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), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) address-Palais des Nations, Bureau 1070, CH-1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone- (22) 798-58-50, 798-84-00 FAX- (22) 733-13-83 established-11 December 1963 aim-to help the UN become more effective through training and research members (Board of Trustees)-(17) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Cameroon, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Switzerland; note-the UN Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 963 4879 established-19 March 1978 aim-to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and assist in reestablishing Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council members-(9) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Norway, Poland _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (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, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, 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 Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room 3727, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 5721 FAX- (212) 758 2718 established-13 August 1948 aim-to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council members-(8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 963 4879 established-29 April 1991 aim-to supervise the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council members-(28) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Togo, Tunisia, US, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 758 2718 established-13 December 1995 aim-to establish a UN civilian police force (IPTF) to implement the Peace Agreement in Bosnia members-(39) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) established 23 September 1993;aim was to assist in implementing the agreement to transfer power back into the civilian government; established by the UN Security Council; became the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) 28 June 1996 with the aim to assist in the professionalization of the Haitian National Police; members were Algeria, Canada, France, India, Mali, Pakistan, Togo, US; disbanded 31 July 1997 _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 758 2718 established-13 December 1992 aim-to monitor the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula members-(25) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 758 2718 established-16 December 1994 aim-to monitor and investigate violations of the cease-fire of 17 September 1994 between Tajikistan and the Tajik opposition and to assist in the political negotiation process; established by the UN Security Council members-(9) Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Denmark, Jordan, Poland, Switzerland, Ukraine, Uruguay _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 758 2718 established-1 July 1997 aim-to assist in implementation of peace agreement; oversee normalization of state administration throughout National territory; established by UN Security Council members-(17) Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, Nigeria, Portugal, Sweden, Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL) established 20 May 1991 to verify cease-fire 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 were Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Venezuela; disbanded April 1995 _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 963 4879 established-August 1993 aim-to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement, to monitor weapons exclusion zone, and to supervise CIS peacekeeping force for Abkhazia; established by the UN Security Council members-(22) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, South Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 963 4879 established-22 September 1993 aim-to assist in the implementation of the peace agreement; established by the UN Security Council members-(6) Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR) established 1993 for six months to monitor the Uganda/Rwanda border to verify that no military assistance reaches Rwanda across the border; established by the UN Security Council; members were Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Hungary, Netherlands, Senegal, Slovakia, Zimbabwe; subsumed by UNAMIR _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) address-Case postale 2500, Depot, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland telephone- (22) 739 81 11 FAX- (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-(50) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ) established 16 December 1992 to supervise the cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council; members were 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; shut down operations 31 January 1995 _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II) established 24 April 1992 to facilitate an immediate cessation of hostilities, to maintain a cease-fire in order to promote a political settlement, and to provide urgent humanitarian assistance; established by the UN Security Council; members were Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Zimbabwe; UN peacekeepers left Somalia on 1 March 1995; some UN personnel remain in Somalia engaged in humanitarian work _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US established-1 December 1997 aim-to support the professionalization of the Haitian National Police; established by UN Security Council members-(11) Argentina, Benin, Canada, France, India, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, US _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) note-acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities address-220 East 42nd Street, 19th Floor, Room DN-1901, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 297 5000 FAX- (212) 557 6416 established-NA July 1967 aim-to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems members-(34) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 963 4879 established-31 March 1995 aim-to monitor border activity in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia members-(27) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, US _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) established 28 February 1992; 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 were Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US; disbanded December 1995; replaced by the Implementation Force (IFOR), which has been replaced by the Stabilization Force (SFOR) _________________________________________________________________

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- (1) 21345, ext. 4531 FAX- (1) 21345-5877 established-8 December 1949 aim-to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees members-(11) Austria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) address-Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone- (22) 798 84 00, 798 58 50 FAX- (22) 740 07 91 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, Room S-3520A, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (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; Bahrain (1998-99), Brazil (1998-99), Costa Rica (1997-98), Gabon (1998-99), The Gambia (1998-99), Japan (1997-98), Kenya (1997-98), Poland (1996-97), Portugal(1997-98), Slovenia (1998-99), Sweden(1997-98) _________________________________________________________________

United Nations Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) established 12 November 1995; aim to facilitate and supervise the Basic Agreement between the government of the Republic of Croatia and the local Serbian community that will lead to a peaceful integration of that region into the national state of Croatia; members were Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, NZ, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russian, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US; disbanded 15 January 1998; a UN Civilian Police Support Group was established in December 1997 as follow-on mission to UNTAES; the support group will continue to monitor the Croatian police in the Danube region, particularly in connection with the return of displaced people _________________________________________________________________

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- (2) 734 223 FAX- (2) 735 282, 734 223 extension 400 established-NA May 1948 aim-to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; currently supports timely deployment of reinforcements to other peacekeeping operations in the region as needed; initially established by the UN Security Council members-(20) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Estonia, 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; it formally suspended operations 1 November 1995 after the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a constitutional government in free association with the US; the Trusteeship Council was not dissolved _________________________________________________________________

United Nations University (UNU) address-53-70 Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150, Japan telephone- (3) 3499 2811 FAX- (3) 3499 2828 established-6 December 1973 aim-to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars members-(38 associated institutes in 33 countries) Argentina, Australia, Austria, 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 _________________________________________________________________

United National Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) address-c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone- (212) 963 1234 FAX- (212) 963 4879 established-20 January 1997 aim-to verify fulfillment of cease-fire provisions; established by UN Security Council members-(18) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________

Universal Postal Union (UPU)
address-Bureau International de l'UPU, Weltpoststrasse 4, CH-3000
Berne 15, Switzerland
telephone- (31) 350 31 11
FAX- (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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
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, Samoa, 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, Yemen,
Yugoslavia (suspended), 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); is a financial institution of WAEMU address-68 av de la Liberation, BP 1172, Lome, Togo telephone- 21 59 06, 21 42 44, 21 01 13 FAX- 21 52 67, 21 72 69 established-14 November 1973 aim-to promote regional economic development and integration members-(7) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo _________________________________________________________________

West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) note-also known as Union economique et monetaire Ouest africaine (UEMOA) address-Commission de l'UEMOA, 01 BP 543, Ouadgadougou, Burkina Faso telephone- 31 88 73 through 76 FAX- 31 88 72 established-1 August 1994 aim-to increase competitiveneess of members' economic markets; to create a common market members-(7) Benin, Burkino Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo _________________________________________________________________

West African Economic Community (CEAO) note-acronym from Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest established on 3 June 1972 to promote regional economic development; its members were Benin, Burkina Faso, 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- (2) 500 44 11 FAX- (2) 511 32 70 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-(10) Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia observers-(5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden _________________________________________________________________

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- (2) 230 62 95
FAX- (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 Faso,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 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, Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

World Court see International Court of Justice (ICJ) _________________________________________________________________

World Customs Organization (WCO) see Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) _________________________________________________________________

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
address-Branicka 112, 14000 Prague 4, Czech Republic
telephone- (2) 46 21 40, 46 20 85, 46 29 61
FAX- (2) 46 13 78
established-3 October 1945
aim-to promote the trade union movement
members-(125 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
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, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,
Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, New Caledonia, NZ,
Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Russia,
Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
_________________________________________________________________

World Food Council (WFC) established 17 December 1974; to study world food problems and to recommend solutions; ECOSOC organization; there were 36 members selected on a rotating basis from all regions; subsumed by the World Food Program and Food and Agriculture Organization _________________________________________________________________

World Food Program (WFP) address-Via Cristoforo Colombo 426, I-00145 Rome, Italy telephone- (6) 522821 FAX- (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-(36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

World Health Organization (WHO)
address-CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
telephone- (22) 791 21 11, 791 32 23
FAX- (22) 791 07 46
established-22 July 1946
effective-7 April 1948
aim-to deal with health matters worldwide; a UN specialized agency
members-(191) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, 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, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niue, 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, Samoa, 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, Yemen,
Yugoslavia (suspended), 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- (22) 730 9111
FAX- (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-(161) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South
Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 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, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia,
Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
address-Case Postale 2300, 41 Av Giuseppe-Motta, CH-1211 Geneva 2,
Switzerland
telephone- (22) 730 81 11
FAX- (22) 734 23 26
established-11 October 1947
effective-4 April 1951
aim-to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a UN specialized agency
members-(184) 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, British
Caribbean Territories, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, 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, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Macau, 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, 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, Samoa, 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, Yugoslavia
(suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe
_________________________________________________________________

World Tourism Organization (WToO)
address-Calle Capitan Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain
telephone- (1) 571 06 28
FAX- (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-(131) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, 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, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,
Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members-(4) Aruba, Macau, Madeira Islands, Netherlands
Antilles
observer-(1) Holy See
_________________________________________________________________

World Trade Organization (WTrO) note-succeeded General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) address-Centre William Rappard, 154 rue de Lausanne, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland telephone- (22) 739 51 11 FAX- (22) 739 54 58 established-15 April 1994 effective-1 January 1995 aim-to provide a means to resolve trade conflicts between members and to carry on negotiations with the goal of further lowering and/or eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers members-(139) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Libya, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, 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, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe observers-(5) Azerbaijan, Laos, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan applicants-(31) Albania, Armenia, The Bahamas, Belarus, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Nepal, Oman, Panama, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Taiwan; note-some of these countries applied to GATT and are still under consideration for membership in WTrO note-the following member of GATT had not become a member of WTrO as of 1 January 1998: Yugoslavia (suspended) _________________________________________________________________

Zangger Committee (ZC) established-early 1970s aim-to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) 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 _________________________________________________________________

Note: The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) 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.