FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization IDA International Development Association IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IFC International Finance Corporation ILO International Labor Organization IMF International Monetary Fund
IMO International Maritime Organization ITU International Telecommunication Union UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization UPU Universal Postal Union
WHO World Health Organization WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization WMO World Meteorological Organization Related organizations
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency Regional commissions
ECA Economic Commission for Africa ECE Economic Commission for Europe ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESCWA Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Functional commissions
Commission on Human Rights
Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Commission for Social Development Commission on the Status of Women
Population Commission
Statistical Commission
6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Abbreviations for International Organizations and Groups
ABEDA Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa ACC Arab Cooperation Council
ACCT Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation ACP African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries AfDB African Development Bank
AFESD Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development AG Andean Group
AL Arab League
ALADI Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion; see Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) AMF Arab Monetary Fund
AMU Arab Maghreb Union
ANZUS Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation AsDB Asian Development Bank
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations
BAD Banque Africaine de Developpement; see African Development Bank (AfDB) BADEA Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique; see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA) BCIE Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico; see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) BDEAC Banque de Developpment des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale; see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) Benelux Benelux Economic Union
BID Banco Interamericano de Desarvollo; see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
BIS Bank for International Settlements BOAD Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement; see West African Development Bank (WADB)
C Commonwealth
CACM Central American Common Market CAEU Council of Arab Economic Unity
CARICOM Caribbean Community and Common Market CCC Customs Cooperation Council
CDB Caribbean Development Bank
CE Council of Europe
CEAO Communaute Economique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest; see West African Economic Community (CEAO)
CEEAC Communaute Economique des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale; see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) CEMA Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; also known as CMEA or Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991
CEPGL Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs; see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) CERN Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire; see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) CG Contadora Group
CIS Commonwealth of Independent States CMEA Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as Comecon; abolished 1 January 1991
COCOM Coordinating Committee on Export Controls Comecon Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as CMEA; abolished 1 January 1991
CP Colombo Plan
CSCE Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
EADB East African Development Bank
EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EC European Community
ECA Economic Commission for Africa ECAFE Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East; see Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) ECE Economic Commission for Europe
ECLA Economic Commission for Latin America; see Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ECOSOC Economic and Social Council
ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States ECWA Economic Commission for Western Asia; see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) EFTA European Free Trade Association
EIB European Investment Bank
Entente Council of the Entente
ESA European Space Agency
ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESCWA Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FLS Front Line States
FZ Franc Zone
G-2 Group of 2
G-3 Group of 3
G-5 Group of 5
G-6 Group of 6 (not to be confused with the Big Six) G-7 Group of 7
G-8 Group of 8
G-9 Group of 9
G-10 Group of 10
G-11 Group of 11
G-15 Group of 15
G-19 Group of 19
G-24 Group of 24
G-30 Group of 30
G-33 Group of 33
G-77 Group of 77
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GCC Gulf Cooperation Council
Habitat see United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNCHS) HG Hexagonal Group
IADB Inter-American Development Bank IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency IBEC International Bank for Economic Cooperation IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization ICC International Chamber of Commerce
ICEM Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration; see International Organization for Migration (IOM) ICFTU International Confederation of Free Trade Unions ICJ International Court of Justice
ICM Intergovernmental Committee for Migration; see International Organization for Migration (IOM) ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross IDA International Development Association IDB Islamic Development Bank
IEA International Energy Agency
IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IFC International Finance Corporation
IGADD Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development IIB International Investment Bank
ILO International Labor Organization IMCO Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization; see International Maritime Organization (IMO) IMF International Monetary Fund
IMO International Maritime Organization INMARSAT International Maritime Satellite Organization INTELSAT International Telecommunications Satellite Organization INTERPOL International Criminal Police Organization IOC International Olympic Committee
IOM International Organization for Migration ISO International Organization for Standardization ITU International Telecommunication Union
LAES Latin American Economic System LAIA Latin American Integration Association LAS League of Arab States; see Arab League (AL) LDC less developed country
LLDC least developed country
LORCS League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
MERCOSUR Southern Cone Common Market
MTCR Missile Technology Control Regime
NACC North Atlantic Cooperation Council NAM Nonaligned Movement
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NC Nordic Council
NEA Nuclear Energy Agency
NIB Nordic Investment Bank
NIC newly industrializing country; see newly industrializing economy (NIE)
NIE newly industrializing economy NSG Nuclear Suppliers Group
OAPEC Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries OAS Organization of American States
OAU Organization of African Unity OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean States OIC Organization of the Islamic Conference OPANAL Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
PCA Permanent Court of Arbitration
SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SACU Southern African Customs Union
SADCC Southern African Development Coordination Conference SELA Sistema Economico Latinoamericana; see Latin American Economic System (LAES)
SPC South Pacific Commission
SPF South Pacific Forum
UDEAC Union Douaniere et Economique de l’Afrique Centrale; see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) UN United Nations
UNAVEM United Nations Angola Verification Mission UNCHS United National Center for Human Settlements (also known as Habitat)
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNDOF United Nations Disengagement Observer Force UNDP United Nations Development Program UNEP United Nations Environment Program UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
UNFICYP United Nations Force in Cyprus UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities; see UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
UNHCR United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees UNICEF United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund; see United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIFIL United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIIMOG United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group UNMOGIP United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
UNTSO United Nations Truce Supervision Organization UPU Universal Postal Union
USSR/EE USSR/Eastern Europe
WADB West African Development Bank
WCL World Confederation of Labor
WEU Western European Union
WFC World Food Council
WFP World Food Program
WFTU World Federation of Trade Unions WHO World Health Organization
WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization WMO World Meteorological Organization
WP Warsaw Pact (members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance) WTO World Tourism Organization
note: not all international organizations and groups have abbreviations
International Organizations and Groups
Note – another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries (ACP)
aim – members have a preferential economic and aid relationship with the EC
members – (69) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Boswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Ivory Coast, 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), also known as Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)
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, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, 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 – (25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US, Yugoslavia
Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT)
Note – see Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)
Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)
Note – acronym from Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique
aim – to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French- speaking countries
members – (32) Belgium, Benin, Burkina, Burundi, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zaire
associate members – (7) Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, 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)
established – 14 February 1967
aim – to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons
members – (24) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
established – 26 May 1969, effective 16 October 1969
aim – to promote harmonious development through economic integration
members – (5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
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
Note – The US view is that the Socialist Federal represents its continuation. Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
Note – also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)
established – 18 February 1974
aim – to promote economic development
members – (16 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, 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 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)
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
Note – also known as League of Arab States (LAS)
aim – to promote economic, social, political, and military cooperation
members – (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
established – 17 February 1989
aim – to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of northern Africa
members – (5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia
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)
established – NA November 1989
aim – to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin
members – (15) all ASEAN members (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) plus Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, NZ, Taiwan, US
established – 19 December 1966
aim – to promote regional economic cooperation
regional members – (35) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa
nonregional members – (15) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)
Note – see Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
aim – regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia
members – (6) Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
observer – (1) Papua New Guinea
aim – to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons
members – (22) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Australia – New Zealand – United States Security Treaty (ANZUS)
established – 1 September 1951, effective 29 April 1952
aim – 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)
Note – see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
Banco Interamericano de Desarvollo (BID)
Note – see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
aim – to promote cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements
members – (29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia
Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)
Note – see African Development Bank (AfDB)
Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)
Note – see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
Banque de Developpement des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (BDEAC)
Note – see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)
Note – see West African Development Bank (WADB)
Benelux Economic Union (Benelux)
Note – acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg
aim – to develop closer economic cooperation and integration
members – (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Note – membership is the same as the Group of 7
aim – to discuss and coordinate major economic policies
members – (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US
Note – not to be confused with the Group of 6
members – (6) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK
Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)
aim – to promote economic integration and development, especially among the less developed countries
members – (13) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
associate members – (2) British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
observers – (10) Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Venezuela
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
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
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
Note – acronym from Union Douaniere et Economique de l’Afrique Centrale
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
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
established – 13 December 1960
aim – to promote economic integration and development
members – (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
Central American Common Market (CACM)
established – 13 December 1960
aim – to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market
members – (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
Note – 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
aim – to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific
nembers – (26) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK, US
Commission for Social Development
established – 21 June 1946 as the Social Commission, renamed 29 July 1966
aim – ECOSOC organization dealing with social development programs
members – (31) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
established – 18 February 1946
aim – ECOSOC organization dealing with human rights
members – (43) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
established – 16 February 1946
aim – ECOSOC organization dealing with illicit drugs
members – (38) selected on a rotating basis from all regions with emphasis on producing and processing countries
Commission on the Status of Women
aim – ECOSOC organization dealing with women’s rights
members – (32) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
established – 31 December 1931
aim – voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire and that seeks to foster multinational cooperation and assistance
members – (48) 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, 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)
aim – to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide a mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR
members – (11) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Communaute Economique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEAO)
Note – see West African Economic Community (CEAO)
Communaute Economique des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (CEEAC)
Note – see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs (CEPGL)
Note – see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
Note – traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; most of the successor states are no longer Communist; see centrally planned economies
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)
established – NA November 1972
aim – discusses issues of mutual concern and reviews implementation of the Helsinki Agreement
members – (52) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Yugoslavia
Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN)
Note – see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
Contadora Group (CG) –
Note – was established 5 January 1983 (on the Panamanian island of Contadora) to reduce tensions and conflicts in Central America but evolved into the Rio Group (RG); members included Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
Note – see Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM)
aim – to control the export of strategic products and technical data from member countries to proscribed destinations
members – (17) Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US
cooperating countries – (8) Austria, Finland, Ireland, South Korea, NZ, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA)
Note – also known as CMEA or Comecon, was 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)
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
aim – to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe
members – (28) Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK
Council of the Entente (Entente)
aim – to promote economic, social, and political coordination
members – (5) Benin, Burkina, Ivory Coast, Niger, Togo
Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)
established – 15 December 1950
aim – to promote international cooperation in customs matters
members – (108) Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Note – the top group in the comprehensive but mutually exclusive 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 GNP/GDP in excess of $10,000 although some OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000. The 34 DCs are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Vatican City
Note – an imprecise term for the less developed countries with growing economies; see less developed countries (LDCs)
East African Development Bank (EADB)
aim – to promote economic development
members – (3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
established – 28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE)
aim – to promote economic development as a regional commission for the UN’s ECOSOC
members – (39) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa
associate members – (10) American Samoa, Cook Islands, Guam, Hong Kong, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
established – 9 August 1973 as Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)
aim – to promote economic development as a regional commission for the UN’s ECOSOC
members – (12 and 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)
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 six functional commissions (see Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Commission on the Status of Women, Population Commission, and Statistical Commission)
members – (54) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
aim – to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN’s ECOSOC
members – (52) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, 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 (suspended), Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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)
aim – to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN’s ECOSOC
members – (33) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, US, 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)
established – 25 February 1948 as Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)
aim – to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN’s ECOSOC
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, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
associate members – (5) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Virgin Islands
Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)
Note – see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) – acronym from Communaute Economique des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale
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
Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
Note – acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs
established – 26 September 1976
aim – to promote regional economic cooperation and integration
members – (3) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
aim – to promote regional economic cooperation
members – (16) Benin, Burkina, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
aim – to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned economies in Europe (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its loans to privatization
members – (35) Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, European Community (EC), Egypt, European Investment Bank (EIB), Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US; note – includes all 24 members of the OECD and the EC as an institution
aim – a fusing of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ESC), and the European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market); the EC plans to establish a completely integrated common market in 1992 and an eventual federation of Europe
members – (12) Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
associate member – (1) Czechoslovakia
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
aim – to promote expansion of free trade
members – (6) Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland
European Investment Bank (EIB)
aim – to promote economic development of the EC
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
aim – to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only
members – (16) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
observers – (2) Turkey, Yugoslavia
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
Note – another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
aim – UN specialized agency to raise living standards and increase availability of agricultural products
members – (157) all UN members except Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Brunei, Croatia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; other members are Cook Islands, Switzerland, Tonga
Former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE)
Note – the middle group in the comprehensive but mutually exclusive 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 includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czecholovakia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia
Note – 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
Note – another term for the Four Dragons; see Four Dragons
aim – monetary union among countries whose currencies are linked to the French franc
members – (15) Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Ivory Coast, 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)
aim – to achieve black majority rule in South Africa
members – (7) Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
aim – to promote the expansion of international trade on a nondiscriminatory basis
members – (98) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
established – informal term that came into use about 1986
aim – bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants
aim – mechanism for policy coordination
members – (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela
established – 22 September 1985
aim – the five major non-Communist economic powers
members – (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US
Note – not to be confused with the Big Six
aim – seeks to achieve nuclear disarmament
members – (6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania
Note – membership is the same as the Big Seven
established – 22 September 1985
aim – the seven major non-Communist economic powers
members – (7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus Canada and Italy
aim – 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, EC (as one member), Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, US
aim – informal group that meets occasionally on matters of mutual interest
members – (9) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia
Note – also known as the Paris Club
aim – 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
members – (11) Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Note – also known as the Cartagena Group
established – 22 June 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia
aim – forum for largest debtor nations in Latin America
members – (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Note – byproduct of the Non-Aligned Movement
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
aim – 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
aim – to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America within the IMF
members – (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
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)
aim – to promote solutions to international economic problems
members – (33) leading economists from 13 countries
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, 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, Ivory Coast, 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
aim – to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political, and military affairs
members – (6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE
Note – see United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNCHS)
Note – HG – the old Pentagonal Group plus one)
aim – to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas
members – (6) Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Yugoslavia
Note – another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GNPs/GDPs; see developed countries (DCs)
Note – another term for the developed countries; see developed countries (DCs)
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Note – also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarvollo (BID)
aim – to promote economic and social development in Latin America
members – (44) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, 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, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia
Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)
aim – to promote cooperation on drought-related matters
members – (6) Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
aim – to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy
members – (115) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, 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, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC)
Note – established in 22 October 1963; aim was to promote economic cooperation and development – members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now a Russian bank with a new charter
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
Note – also known as the World Bank
aim – UN specialized agency that initially promoted economic rebuilding after World War II and now provides economic development loans
members – (156) all UN members except Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei, Cuba, Estonia, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, San Marino, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; other members are Kiribati, Tonga
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
aim – to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels
members – (58 national councils) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, 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)
aim – UN specialized agency to promote international cooperation in civil aviation
members – (164) all UN members except Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Dominica, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Moldova, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Western Samoa; other members are Cook Islands, Kiribati, Monaco, Nauru, Switzerland, Tonga
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
aim – to provide humanitarian aid in wartime
members – (25 individuals) all Swiss nationals
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
established – NA December 1949
aim – to promote the trade union movement
members – (144 national organizations in the following 103 areas) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, The Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Vatican City, Venezuela, Western Samoa
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Note – also known as the World Court
aim – primary judicial organ of the UN
members – (15 judges) elected by the General Assembly and Security Council to represent all principal legal systems
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
aim – to promote international cooperation between criminal police authorities
members – (152) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, 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, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Development Association (IDA)
aim – UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic loans for low income countries
members – (136) Part I – (22 more economically advanced countries) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, UAE, UK, US
members – Part II – (114 less developed nations) Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, 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, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
International Energy Agency (IEA)
established – 15 November 1974
aim – established by the OECD to promote cooperation on energy matters, especially emergency oil sharing and relations between oil consumers and oil producers
members – (21) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
aim – UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that helps private enterprise sector in economic development
members – (133) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burma,