Appendix C

International Organizations and Groups

Note: The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and ceases to exist. None of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, including Serbia and Montenegro, have been permitted to participate solely on the basis of the membership of the former Yugoslavia in the United Nations General Assembly and Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary bodies and in various United Nations specialized agencies. The United Nations, however, permits the seat and nameplate of the SFRY to remain, permits the SFRY mission to continue to function, and continues to fly the flag of the former Yugoslavia. For a variety of reasons, a number of other organizations have not yet taken action with regard to the membership of the former Yugoslavia. The World Factbook therefore continues to list Yugoslavia under international organizations where the SFRY seat remains or where no action has yet been taken.


advanced developing countries

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

African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries (ACP)

address -- Avenue Georges Henri 451, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 733 96 00

FAX -- [32] (2) 735 55 73

established -- 1 April 1976

aim -- to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with the EU

members -- (70) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


African Development Bank (AfDB)

note -- also known as Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)

address -- 01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01, Cote dÆIvoire

telephone -- [225] 20 44 44

FAX -- [225] 21 77 53, 20 49 01, 20 49 09

established -- 4 August 1963

aim -- to promote economic and social development

regional members -- (51) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

nonregional members -- (26) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia


Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT)

see -- Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)


Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)

note -- acronym from Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique

address -- 13 quai Andre-Citroen, F-75015 Paris, France

telephone -- [33] (1) 44 37 33 00

FAX -- [33] (1) 45 79 14 98

established -- 21 March 1970

aim -- to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French-speaking countries

members -- (37) Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zaire

associate members -- (5) Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco, Saint Lucia

participating governments -- (2) New Brunswick (Canada), Quebec (Canada)


Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the

Caribbean (OPANAL)

note -- acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)

address -- Temistocles 78, Col Polanco, CP 011560, Mexico City 5 DF, Mexico

telephone -- [52] (5) 280 4923, 280 5064

FAX -- [52] (5) 280 2965

established -- 14 February 1967

aim -- to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons

members -- (28) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela


Andean Group (AG)

address -- c\o JUNAC, Paseo de la Republica 3895, Casilla 18-1177, Lima 27, Peru

telephone -- [51] (14) 414212

FAX -- [51] (14) 420911

established -- 26 May 1969

effective -- 16 October 1969

aim -- to promote harmonious development through economic integration

members -- (5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

associate member -- (1) Panama

observers -- (26) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US, Uruguay, Yugoslavia


Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)

note -- also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)

address -- Sayed Abdel Rahman El Mahdi Avenue, P.O. Box 2640, Khartoum, Sudan

telephone -- [249] (11) 73646, 73498, 73709

FAX -- [249] (11) 70600

established -- 18 February 1974

effective -- 16 September 1974

aim -- to promote economic development

members -- (17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization; note - these are all the members of the Arab League except for Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen


Arab Cooperation Council (ACC)

established -- 16 February 1989

aim -- to promote economic cooperation and integration, possibly leading to an Arab Common Market

members -- (4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen


Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD)

address -- P.O. Box 21923, Safat 13080, Kuwait

telephone -- [965] 2451580, 2451588

FAX -- [965] 2416758

established -- 16 May 1968

aim -- to promote economic and social development

members -- (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt (suspended from 1979 to 1988), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization


Arab League (AL)

note -- also known as League of Arab States (LAS)

address -- Midan Attahrir, Tahrir Square, P.O. Box 11642, Cairo, Egypt

telephone -- [20] (2) 750 511

FAX -- [20] (2) 740 331

established -- 22 March 1945

aim -- to promote economic, social, political, and military cooperation

members -- (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization


Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)

address -- 27 avenue Okba Agdal, Rabat, Morocco

established -- 17 February 1989

aim -- to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of northern Africa

members -- (5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia


Arab Monetary Fund (AMF)

address -- P.O. Box 2818, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

telephone -- [971] (2) 215000

FAX -- [971] (2) 326454

established -- 27 April 1976

effective -- 2 February 1977

aim -- to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs

members -- (19 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization


Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

address -- Ministry of Trade and Industry, Public Relations, 8 Shenton Way No 48-01, Treasury Building, Singapore, Singapore

established -- 7 November 1989

aim -- to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin

members -- (18) all ASEAN members (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) plus Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, US

observers -- (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference, South Pacific Forum


Asian Development Bank (AsDB)

address -- 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong, METRO Manila, Philippines

telephone -- [63] (2) 711 3851

FAX -- [63] (2) 741 7961, 631 6816

established -- 19 December 1966

aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation

regional members -- (40) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa

nonregional members -- (16) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US


Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)

see -- Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)


Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

address -- Jalan Sisingamangaraja 70A, Kebayoran Baru, P.O. Box 2072, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia

telephone -- [62] (21) 71 22 72, 71 19 88

FAX -- [62] (21) 739 82 34

established -- 9 August 1967

aim -- to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia

members -- (6) Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand

observers -- (3) Laos, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam


Australia Group

established -- 1984

aim -- to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons

members -- (28) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

observer -- (1) Singapore


Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS)

address -- c/o Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bag 8, Queen Victoria Terrace, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

telephone -- [61] (62) 61 91 11

FAX -- [61] (62) 61 21 51

established -- 1 September 1951

effective -- 29 April 1952

aim -- to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986

members -- (3) Australia, NZ, US


Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico (BCIE)

see -- Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)


Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)

see -- Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)


Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

address -- Centralbahnplatz 2, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (61) 280 80 80

FAX -- [41] (61) 280 91 00

established -- 20 January 1930

effective -- 17 March 1930

aim -- to promote cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements

members -- (33) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia


Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)

see -- African Development Bank (AfDB)


Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)

see -- Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)


Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (BDEAC)

see -- Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)


Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)

see -- West African Development Bank (WADB)


Benelux Economic Union (Benelux)

note -- acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg

address -- Rue de la Regence 39, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 519 38 11

FAX -- [32] (2) 513 42 06

established -- 3 February 1958

effective -- 1 November 1960

aim -- to develop closer economic cooperation and integration

members -- (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands


Big Seven

note -- membership is the same as the Group of 7

established -- NA 1975

aim -- to discuss and coordinate major economic policies

members -- (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US


Big Six

note -- not to be confused with the Group of 6

established -- NA 1967

aim -- to foster economic cooperation

members -- (6) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK


Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC)

established -- 25 June 1992

aim -- to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation

members -- (11) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine

observer -- (1) Poland


Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)

address -- CARICOM, P.O. Box 10827, Bank of Guyana Building, 3rd floor, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, Guyana

telephone -- [592] (2) 69281 through 69289

FAX -- [592] (2) 66091, 67816, 57341

established -- 4 July 1973

effective -- 1 August 1973

aim -- to promote economic integration and development, especially among the less developed countries

members -- (14) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

associate members -- (2) British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

observers -- (9) Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela


Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)

address -- P.O. Box 408, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados

telephone -- [1] (809) 431 1600

FAX -- [1] (809) 426 7269

established -- 18 October 1969

effective -- 26 January 1970

aim -- to promote economic development and cooperation

regional members -- (20) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela

nonregional members -- (5) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, UK


Cartagena Group

see -- Group of 11


Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)

note -- acronym from Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale

address -- BP 969, Bangui, Central African Republic

telephone -- [236] 61 09 22, 61 45 77

FAX -- [236] 61 21 35

established -- 8 December 1964

effective -- 1 January 1966

aim -- to promote the establishment of a Central African Common Market

members -- (6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon


Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)

note -- acronym from Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale

address -- BDEAC, Place du Gouvernement, BP 1177, Brazzaville, Congo

telephone -- [242] 83 01 26, 83 01 49, 81 02 12, 81 02 21

FAX -- [242] 83 02 66

established -- 3 December 1975

aim -- to provide loans for economic development

members -- (9) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Kuwait


Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)

note -- acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico

address -- Apartado Postal 772, Tegucigalpa DC, Honduras

telephone -- [504] 372230 through 372239, 371184 through 371188

FAX -- [504] 370793

established -- 13 December 1960

aim -- to promote economic integration and development

members -- (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua

nonregional members -- (4) Argentina, Mexico, Taiwan, Venezuela


Central American Common Market (CACM)

address -- 4A Avda 10-25, Zona 14, Apdo Postal 1237, 01901 Guatemala City, Guatemala

telephone -- [502] (2) 682151

FAX -- [502] (2) 681071

established -- 13 December 1960

effective -- 3 June 1961

aim -- to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market

members -- (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua


Central European Initiative (CEI)

note -- evolved from the Hexagonal Group

address -- Chairman of the National Coordinators, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Bem rakpart 47, Budapest II, Hungary

established -- 27 July 1991

aim -- to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas

members -- (10) Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

associate members -- (4) Bulgaria, Belarus, Romania, Ukraine


centrally planned economies

a term applied mainly to the traditionally Communist states that looked to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward more democratic and market-oriented systems; also known formerly as the Second World or as the Communist countries; through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yugoslavia

Colombo Plan (CP)

address -- Colombo Plan Bureau, P.O. Box 596, 12 Melbourne Avenue, Colombo 4, Sri Lanka

telephone -- [94] (1) 581813, 581853, 581754

FAX -- [94] (1) 580721

established -- 1 July 1951

aim -- to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific

members -- (24) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, US


Commission for Social Development

note -- formerly Social Commission

address -- c/o ECOSOC/DPCSD, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 2320

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 5935

established -- 21 June 1946 as the Social Commission, renamed 29 July 1966

aim -- to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with social development programs of UN

members -- (32) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

established -- 6 February 1992

aim -- to provide guidance, as part of the Economic and Social Council, on crime prevention and criminal justice

members -- (40) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Commission on Human Rights

address -- c/o United Nationas Office, Centre for Human Rights, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34

FAX -- [41] (22) 733 32 46

established -- 18 February 1946

aim -- to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with human rights programs of UN

members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Commission on Human Settlements (Habitat)

address -- c/o HABITAT, P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya

telephone -- [254] (2) 621234

FAX -- [254] (2) 226473, 226479

established -- 12 October 1978

aim -- to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, in solving human settlement problems of UN

members -- (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Commission on Narcotic Drugs

address -- c/o International Drug Control Programme, Treaty Implementation and Legal Affairs Division, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria

telephone -- [43] (1) 211 310

FAX -- [43] (1) 230 7002

established -- 16 February 1946

aim -- Economic and Social Council organization dealing with illicit drugs programs of UN

members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions with emphasis on producing and processing countries


Commission on Science and Technology for Development

established -- 30 April 1992

aim -- to promote international cooperation, as part of the Economic and Social Council, in the field of science and technology

members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Commission on the Status of Women

address -- c/o Economic and Social Council, Affairs Division, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Room S-2963, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

established -- 21 June 1946

aim -- to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with women's rights goals of UN

members -- (45) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Commission on Sustainable Development

established -- 12 February 1993

aim -- to monitor, as part of the Economic and Social Council, implementation of agreements reached at the UN Conference on Environment and Development

members -- (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Commonwealth (C)

address -- c/o Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y5HX, UK

telephone -- [44] (71) 839 3411

FAX -- [44] (71) 930 0827

established -- 31 December 1931

aim -- to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire

members -- (49) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

special members -- (2) Nauru, Tuvalu


Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

address -- Kirov Street 17, 220000 Minsk, Belarus

telephone -- [7] (172) 293434, 293517

FAX -- [7] (172) 261894, 261944

established -- 8 December 1991

effective -- 21 December 1991

aim -- to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide a mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR

members -- (12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan


Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEAO)

see -- West African Economic Community (CEAO)


Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (CEEAC)

see -- Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)


Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs (CEPGL)

see -- Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)


Communist countries

traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; most of the original and the successor states are no longer Communist; see centrally planned economies

Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)

see -- Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)


Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN)

see -- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)


Contadora Group (CG)

was established 5 January 1983 (on the Panamanian island of Contadora) to reduce tensions and conflicts in Central America; has evolved into the Rio Group (RG); members included Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela

Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

see -- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)


Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM)

established in 1949 to control the export of strategic products and technical data from member countries to proscribed destinations; members were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US; was abolished 31 March 1994; COCOM members are working on a new organization with expanded membership which focuses on nonproliferation export controls as opposed to East-West control of advanced technology

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA)

note -- also known as CMEA or Comecon established 25 January 1949 to promote the development of socialist economies and was abolished 1 January 1991; members included Afghanistan (observer), Albania (had not participated since 1961 break with USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos (observer), Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua (observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia (associate)


Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU)

address -- BP 925100, Amman, Jordan

telephone -- [962] (6) 66 43 26, 66 43 27, 66 43 28

FAX -- [962] (6) 66 33 43

established -- 3 June 1957

effective -- 30 May 1964

aim -- to promote economic integration among Arab nations

members -- (11 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization


Council of Europe (CE)

address -- Palais de lÆEurope, F-67075 Strasbourg CEDEX, France

telephone -- [33] 88 41 20 00

FAX -- [33] 88 41 27 81, 88 41 27 82

established -- 5 May 1949

effective -- 3 August 1949

aim -- to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe

members -- (32) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK

guests -- (9) Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Latvia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine

observer -- (1) Israel


Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)

established -- 5 March 1992

aim -- to promote cooperation among the Baltic Sea states in the areas of aid to new democratic institutions, economic development, humanitarian aid, energy and the environment, cultural programs and education, and transportation and communication

members -- (10) Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden


Council of the Entente (Entente)

address -- BP 3734, Abidjan 01, Cote dÆIvoire

telephone -- [225] 33 10 01, 33 28 35

FAX -- [225] 33 11 49

established -- 29 May 1959

aim -- to promote economic, social, and political coordination

members -- (5) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo


Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)

address -- Rue de lÆIndustrie 26-38, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 508 42 11

FAX -- [32] (2) 508 42 40

established -- 15 December 1950

aim -- to promote international cooperation in customs matters

members -- (136) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


developed countries (DCs)

the top group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); includes the market-oriented economies of the mainly democratic nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European ministates; also known as the First World, high-income countries, the North, industrial countries; generally have a per capita GDP in excess of $10,000 although four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000; the 35 DCs are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

developing countries

an imprecise term for the less developed countries with growing economies;

see -- less developed countries (LDCs)


East African Development Bank (EADB)

address -- 4 Nile Avenue, P.O. Box 7128, Kampala, Uganda

telephone -- [256] (41) 230021, 230825

FAX -- [256] (41) 259763

established -- 6 June 1967

effective -- 1 December 1967

aim -- to promote economic development

members -- (3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda


Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

address -- United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

telephone -- [66] (2) 2829161 through 2829200, 2829381 through 2829389

FAX -- [66] (2) 2811743

established -- 28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE)

aim -- to carryout the commitment of the Economic and Social Council of the UN to promote economic development

members -- (49) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa

associate members -- (10) American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau


Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

address -- (temporary) P.O. Box 927115, Amman, Jordan

telephone -- [962] (6) 694351

FAX -- [962] (6) 694981, 694982

established -- 9 August 1973 as Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)

aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission for the UN's Economic and Social Council

members -- (12 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization


Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

address -- United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718

established -- 26 June 1945

effective -- 24 October 1945

aim -- to coordinate the economic and social work of the UN; includes five regional commissions (see Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) and 10 functional commissions (see Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on the Status of Women, Population Commission, Statistical Commission, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and Commission on Transnational Corporations)

members -- (54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

address -- P.O. Box 3001-3005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

telephone -- [251] (1) 51 72 00

FAX -- [251] (1) 51 44 16

established -- 29 April 1958

aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council

members -- (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

associate members -- (2) France, UK


Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE)

see -- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)


Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)

address -- Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 917 1234, 907 2893

FAX -- [41] (22) 917 0036

established -- 28 March 1947

aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council

members -- (54) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia


Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)

see -- Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)


Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

address -- Edificio Naciones Unidas, Avenida Dag Hammarskjold, Casilla 179 D, Santiago, Chile

telephone -- [56] (2) 2102000 FAX [56] (2) 2080252, 2081946

established -- 25 February 1948 as Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)

aim -- to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council

members -- (41) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela

associate members -- (6) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands


Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)

see -- Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)


Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)

note -- acronym from Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale

address -- CEEAC, BP 2112, Libreville, Gabon

telephone -- [241] 73 35 47, 73 35 48, 73 36 77

established -- 18 October 1983

aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation and establish a Central African Common Market

members -- (10) Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zaire

observer -- (1) Angola


Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)

note -- acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs

address -- B.O. Box 58, Gisenyi, Rwanda

telephone -- [250] 40228

FAX -- [250] 40785

established -- 26 September 1976

aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation and integration

members -- (3) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire


Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

address -- 6 King George V Road, PMB 12745, Lagos, Nigeria

telephone -- [234] (1) 636839, 636841, 636064, 630398

FAX -- [234] (1) 636822

established -- 28 May 1975

aim -- to promote regional economic cooperation

members -- (16) Benin, Burkina, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo


Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)

address -- 5 Hejab Avenue, Bd Keshavarz, P.O. Box 14155-6176, Teheran, Iran Islamic Republic

telephone -- [98] (21) 658614, 656152, 658045

FAX -- [98] (21) 658046

established -- NA 1985

aim -- to promote regional cooperation in trade, transportation, communications, tourism, cultural affairs, and economic development

members -- (10) Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

associate member -- (1) "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"


European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

address -- One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2EH, UK

telephone -- [44] (71) 338 6000

FAX -- [44] (71) 338 6100

established -- 15 April 1991

aim -- to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned economies in Europe (Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its loans to privatization

members -- (59) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, European Union (EU), European Investment Bank (EIB), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan; note - includes all 25 members of the OECD; also includes the EU as a single entity


European Community (or European Communities, EC)

was established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ESC), the European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market), and to establish a completely integrated common market and an eventual federation of Europe; merged into the European Union (EU) on 7 February 1992; member states at the time of merger were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK

European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

address -- 9-11 rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 749 11 11

FAX -- [41] (22) 733 92 91

established -- 4 January 1960

effective -- 3 May 1960

aim -- to promote expansion of free trade

members -- (7) Austria, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland


European Investment Bank (EIB)

address -- Bd Konrad Adenauer 100, L-2950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg

telephone -- [352] 43791

FAX -- [352] 437704

established -- 25 March 1957

effective -- 1 January 1958

aim -- to promote economic development of the EU

members -- (12) Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK


European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

note -- acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire

address -- CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 767 61 11

FAX -- [41] (22) 767 65 55

established -- 1 July 1953

effective -- 29 September 1954

aim -- to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only

members -- (19) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

observers -- (6) EC, Israel, Russia, Turkey, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Yugoslavia


European Space Agency (ESA)

address -- 8-10 rue Mario Nikis, F-75738 Paris CEDEX 15, France

telephone -- [33] (1) 42 73 76 54

FAX -- [33] (1) 42 73 75 60

established -- 31 July 1973

effective -- 1 May 1975

aim -- to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and technology

members -- (13) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

associate member -- (1) Finland

cooperating state -- (1) Canada


European Union (EU)

note -- evolved from the European Community (EC)

address -- c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 299 11 11 FAX [32] (2) 295 01 38 through 295 01 40

established -- 7 February 1992

effective -- 1 November 1993

aim -- to coordinate policy among the 15 members in three fields: economics, building on the European Economic Community's (EEC) efforts to establish a common market and eventually a common currency; defense, within the concept of a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP); and justice and home affairs, including immigration, drugs, terrorism, and improved living and working conditions

members -- (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK


First World

another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs)

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

address -- Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy

telephone -- [39] (6) 52251 FAX [39] (6) 5225 3152, 5225 5155, 578 2610

established -- 16 October 1945

aim -- to raise living standards and increase availability of agricultural products, as a UN specialized agency

members -- (170) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

associate member -- (1) Puerto Rico


Former USSR

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

Four Dragons

the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs) that have experienced unusually rapid economic growth; also known as the Four Tigers; this group includes Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan

Four Tigers

another term for the Four Dragons; see Four Dragons

Franc Zone (FZ)

address -- Direction Generale des Service Etrangers (Service de la Zone Franc), Banque de France, 39 rue Crois-des-Petits-Champs, BP 140-01, Paris Cedex 01, France

telephone -- [33] (1) 42 92 31 26

FAX -- [33] (1) 42 92 39 88

established -- 20 December 1945

aim -- to form a monetary union among countries whose currencies are linked to the French franc

members -- (15) Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo; note - France includes metropolitan France, the four overseas departments of France (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion), the two territorial collectivities of France (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon), and the three overseas territories of France (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna)


Front Line States (FLS)

established to achieve black majority rule in South Africa; members included Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

note -- was subsumed by the World Trade Organization (WTrO) on 1 January 1995

address -- rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 739 51 11

FAX -- [41] (22) 731 42 06

established -- 30 October 1947

effective -- 1 January 1948

aim -- to promote the expansion of international trade on a nondiscriminatory basis

members -- (123) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


Group of 2 (G-2)

established -- informal term that came into use about 1986

aim -- to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants

members -- (2) Japan, US


Group of 3 (G-3)

established -- NA October 1990

aim -- mechanism for policy coordination

members -- (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela


Group of 5 (G-5)

established -- 22 September 1985

aim -- to coordinate the economic policies of the five major non-Communist economic powers

members -- (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US


Group of 6 (G-6)

note -- also known as Groupe des Six Sur le Desarmement not to be confused with the Big Six

established -- 22 May 1984

aim -- to achieve nuclear disarmament

members -- (6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania


Group of 7 (G-7)

note -- membership is the same as the Big Seven

established -- 22 September 1985

aim -- to facilitate economic cooperation among the seven major non- Communist economic powers

members -- (7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus Canada and Italy


Group of 8 (G-8)

established -- NA October 1975

aim -- to facilitate economic cooperation among the developed countries (DCs) that participated in the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC), held in several sessions between NA December 1975 and 3 June 1977

members -- (8) Australia, Canada, EU (as one member), Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, US


Group of 9 (G-9)

established -- NA

aim -- to discuss matters of mutual interest on an informal basis

members -- (9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia


Group of 10 (G-10)

note -- also known as the Paris Club; includes the wealthiest members of the IMF who provide most of the money to be loaned and act as the informal steering committee; name persists in spite of the addition of Switzerland on NA April 1984

address -- c/o IMF Office in Europe, 64-66 ave dÆIena, F-75116 Paris, France

telephone -- [33] (1) 40 69 30 80

FAX -- [33] (1) 47 23 40 89

established -- NA October 1962

aim -- to coordinate credit policy

members -- (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

nonstate participants -- (4) BIS, EU, IMF, OECD


Group of 11 (G-11)

note -- also known as the Cartagena Group

established -- 22 June 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia

aim -- to provide a forum for largest debtor nations in Latin America

members -- (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela


Group of 15 (G-15)

note -- byproduct of the Non-Aligned Movement

address -- Technical Support Facility, Ch du Champ dÆAncier 17, Case postale 326, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 798 42 10

FAX -- [41] (22) 798 38 49

established -- September 1989

aim -- to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to act as the main political organ for the Non-Aligned Movement

members -- (15) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe


Group of 19 (G-19)

established -- NA October 1975

aim -- to represent the interests of the less developed countries (LDCs) that participated in the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC) held in several sessions between NA December 1975 and 3 June 1977

members -- (19) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia


Group of 24 (G-24)

address -- c/o European Commission, DGI, G-24 Coordination Unit, Rue de la Science 29, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 299 22 44

FAX -- [32] (2) 299 06 02

established -- NA January 1972

aim -- to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America within the IMF

members -- (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire


Group of 30 (G-30)

address -- 1990 M Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20036, USA

telephone -- [1] (202) 331 2472

established -- NA 1979

aim -- to discuss and propose solutions to the world's economic problems

members -- (30) informal group of 30 leading international bankers, economists, financial experts, and businessmen organized by Johannes Witteveen (former managing director of the IMF)


Group of 33 (G-33)

established -- NA 1987

aim -- to promote solutions to international economic problems

members -- (33) leading economists from 13 countries


Group of 77 (G-77)

established -- NA October 1967

aim -- to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name persists in spite of increased membership

members -- (127 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization


Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

note -- also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

address -- P.O. Box 7431, Riyadh 11462 Saudi Arabia

telephone -- [966] (1) 4827777

FAX -- [966] (1) 4829089

established -- 25 May 1981

aim -- to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political, and military affairs

members -- (6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE


Habitat

see -- Commission on Human Settlements


Hexagonal Group

see -- Central European Initiative (CEI)


high-income countries

another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs;

see -- developed countries (DCs)


industrial countries

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

Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)

note -- also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)

address -- 1300 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 10577, USA

telephone -- [1] (202) 632 1000

FAX -- [1] (202) 789 2835

established -- 8 April 1959

effective -- 30 December 1959

aim -- to promote economic and social development in Latin America

members -- (46) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela


Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)

address -- BP 2653, Djibouti, Djibouti

telephone -- [253] 354050, 352880

FAX -- [253] 356994

established -- 15-16 January 1986

aim -- to promote cooperation on drought-related matters

members -- (7) Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda


International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

address -- Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria

telephone -- [43] (1) 2360 2045 FAX [43] (1) 234564

established -- 26 October 1956

effective -- 29 July 1957

aim -- to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy

members -- (121) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC)

was established on 22 October 1963 to promote economic cooperation and development; members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new charter

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

note -- also known as the World Bank

address -- 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA

telephone -- [1] (202) 477 1234

FAX -- [1] (202) 477 6391

established -- 22 July 1944

effective -- 27 December 1945

aim -- to provide economic development loans; a UN specialized agency

members -- (178) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

address -- 38 Cours Albert 1st, F-75008 Paris, France

telephone -- [33] (1) 49 53 28 75

FAX -- [33] (1) 49 53 29 42

established -- NA 1919

aim -- to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels

members -- (59 national councils) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire


International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

address -- 1000 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 327, Montreal PQ H3A 2R2, Canada

telephone -- [1] (514) 285 8219

FAX -- [1] (514) 288 4772

established -- 7 December 1944

effective -- 4 April 1947

aim -- to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a UN specialized agency

members -- (183) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

address -- ICRC, 19 av de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 734 60 01

FAX -- [41] (22) 733 82 80

established -- NA 1863

aim -- to provide humanitarian aid in wartime

members -- (25 individuals) all Swiss nationals


International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)

address -- International Trade Union House, Bd Emile Jacqmain 155, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 224 02 11

FAX -- [32] (2) 218 84 15, 219 75 03

established -- NA December 1949

aim -- to promote the trade union movement

members -- (164 national organizations in the following 118 areas) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Court of Justice (ICJ)

note -- also known as the World Court

address -- Peace Palace, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands

telephone -- [31] (70) 302 23 23

FAX -- [31] (70) 364 99 28

established -- 26 June 1945

effective -- 24 October 1945

aim -- primary judicial organ of the UN

members -- (15 judges) elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council to represent all principal legal systems


International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)

address -- BP 6041, F-69411 Lyon CEDEX 06, France

telephone -- [33] 71 44 70 00

FAX -- [33] 72 44 71 63

established -- 13 June 1956

aim -- to promote international cooperation among police authorities in fighting crime

members -- (176) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

subbureaus -- (13) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, Montserrat, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands


International Development Association (IDA)

address -- 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA

telephone -- [1] (202) 477 12 34

established -- 26 January 1960

effective -- 24 September 1960

aim -- UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic loans for low income countries

members -- (157)

Part I -- (24 more economically advanced countries) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US

Part II -- (133 less developed nations) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Energy Agency (IEA)

address -- 2 rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France

telephone -- [33] (1) 45 24 82 00

FAX -- [33] (1) 45 24 99 88

established -- 15 November 1974

aim -- to promote cooperation on energy matters, especially emergency oil sharing and relations between oil consumers and oil producers; established by the OECD

members -- (23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US


International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)

note -- formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS)

established -- 5 May 1919

aim -- to provide humanitarian aid in peacetime

members -- (151) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

associate members -- (13) Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Comoros, Cyprus, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kiribati, Namibia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Suriname, Tuvalu, Vanuatu


International Finance Corporation (IFC)

address -- 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA

telephone -- [1] (202) 477 1234

FAX -- [1] (202) 477 6391

established -- 25 May 1955

effective -- 20 July 1956

aim -- to support private enterprise in international economic development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate

members -- (161) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

address -- Via del Serafico 107, I-00142 Rome, Italy

telephone -- [39] (6) 54591

FAX -- [39] (6) 5043463

established -- NA November 1974

aim -- to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency

members -- (157)

Category I -- (21 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

Category II -- (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela

Category III -- (124 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Investment Bank (IIB)

established on 7 July 1970; to promote economic development; members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new charter

International Labor Organization (ILO)

address -- International Labor Office, 4 route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 799 61 11

FAX -- [41] (22) 798 86 85

established -- 11 April 1919 (affiliated with the UN 14 December 1946)

aim -- UN specialized agency concerned with world labor issues

members -- (171) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Maritime Organization (IMO)

note -- name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982

address -- 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, UK

telephone -- [44] (71) 735 7611

FAX -- [44] (71) 587 3210

established -- 17 March 1958

aim -- to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized agency

members -- (149) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire

associate members -- (2) Hong Kong, Macau


International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT)

address -- 99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX, UK

telephone -- [44] (71) 728 1000

FAX -- [44] (71) 728 1044

established -- 3 September 1976

effective -- 26 July 1979

aim -- to provide worldwide communications for maritime shipping and other applications

members -- (75) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Yugoslavia


International Monetary Fund (IMF)

address -- 700 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20431, USA

telephone -- [1] (202) 623 7000

FAX -- [1] (202) 623 4661, 623 7491, 623 4662

established -- 22 July 1944

effective -- 27 December 1945

aim -- to promote world monetary stability and economic development; a UN specialized agency

members -- (179) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Olympic Committee (IOC)

note -- there are 194 National Olympic Committees of which 185 are recognized by the International Olympic Committee

address -- Chateau de Vidy, CH-1007 Lausanne, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (21) 621 61 11

FAX -- [41] (21) 621 62 16

established -- 23 June 1894

aim -- to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games: 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States (20 July-4 August); 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan (date NA); 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia (date NA)

National Olympic Committees -- (193 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazahkstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization ----- International Organization for Migration (IOM)

note -- established as Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants from Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for Migration (ICM) in November 1980; current name adopted 14 November 1989

address -- 17 route des Morillons, CP 71, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 717 91 11

FAX -- [41] (22) 798 61 50

established -- 5 December 1951

aim -- to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration

members -- (52) Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia

observers -- (44) Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia Inc., Georgia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Holy See, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan International Friendship and Welfare Foundation, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, NZ, Niwano Peace Foundation, Partnership with the Children of the Third World, Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief/Episcopal Church, Refugee Council of Australia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe


International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

address -- CP 56, 1 rue de Varembe, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 749 01 11

FAX -- [41] (22) 733 34 30

established -- NA February 1947

aim -- to promote the development of international standards

members -- (76 national standards organizations) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe

correspondent members -- (19) Bahrain, Barbados, Brunei, Estonia, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Qatar, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE

subscriber members -- (4) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Grenada, Saint Lucia


International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)

address -- CICR, 19 Av de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 734 60 01

FAX -- [41] (22) 733 20 57

established -- NA 1928

aim -- to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS; formerly League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or LORCS) in peacetime

National Societies -- (161 countries) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAR, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

address -- Place des Nations, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 730 51 11

FAX -- [41] (22) 733 72 56

established -- 9 December 1932

effective -- 1 January 1934

affiliated with the UN -- 15 November 1947

aim -- to deal with world telecommunications issues; UN specialized agency

members -- (184) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT)

address -- INTELSAT, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008-3098, USA

telephone -- [1] (202) 944 6800

FAX -- [1] (202) 944 7860

established -- 20 August 1971

effective -- 12 February 1973

aim -- to develop and operate a global commercial telecommunications satellite system

members -- (134) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

nonsignatory users -- (50) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, North Korea, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Mongolia, Nauru, Niue, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Western Samoa


Islamic Development Bank (IDB)

address -- P.O. Box 5925, Jeddah 21432, Saudi Arabia

telephone -- [966] (2) 6361400

FAX -- [966] (2) 6366871

established -- 15 December 1973

aim -- to promote Islamic economic aid and social development

members -- (48 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization


Latin American Economic System (LAES)

note -- also known as Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA)

address -- SELA, Avda Francisco de Miranda, Torre Europa, piso 4, Chacaito, Apartado de Correos 17035, Caracas 1010-A, Venezuela

telephone -- [58] (2) 905 5111

FAX -- [58] (2) 951 6953, 951 7246

established -- 17 October 1975

aim -- to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation

members -- (27) Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela


Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)

note -- also known as Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)

address -- Calle Cebollati 1461, Casilla de Correo 577, 11000 Montevideo, Uruguay

telephone -- [598] (2) 40 11 21, 49 59 15

FAX -- [598] (2) 49 06 49

established -- 12 August 1980

effective -- 18 March 1981

aim -- to promote freer regional trade

members -- (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

observers -- (16) Commission of the European Communities, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-American Development Bank, Italy, Nicaragua, Organization of American States, Panama, Portugal, Spain, United Nations Development Program, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean


League of Arab States (LAS)

see -- Arab League (AL)


League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS)

see -- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)


least developed countries (LLDCs)

that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) initially identified by the UN General Assembly in 1971 as having no significant economic growth, per capita GDPs normally less than $1,000, and low literacy rates; also known as the undeveloped countries. The 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Yemen

less developed countries (LDCs)

the bottom group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); mainly countries and dependent areas with low levels of output, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs are generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, the group also includes a number of countries with high per capita incomes, areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes the advanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons (Four Tigers), least developed countries (LLDCs), low-income countries, middle-income countries, newly industrializing economies (NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped countries, undeveloped countries; the 172 LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Isle of Man, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

low-income countries

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

London Suppliers Group

see -- Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)


Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (MERCOSUR)

see -- Southern Cone Common Market


middle-income countries

another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)

Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

established -- April 1987

aim -- to arrest missile proliferation by controlling the export of key missile technologies and equipment

members -- (25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US


Near Abroad

the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, in which 25 million ethnic Russians live and in which Moscow has expressed a strong national security interest

newly industrializing countries (NICs)

former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)

newly industrializing economies (NIEs)

that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) that has experienced particularly rapid industrialization of their economies; formerly known as the newly industrializing countries (NICs); also known as advanced developing countries; usually includes the Four Dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan), and Brazil

Nonaligned Movement (NAM)

address -- c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jalan Taman Pejambon 6, Jakarta PUSAT, Indonesia

established -- 1-6 September 1961

aim -- to establish political and military cooperation apart from the traditional East or West blocs

members -- (110 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization

observers -- (19) Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization, Antigua and Barbuda, Arab League, Armenia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvador, Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (New Caledonia), Mexico, Mongolia, Organization of African Unity, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Papua New Guinea, Socialist Party of Puerto Rico, UN, Uruguay

guests -- (21) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland


Nordic Council (NC)

address -- Tyrgatan 7, Box 19506, S-104 32 Stockholm, Sweden

telephone -- [46] (8) 453 47 00

FAX -- [46] (8) 411 75 36

established -- 16 March 1952

effective -- 12 February 1953

aim -- to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental cooperation

members -- (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden

observers -- the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden


Nordic Investment Bank (NIB)

address -- Fabiansgatan 34, PB 249 SF-00171 Helsinki, Finland

telephone -- [358] (0) 18001

FAX -- [358] (0) 1800309

established -- 4 December 1975

effective -- 1 June 1976

aim -- to promote economic cooperation and development

members -- (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden


North

a popular term for the rich industrialized countries generally located in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the counterpart of the South; see developed countries (DCs)

North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC)

note -- an extension of NATO

address -- c/o NATO, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 728 41 11

FAX -- [32] (2) 728 45 79

established -- 8 November 1991

effective -- 20 December 1991

aim -- to discuss cooperation on mutual political and security issues

members -- (38) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan

observer -- (1) Finland


North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

address -- B-110 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 728 41 11

FAX -- [32] (2) 728 45 79

established -- 17 September 1949

aim -- to promote mutual defense and cooperation

members -- (16) Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US


Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)

address -- Le Seine St. Germain, 12 bd des Iles, F-92130 Issy-les- Moulineaux, France

telephone -- [33] (1) 45 24 10 10

FAX -- [33] (1) 45 24 11 10

established -- NA 1958

aim -- to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; associated with OECD

members -- (23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US


Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

note -- also known as the London Suppliers Group

address -- c/o IAEA, Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria

telephone -- [43] (1) 2360 2045

FAX -- [43] (1) 234564

established -- 1974

aim -- to establish guidelines for exports of technical information, processing equipment for uranium enrichment and nuclear materials to countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability

members -- (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

observers -- (2) Argentina, European Commission


Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)

see -- Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)


Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

address -- 2 rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France

telephone -- [33] (1) 45 24 82 00

FAX -- [33] (1) 45 24 85 00, 45 24 81 76

established -- 14 December 1960

effective -- 30 September 1961

aim -- to promote economic cooperation and development

members -- (25) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

special member -- (1) EU


Organization of African Unity (OAU)

address -- P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

telephone -- [251] (1) 517700

FAX -- [251] (1) 512622

established -- 25 May 1963

aim -- to promote unity and cooperation among African states

members -- (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


Organization of American States (OAS)

address -- corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA

telephone -- [1] (202) 458 3000 FAX [1] (202) 458 3967

established -- 30 April 1948

effective -- 13 December 1951

aim -- to promote regional peace and security as well as economic and social development

members -- (35) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba (excluded from formal participation since 1962), Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela

observers -- (31) Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Central American Parliament, Commission of the European Communities, Cyprus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia


Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)

address -- POB 20501, Safat 13066, Kuwait

telephone -- [965] 5340713

FAX -- [965] 5340694

established -- 9 January 1968

aim -- to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry

members -- (10) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE


Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

address -- P.O. Box 179, The Morne, Castries, St. Lucia

telephone -- [1] (809) 452 2537

FAX -- [1] (809) 453 1628

established -- 18 June 1981

effective -- 4 July 1981

aim -- to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation

members -- (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

associate member -- (1) British Virgin Islands


Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

address -- Obere Donaustrasse 93, A-1020 Vienna, Austria

telephone -- [43] (1) 21 11 20

FAX -- [43] (1) 26 43 20

established -- 14 September 1960

aim -- to coordinate petroleum policies

members -- (12) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela


Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)

address -- Kilo 6, Mecca Road, P.O. Box 178, Jeddah 21411, Saudi Arabia

telephone -- [966] (2) 680-0800

FAX -- [966] (2) 687-3568

established -- 22-25 September 1969

aim -- to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs

members -- (48 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

observers -- (3) Kazakhstan, Mozambique, "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"


Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

note -- formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)

address -- Thunovska 12, Mala Strana, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic

telephone -- [422] (2) 24311069

FAX -- [422] (2) 24310629

established -- 1 January 1995

aim -- to discuss issues of mutual concern and to review implementation of the Helsinki Agreement

members -- (53) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia (suspended)

observer -- (1) The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia


Paris Club

see -- Group of 10


Partnership for Peace (PFP)

established -- 10-11 January 1994

aim -- to expand and intensify political and military cooperation throughout Europe, increase stability, diminish threats to peace, and build relationships by promoting the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment to democratic principles that underpin NATO; program under the auspices of NATO

members -- (24) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan


Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)

address -- Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands

telephone -- [31] (70) 346 96 80

FAX -- [31] (70) 356 13 38

established -- 29 July 1899

aim -- to facilitate the settlement of international disputes

members -- (80) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire, Zimbabwe


Population Commission

address -- c/o ECOSOC, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 754 1234

established -- 3 October 1946

aim -- to deal with population matters of importance to the UN, as part of Economic and Social Council organization

members -- (27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Rio Group (RG)

note -- formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established in December 1986

established -- NA 1988

aim -- to consult on regional Latin American issues

members -- (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela; note - Panama was expelled in 1988


Second World

another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states of the USSR and Eastern Europe, with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies

Social Commission

see -- Commission for Social Development


socialist countries

in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note - the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries

South

a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

address -- P.O. Box 4222, Kathmandu, Nepal

telephone -- [977] (1) 221785, 221787, 221794

FAX -- [977] (1) 227033

established -- 8 December 1985

aim -- to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation

members -- (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka


South Pacific Commission (SPC)

address -- Anse Vata, BP D5 Noumea CEDEX, New Caledonia

telephone -- [687] 26 20 00 FAX [687] 26 38 18

established -- 6 February 1947

effective -- 29 July 1948

aim -- to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters

members -- (27) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa


South Pacific Forum (SPF)

address -- c/o forum Secretariat, Ratu Sukuna Road GPO Box 856, Suva, Fiji

telephone -- [679] 312 600, 303 106

FAX -- [679] 302 204

established -- 5 August 1971

aim -- to promote regional cooperation in political matters

members -- (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa

observer -- (1) Palau


South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA)

address -- (see South Pacific Forum)

established -- NA 1981

aim -- to redress unequal trade relationship of Australia and New Zealand with small island economies in Pacific region

members -- (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa


Southern African Customs Union (SACU)

address -- Director General, Trade and Industry, Private Bag X84, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

established -- 11 December 1969

aim -- to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters

members -- (9) Bophuthatswana, Botswana, Ciskei, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Transkei, Venda


Southern African Development Community (SADC)

note -- evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)

address -- Private Bag 008, Gaborone, Botswana

telephone -- [267] (31) 51863, 51864, 51865

FAX -- [267] (31) 372848

established -- 17 August 1992

aim -- to promote regional economic development and integration

members -- (11) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe


Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR)

address -- c/o Cancilleria de la Republica de Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina

established -- 26 March 1991

aim -- to increase regional economic cooperation

members -- (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay


Statistical Commission

address -- c/o ECOSOC, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718

established -- 21 June 1946

aim -- to deal with development and standardization of national statistics of interest to the UN, as part of the Economic and Social Council organization

members -- (24) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


Third World

another term for the less developed countries; the term is fading from use;

see -- less developed countries (LDCs)


underdeveloped countries

refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above- average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)

undeveloped countries

refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)

Union Douaniere et Economique de l

'Afrique Centrale (UDEAC)

see -- Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)


United Nations (UN)

address -- United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718

established -- 26 June 1945

effective -- 24 October 1945

aim -- to maintain international peace and security and to promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems

members -- (184 excluding Yugoslavia) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members are represented in the General Assembly

observers -- (2 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See, Switzerland, Palestine Liberation Organization


United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II)

note -- successor to original UNAVEM

address -- c/o United Nations, UNAVEM II, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718

established -- 20 December 1988

aim -- to verify the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (16) Argentina, Brazil, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, Zimbabwe


United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR)

established -- 5 October 1993

aim -- to monitor ceasefire agreement, to support and provide safe conditions for displaced persons; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (17) Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Congo, Egypt, Fiji, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Zimbabwe


United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

note -- acronym retained from the predecessor organization UN International Children's Emergency Fund

address -- UNICEF House, Three United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 326 7000

established -- 11 December 1946

aim -- to help establish child health and welfare services

members -- (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

address -- Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34

FAX -- [41] (22) 907 00 57

established -- 30 December 1964

aim -- to promote international trade

members -- (187) all UN members plus Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga


United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

address -- One United National Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 906 5788, 906 500 FAX [1] (212) 906 5365

established -- 22 November 1965

aim -- to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development

members -- (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

address -- c/o UNDOF, P.O. Box 5368, Damascus, Syrian AR

established -- 31 May 1974

aim -- to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli ceasefire; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (4) Austria, Canada, Finland, Poland


United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

address -- 7 place de Fontenoy, F-75700 Paris, France

telephone -- [33] (1) 45 68 10 00

FAX -- [33] (1) 45 67 16 90

established -- 16 November 1945

effective -- 4 November 1946

aim -- to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture

members -- (182) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

associate members -- (3) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles


United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

address -- One United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 906 5000

FAX -- [1] (212) 826 2057

established -- 15 December 1972

aim -- to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters

members -- (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 4 March 1964

aim -- to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (8) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, UK


United Nations General Assembly

address -- see United Nations

established -- 26 June 1945

effective -- 24 October 1945

aim -- to function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN

members -- (185) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly


United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

address -- Vienna International Center, P.O. Box 300, A-1400 Vienna, Austria

telephone -- [43] (1) 211 310

FAX -- [43] (1) 23 21 56

established -- 17 November 1966

effective -- 1 January 1967

aim -- UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members

members -- (166) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

established -- 11 December 1963

aim -- to help the UN become more effective through training and research members (Board of Trustees) - (24) Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Libya, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, UK, US, Yugoslavia


United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 19 March 1978

aim -- to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restore peace, and reestablish Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (9) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Norway, Poland


United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM)

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Mission, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA telephone [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 9 April 1991

aim -- to observe and monitor the demilitarized zone established between Iraq and Kuwait; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (33) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela


United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)

address -- c/o OUSGSPA, Room 3853, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 4457

FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718

established -- 13 August 1948

aim -- to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan ceasefire; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Uruguay


United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH)

established -- 23 September 1993

aim -- to assist in implementing the agreement to transfer power back into the civilian government; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (14) Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Canada, France, Indonesia, Madagascar, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, US, Venezuela


United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL)

established -- 22 September 1993

aim -- to assist in the implementation of the peace agreement; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (13) Austria, Bangladesh, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea- Bissau, India, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Slovakia, Uruguay


United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 29 April 1991

aim -- to supervise the referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (27) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, US, Venezuela


United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL)

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 20 May 1991

aim -- to verify ceasefire arrangements and to monitor the maintenance of public order pending the organization of a new National Civil Police; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (14) Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Venezuela


United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 1993 for a period of six months

aim -- to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement reached 27 July 1993 and investigate reports of violations of that agreement; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (7) Bangladesh, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland


United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR)

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 1993 for six months

aim -- to monitor the Uganda/Rwanda border to verify that no military assistance reaches Rwanda across the border; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (8) Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Hungary, Netherlands, Senegal, Slovakia, Zimbabwe


United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

address -- Case postale 2500, Depot, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 739 81 11

FAX -- [41] (22) 731 95 46

established -- 3 December 1949

effective -- 1 January 1951

aim -- to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee problems

members -- (47) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire


United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ)

note -- supposed to shut down 31 January 1995

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 16 December 1992

aim -- to supervise the ceasefire; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (27) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, US, Uruguay, Zambia


United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II)

note -- UN peacekeepers left Somalia on 1 March 1995; some UN personnel remain in Somalia engaged in humanitarian work

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Missions, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 24 April 1992

aim -- to facilitate an immediate cessation of hostilities, to maintain a ceasefire in order to promote a political settlement, and to provide urgent humanitarian assistance; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (14) Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Zimbabwe


United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

note -- acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities

address -- 220 E. 42nd Street, 19th Floor, Room DN-1901, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 297 5000

FAX -- [1] (212) 557 6416

established -- NA July 1967

aim -- to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems

members -- (52) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR)

address -- c/o UN Peace Keeping Mission, Office for Special Political Affairs, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 963 4879

established -- 28 February 1992

aim -- to create conditions for peace and security required for the negotiation of an overall settlement of the "Yugoslav" crisis; established by the UN Security Council

members -- (35) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Venezuela


United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near

East (UNRWA)

address -- Vienna International Center, P. O. Box 700, A-1400 Vienna, Austria

telephone -- [43] (1) 211 31, ext. 4530

FAX -- [43] (1) 230 7487

established -- 8 December 1949

aim -- to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees

members -- (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US


United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

established -- 1 July 1964

aim -- to conduct research into the problems of economic development during different phases of economic growth

members -- no country members, but a Board of Directors consisting of a chairman appointed by the UN secretary general and 10 individual members


United Nations Secretariat

address -- see United Nations

established -- 26 June 1945

effective -- 24 October 1945

aim -- to serve as the primary administrative organ of the UN; a Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council

members -- the UN secretary general and staff


United Nations Security Council

address -- c/o United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA

telephone -- [1] (212) 963 1234

FAX -- [1] (212) 758 2718

established -- 26 June 1945

effective -- 24 October 1945

aim -- to maintain international peace and security

permanent members -- (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US

nonpermanent members -- (10) elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly; Argentina (1994-95), Brazil (1993-94), Czech Republic (1994-95), Djibouti (1993-94), NZ (1993-94), Nigeria (1994-95), Oman (1994-95), Pakistan (1993-94), Rwanda (1994-95), Spain (1993-94)


United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)

established by the UN Security Council on 28 February 1992 to contribute to the restoration and maintenance of peace and to the holding of free elections; disbanded sometime after the UN-supervised election in May 1993; members were Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, UK, US, Uruguay

United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)

address -- Government House, P.O. Box 490, Jerusalem, Israel

telephone -- [972] (2) 734 223

established -- NA May 1948

aim -- to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli ceasefire and subsequently extended to work in the Sinai, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan; initially established by the UN Security Council

members -- (19) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, US


United Nations Trusteeship Council

established on 26 June 1945, effective on 24 October 1945, to supervise the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members were China, France, Russia, UK, US; its mandate ended on 1 October 1994 when the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a self-governing territory in free association with the US

United Nations University (UNU)

established -- 6 December 1973

aim -- to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars

members (associated institutes) -- (32) Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela


Universal Postal Union (UPU)

address -- Bureau International de lÆUPU, Weltpoststrasse 4, CH-3000 Berne 15, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (31) 350 31 11

FAX -- [41] (31) 350 31 10

established -- 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947

effective -- 1 July 1948

aim -- to promote international postal cooperation; a UN specialized agency

members -- (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Overseas Territories of the UK, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe ------ Warsaw Pact (WP) established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of dissolution were Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier members included East Germany and Albania


West African Development Bank (WADB)

note -- also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)

address -- BOAD, BP 1172, 68 av de la liberation, Lome, Togo

telephone -- [228] 21 59 06, 21 42 44, 21 01 13

FAX -- [228] 21 52 67, 21 72 69

established -- 14 November 1973

aim -- to promote regional economic development and integration

members -- (7) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo


West African Economic Community (CEAO)

note -- acronym from Communaute Economique de lÆAfrique de lÆOuest established on 3 June 1972 to promote regional economic development; its members were Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal; it was disbanded in 1994


Western European Union (WEU)

address -- Rue de la Regence 4, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 500 44 11

FAX -- [32] (2) 511 35 19

established -- 23 October 1954

effective -- 6 May 1955

aim -- to provide mutual defense and to move toward political unification

members -- (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK

associate members -- (3) Iceland, Norway, Turkey

associate partners -- (9) Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia

observers -- (2) Denmark, Ireland


World Bank

see -- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)


World Bank Group

includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), and International Finance Corporation (IFC)

World Confederation of Labor (WCL)

address -- Rue de Treves 33, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium

telephone -- [32] (2) 230 62 95

FAX -- [32] (2) 230 87 22

established -- 19 June 1920 as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968

aim -- to promote the trade union movement

members -- (99 national organizations) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bonaire Island, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


World Court

see -- International Court of Justice (ICJ)


World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

address -- Branicka 112, Branik, CS-14700 Prague 4, Czech Republic

telephone -- [42] (2) 46 21 40

FAX -- [42] (2) 46 13 78

established -- 3 October 1945

aim -- to promote the trade union movement

members -- (116) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zimbabwe


World Food Council (WFC)

address -- c/o FAO, Via Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy

telephone -- [39] (6) 522821

FAX -- [39] (6) 574 5091

established -- 17 December 1974

aim -- to study world food problems and to recommend solutions; ECOSOC organization

members -- (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


World Food Program (WFP)

address -- Via Cristoforo Colombo 426, I-00145 Rome, Italy

telephone -- [39] (6) 522821

FAX -- [39] (6) 5123700, 5133537, 52282840

established -- 24 November 1961

aim -- to provide food aid in support of economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization

members -- (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions


World Health Organization (WHO)

address -- CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 791 21 11, 791 32 23

FAX -- [41] (22) 791 07 46

established -- 22 July 1946

effective -- 7 April 1948

aim -- UN specialized agency concerned with health matters

members -- (189) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niue, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

associate members -- (2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau


World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

address -- 34 chemin des Colombettes, Case Postale 18, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 730 9111

FAX -- [41] (22) 733 5428

established -- 14 July 1967

effective -- 26 April 1970

aim -- to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific works; a UN specialized agency

members -- (147) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

address -- Case Postale 2300, 41 Av Giuseppe-Motta, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

telephone -- [41] (22) 730 81 11

FAX -- [41] (22) 734 23 26

established -- 11 October 1947

effective -- 4 April 1951

aim -- to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a specialized UN agency

members -- (175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Caribbean Territories, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe


World Tourism Organization (WTO or WToO)

address -- Calle Capitan Haya 41, 28020 Madrid, Spain

telephone -- [34] (1) 571 06 28

FAX -- [34] (1) 571 37 33

established -- 2 January 1975

aim -- to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic development, international understanding, and peace

members -- (121) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

associate members -- (4) Aruba, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico

observer -- (1) Holy See


World Trade Organization (WTrO)

will be added in The World Factbook 1996

Zangger Committee (ZC)

established -- early 1970s

aim -- to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

members -- (29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US