Appendix C:  International Organizations and Groups 
  
  
 advanced developing countries
  another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid 
  industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs) 
advanced economies
   
 a new term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group 
  in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing 
  countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 28 advanced 
  economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, 
  Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, 
  Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, 
  UK, US; note - this group would presumably also cover the following seven 
  smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, 
  Monaco, and San Marino which are included in the more comprehensive group of 
  "developed countries" 
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group)
   
 address - Avenue Georges Henri 451, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
   
 telephone - [32] (2) 743 06 00
   
 FAX - [32] (2) 735 55 73
   
 established - 6 June 1975
   
 aim - to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship 
  with the EU
   
 members - (71) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, 
  Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central 
  African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial 
  Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, 
  Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, 
  Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Papua 
  New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the 
  Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, 
  Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, 
  Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
African Development Bank (AfDB)
   
 note - also known as Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD)
   
 address - 01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01, Cote d'Ivoire
   
 telephone - [225] 20 44 44
   
 FAX - [225] 21 77 53
   
 established - 4 August 1963
   
 aim - to promote economic and social development
   
 regional members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina 
  Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, 
  Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, 
  Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, 
  Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, 
  Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and 
  Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, 
  Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
   
 nonregional members - (25) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, 
  Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, 
  South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, 
  Switzerland, UAE, UK, US 
Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT)
   
 see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT) 
Agence de la francophonie (ACCT)
   
 see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT) 
Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)
   
 see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT); acronym from Agence 
  de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique 
Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT)
   
 note - formerly Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation
   
 address - 13 Quai Andre-Citroen, F-75015 Paris, France
   
 telephone - [33] (1) 44 37 33 00
   
 FAX - [33] (1) 45 79 14 98
   
 established - 20 March 1970
   
 name changed - 1996
   
 aim - to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French-speaking 
  countries
   
 members - (41) Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, 
  Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, 
  Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, 
  Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, 
  Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Sao Tome 
  and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam
   
 associate members - (5) Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco, 
  Saint Lucia
   
 participating governments - (2) New Brunswick (Canada), Quebec 
  (Canada)  
Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the 
  Caribbean (OPANAL)
   
 note - acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas 
  Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)
   
 address - Temistocles 78, Col Polanco, CP 011560, Mexico City 5 
  DF, Mexico
   
 telephone - [52] (5) 280 4923, 280 5064, 280 2715
   
 FAX - [52] (5) 280 2965
   
 established - 14 February 1967 under the Treaty of Tlatelolco
   
 effective - 25 April 1969 on the 11th ratification of the treaty
   
 aim - to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit 
  nuclear weapons
   
 members - (32) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, 
  Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, 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, Uruguay, Venezuela 
   
Andean Community of Nations (CAN)
   
 note - formerly known as the Andean Group (AG), the Andean Parliament, 
  and most recently as the Andean Common Market (Ancom)
   
 address - c/o General Secretariat of the Andean Community, Paseo 
  de la Republica 3895, Casilla 18-1177, Lima 18, Peru
   
 telephone - [51] (1) 221 2222
   
 FAX - [51] (1) 221 3329
   
 established - 26 May 1969; present name established 1 October 1992 
  
   
 effective - 16 October 1969
   
 aim - to promote harmonious development through economic integration
   
 members - (5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
   
 associate member - (1) Panama 
Andean Group (AG)
   
 see Andean Community of Nations (CAN) 
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)
   
 note - also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en 
  Afrique (BADEA)
   
 address - Abdel Rahman El Mahdi Avenue, P. O. Box 2640, Khartoum, 
  Sudan
   
 telephone - [249] (11) 770498, 773646, 773709
   
 FAX - [249] (11) 770600
   
 established - 18 February 1974
   
 effective - 16 September 1974
   
 aim - to promote economic development 
   
 members - (17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, 
  Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, 
  Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization; 
  note - these are all the members of the Arab League excluding Comoros, 
  Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen 
Arab Cooperation Council (ACC)
   
 established - 16 February 1989
   
 aim - to promote economic cooperation and integration, possibly 
  leading to an Arab Common Market
   
 members - (4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen 
Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD)
   
 address - P. O. Box 21923, Safat 13080, Kuwait
   
 telephone - [965] 4844500
   
 FAX - [965] 4815750, 4815760, 4815770 
   
 established - 16 May 1968
   
 aim - to promote economic and social development
   
 members - (21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, 
  Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt (suspended from 1979 to 1988), Iraq (suspended 
  1993), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi 
  Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993), Sudan (suspended 1993), Syria, Tunisia, UAE, 
  Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization 
 Arab League (AL)
   
 note - also known as League of Arab States (LAS)
   
 address - Midan Attahrir, Tahrir Square, P. O. Box 11642, Cairo, Egypt
   
 telephone - [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
   
 telephone - [212] (7) 77 26 82, 77 26 76, 77 26 68
   
 FAX - [212] (7) 77 26 93
   
 established - 17 February 1989
   
 aim - to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states 
  of northern Africa
   
 members - (5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia 
Arab Monetary Fund (AMF)
   
 address - P. O. Box 2818, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
   
 telephone - [971] (2) 215000, 328500 
   
 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 - (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, 
  Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, 
  Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, 
  Palestine Liberation Organization 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 
   
 address - APEC Secretariat, 438 Alexandra Road, 14-00 Alexandra 
  Point, 14th Floor 01/04, Singapore 119958, Singapore
   
 telephone - [65] 276 1880
   
 FAX - [65] 276 1775
   
 established - 7 November 1989
   
 aim - to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin
   
 members - (21) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, 
  Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Peru, 
  Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Vietnam
   
 observers - (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific 
  Economic Cooperation Conference, South Pacific Forum 
 Asian Development Bank (AsDB)
   
 address - 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong, 0401 METRO Manila, Philippines
   
 telephone - [63] (2) 711 3851
   
 FAX - [63] (2) 741 7961, 631 6816
   
 established - 19 December 1966
   
 aim - to promote regional economic cooperation 
   
 regional members - (41) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, 
  Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, 
  Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, 
  Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, 
  Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, 
  Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, 
  Vietnam
   
 nonregional members - (16) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, 
  France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, 
  UK, US 
Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)
   
 see Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
   
 note - the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) consists of the 9 ASEAN members, 
  2 observers, 2 consultative partners, and 8 dialogue partners: Australia, Canada, 
  EU, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, US
   
 address - 70 A Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia
   
 telephone - [62] (21) 7262991, 7243372 
   
 FAX - [62] (21) 7398234, 7243504
   
 established - 8 August 1967
   
 aim - to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation 
  among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia
   
 members - (10) Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, 
  Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam 
  observer - (1) Papua New Guinea
   
 consultative partners - (2) China, Russia 
Australia Group
   
 established - 1984
   
 aim - to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical 
  and biological weapons
   
 members - (28) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, 
  Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, 
  Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US; note - may now include 
  only 23 countries 
   
 observer - (1) Singapore 
Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS)
   
 address - c/o Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bag 8, Queen 
  Victoria Terrace, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia 
   
 telephone - [61] (6) 261 91 11
   
 FAX - [61] (6) 261 21 51
   
 established - 1 September 1951
   
 effective - 29 April 1952
   
 aim - to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although 
  the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986; Australia and 
  the US continue to hold annual meetings
   
 members - (3) Australia, NZ, US 
Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico (BCIE)
  see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) 
Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) 
   
 see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) 
Bank for International Settlements (BIS) 
   
 address - Centralbahnplatz 2, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (61) 280 80 80
   
 FAX - [41] (61) 280 91 00, 280 81 00 
   
 established - 20 January 1930
   
 effective - 17 March 1930
   
 aim - to promote cooperation among central banks in international 
  financial settlements
   
 members - (45) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, 
  China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, 
  Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, 
  Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, 
  Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, 
  Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia 
  (suspended) 
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) 
   
 address - Istinye Cad Musir Fuad Pasa Yalisi Eski Tersame, Istinye 
  80860, Istanbul, Turkey
   
 telephone - [90] (212) 229 6330
   
 FAX - [90] (212) 229 6336
   
 established - 25 June 1992
   
 aim - to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation
   
 members - (11) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, 
  Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine 
   
 observers - (7) Austria, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, 
  Tunisia 
Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom)
  address - Caricom, P. O. Box 10827, Bank of Guyana Building, 3rd floor, 
  Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, Guyana
  telephone - [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 - (3) Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos 
  Islands
  observers - (10) Aruba, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Dominican 
  Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela 
 Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
   
 address - P. O. Box 408, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados
   
 telephone - [1] (246) 431 1600
   
 FAX - [1] (246) 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 - (6) Canada, China, 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, Republic 
  of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon  
Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)
   
 note - acronym from Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique 
  Centrale
   
 address - BDEAC, Place du Gouvernement, BP 1177, Brazzaville, Republic 
  of the Congo
   
 telephone - [242] 81 18 85
   
 FAX - [242] 81 18 80
   
 established - 3 December 1975
   
 aim - to provide loans for economic development 
   
 members - (9) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic 
  of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Kuwait 
Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)
   
 note - acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico
   
 address - Apartado Postal 772, Tegucigalpa DC, Honduras
   
 telephone - [504] 228 2243
   
 FAX - [504] 228 2185
   
 established - 13 December 1960 signature of Articles of Agreement; 
  31 May 1961 began operations
   
 aim - to promote economic integration and development
   
 members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
   
 nonregional members - (4) Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, 
  Taiwan 
  
Central American Common Market (CACM) 
   
 address - c/o SIECA, Apartado Postal 1237, 4a Avenida 10-25, Zona 
  14, Guatemala 01901, Guatemala
   
 telephone - [502] (2) 682151, 682152, 682153, 682154
   
 FAX - [502] (2) 681071
   
 established - 13 December 1960, collapsed in 1969, reinstated in 
  1991
   
 aim - to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market
   
 members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua; 
  note - Panama, although not a member, pursues full regional cooperation 
 Central European Initiative (CEI)
   
 note - evolved from the Quadrilateral Initiative and the Hexagonal 
  Group
   
 address - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, One 
  Exchange Square, London EC2A 2EH, UK
   
 telephone - [44] (171) 338 6152
   
 FAX - [44] (171) 338 7472
   
 established - 11 November 1989 as the Quadrilateral Initiative, 
  27 July 1991 became the Hexagonal Initiative, NA 1992 present name adopted
   
 aim - to form an economic and political cooperation group for the 
  region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas
   
 members - (16) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
  Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic 
  of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine 
 centrally planned economies 
   
 a term applied mainly to the traditionally communist states that looked 
  to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward more democratic 
  and market-oriented systems; also known formerly as the Second World or as the 
  communist countries; through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, 
  Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, 
  Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yugoslavia 
 Colombo Plan (CP)
   
 address - Colombo Plan Bureau, P. O. Box 596, 12 Melbourne Avenue, 
  Colombo 4, Sri Lanka
   
 telephone - [94] (1) 581813, 581853, 581754
   
 FAX - [94] (1) 581754
   
 established - NA May 1950 proposal was adopted; 1 July 1951 commenced 
  full operations
   
 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 - General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division, Department 
  of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, United Nations, Room S-2950, 
  New York, NY 10017, US 
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 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 - (46) selected on a rotating basis from all regions 
 Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
   
 address - Center for International Crime Prevention, Vienna International 
  Center, P. O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
   
 telephone - [43] (1) 21345, extension 4272
   
 FAX - [43] (1) 21345 5898, 21345 5841 
   
 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 Secretariat, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner 
  of Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 917 90 00, 907 92 60
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 917 90 11
   
 established - 18 February 1946
   
 aim - to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with 
  human rights programs of UN
   
 members - (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions 
Commission on Narcotic Drugs
   
 address - c/o United Nations Drug Control Programme, Treaty Implementation 
  and Legal Affairs Branch, P. O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
   
 telephone - [43] (1) 213450
   
 FAX - [43] (1) 21345-5885
   
 established - 16 February 1946
   
 aim - Economic and Social Council organization dealing with illicit 
  drugs programs of UN
   
 members - (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions with 
  emphasis on producing and processing countries 
Commission on Population and Development 
   
 address - Division for Policy and Coordination and ECOSOC Affairs, 
  Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, United Nations, 
  Room 2963, New York, NY 10017, US 
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 5935
   
 established - 10 August 1948
   
 aim - to deal with population matters of importance to the UN, 
  as part of Economic and Social Council 
   
 members - (47) selected on a rotating basis from all regions  
 Commission on Science and Technology for Development
   
 address - General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division, Department 
  of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, United Nations, New York, 
  NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 5935
   
 established - 20 July 1992
   
 aim - to promote international cooperation, as part of the Economic 
  and Social Council, in the field of science and technology
   
 members - (33) selected on a rotating basis from all regions 
Commission on Sustainable Development 
   
 address - Division for Sustainable Development, United Nations 
  Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Room DC2-2274, 
  New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 0902
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4260
   
 established - 12 February 1993
   
 aim - to monitor, as part of the Economic and Social Council, implementation 
  of agreements reached at the UN Conference on Environment and Development
   
 members - (53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions 
Commission on the Status of Women
   
 address - Division for the Advancement of Women, Department for 
  Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, Room DC2-1200, New York, NY 10017, 
  US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 3177
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 3463
   
 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 
Commonwealth (C)
   
 note - also known as Commonwealth of Nations
   
 address - c/o Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall 
  Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, UK
   
 telephone - [44] (171) 839 3411, 747 6535
   
 FAX - [44] (171) 930 0827, 839 9081
   
 established - 31 December 1931
   
 aim - to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a 
  voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire
   
 members - (53) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, 
  Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, 
  The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, 
  Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, NZ, 
  Nigeria, Pakistan (suspended), Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint 
  Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, 
  Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
   
 special members - (1) Tuvalu 
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 
   
 address - Kirov Street 17, 220000 Minsk, Belarus
   
 telephone - [375] 223434, 223517
   
 FAX - [375] 261944, 272339
   
 established - 8 December 1991
   
 effective - 21 December 1991
   
 aim - to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide 
  a mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR
   
 members - (12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, 
  Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan  
 Commonwealth of Nations
   
 see Commonwealth (C) 
Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEAO)
   
 see West African Economic Community (CEAO) 
Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (CEEAC)
   
 see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) 
Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs (CEPGL)
   
 see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) 
communist countries
   
 traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments 
  and command economies based on the Soviet model; most of the original and the 
  successor states are no longer communist; see centrally planned economies 
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)
   
 see Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 
Conseil Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN)
   
 see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) 
Contadora Group (CG)
  established 5 January 1983 (on the Panamanian island of Contadora) to reduce 
  tensions and conflicts in Central America; members included Colombia, Mexico, 
  Panama, Venezuela; has evolved into the Rio Group (RG)
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
   
 see Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 
Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM)
   
 established in 1949 to control the export of strategic products and technical 
  data from member countries to proscribed destinations; members were Australia, 
  Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, 
  Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US; abolished 31 March 1994; 
  COCOM members are working on a new organization with expanded membership which 
  focuses on nonproliferation export controls as opposed to East-West control 
  of advanced technology 
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA)
   
 note - also known as CMEA or Comecon 
   
 established 25 January 1949 to promote the development of socialist economies 
  and abolished 1 January 1991; members included Afghanistan (observer), Albania 
  (had not participated since 1961 break with USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, 
  Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos (observer), Mongolia, 
  Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua (observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, 
  Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia (associate)  
Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) 
   
 address - International Trade Center Building, 12th Floor, 1191 
  Cornish El Nile, P. O. Box 1, Mohamad Fareed, Cairo, Egypt
   
 telephone - [20] (2) 754252, 755321
   
 FAX - [20] (2) 754090
   
 established - 3 June 1957
   
 effective - 30 May 1964
   
 aim - to promote economic integration among Arab nations
   
 members - (11 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, 
  Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Yemen, 
  Palestine Liberation Organization  
Council of Europe (CE)
   
 address - Palais de l'Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg CEDEX, France
   
 telephone - [33] (3) 88 41 20 00
   
 FAX - [33] (3) 88 41 27 81, 88 41 27 82
   
 established - 5 May 1949
   
 effective - 3 August 1949
   
 aim - to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe
   
 members - (41) Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 
  Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, 
  Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, 
  Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, 
  Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK
   
 guests - (3) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina
   
 observers - (4) Canada, Israel, Japan, US 
 Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) 
   
 address - Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Box 16121, S-10323 Stockholm, 
  Sweden
   
 telephone - [46] (8) 405 1000
   
 FAX - [46] (8) 723 1176
   
 established - 6 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 - (12) Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, Germany, Iceland, 
  Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden 
Council of the Entente (Entente)
   
 address - 01 BP 3734, Angle Avenue Verdier-Rue de Tessieres, Abidjan 
  01, Cote d'Ivoire
   
 telephone - [225] 33 10 01, 33 28 35, 32 10 74
   
 FAX - [225] 33 11 49
   
 established - 29 May 1959
   
 aim - to promote economic, social, and political coordination
   
 members - (5) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo 
countries in transition
   
a new term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the middle 
  group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing 
  countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 28 countries 
  in transition: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
  Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, 
  Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, 
  Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, 
  Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - this group is identical to 
  the group traditionally referred to as the "former USSR/Eastern Europe" 
  except for the addition of Mongolia 
Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)
   
 note - also known as World Customs Organization (WCO)
   
 address - Rue du Marche 30, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium
   
 telephone - [32] (2) 209 92 11
   
 FAX - [32] (2) 109 92 92
   
 established - 15 December 1950
   
 aim - to promote international cooperation in customs matters
   
 members - (145) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, 
  Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, 
  Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, 
  Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, 
  Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, 
  Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, 
  Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, 
  Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, 
  Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South 
  Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 
  Macau, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, 
  Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, 
  Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, 
  Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, 
  Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, 
  South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, 
  Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, 
  Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, 
  Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
developed countries (DCs)
  the top group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern 
  Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); includes the market-oriented 
  economies of the mainly democratic nations in the Organization for Economic 
  Cooperation and Development (OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European 
  ministates; also known as the First World, high-income countries, the North, 
  industrial countries; generally have a per capita GDP in excess of $10,000 although 
  four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000 and two 
  of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000; the 35 DCs 
  are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, 
  Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, 
  Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, 
  Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, 
  US; note - similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term 
  "advanced economies" which adds Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, 
  and Taiwan but drops Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey 
developing countries
   
a new term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the bottom 
  group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing 
  countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 126 developing 
  countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, 
  The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, 
  Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, 
  Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic 
  Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, 
  Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial 
  Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, 
  Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, 
  Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, 
  Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, 
  Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, 
  Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua 
  New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, 
  Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, 
  Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South 
  Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, 
  Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, 
  Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - this category would presumably 
  also cover the following 46 other countries that are traditionally included 
  in the more comprehensive group of "less developed countries": American 
  Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, 
  Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, 
  French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, 
  Guernsey, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Isle of Man, Martinique, Mayotte, Montserrat, 
  Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, 
  Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, 
  Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Wallis and 
  Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara 
 East African Development Bank (EADB) 
  address - 4 Nile Avenue, P. O. Box 7128, Kampala, Uganda
  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) 2881234
   
 FAX - [66] (2) 2881000 
  established - 28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and the 
  Far East (ECAFE)
   
 aim - to carry out the commitment of the Economic and Social Council 
  of the UN to promote economic development
   
 members - (51) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, 
  Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, 
  Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, 
  Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, 
  Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, 
  Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, 
  Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam
   
 associate members - (9) American Samoa, Cook Islands, 
  French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana 
  Islands 
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
   
 address - P. O. Box 11-8575, Riad El-Sohl Square, Beirut, Lebanon
   
 telephone - [961] (10) 981301
   
 FAX - [961] (10) 981510
   
 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, US
   
 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, Commission on Population and Development, Statistical Commission, 
  Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable 
  Development, and Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice)
   
 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 Faso, 
  Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic 
  Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, 
  Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, 
  Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, 
  Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, 
  Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
   
 associate members - (2) France, UK 
Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE)
   
see Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 
 Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) 
   
 address - Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 917 4444
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 917 0505
   
 established - 28 March 1947
   
 aim - to promote economic development as a regional commission 
  of the UN's Economic and Social Council 
   
 members - (55) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, 
  Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, 
  Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, 
  Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, 
  Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, 
  Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 
  Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia 
Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA)
   
see Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
   
 address - Edificio Naciones Unidas, Avenida Dag Hammarskjold, Casilla 
  179 D, Santiago, Chile
   
 telephone - [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 - (7) Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin 
  Islands, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands 
Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA)
   
see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) 
Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
   
 note - acronym from Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique 
  Centrale
   
 address - CEEAC, BP 2112, Libreville, Gabon
   
 telephone - [241] 73 35 47, 73 35 48, 73 36 77
   
 established - 18 October 1983 treaty adopted
   
 aim - to promote regional economic cooperation and establish a 
  Central African Common Market
   
 members - (11) Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, 
  Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, 
  Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe 
 Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)
  note - acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands 
  Lacs
   
 address - IRAZ-CEPGL, BP 91, Gitega, Burundi
   
 established - 20 September 1976
   
 aim - to promote regional economic cooperation and integration
   
 members - (3) Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda 
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
   
 address - 6 King George V Road, PMB 12745, Lagos, Nigeria
   
 telephone - [234] (1) 636839, 636841, 636064, 630398
   
 FAX - [234] (1) 636822
   
 established - 28 May 1975
   
 aim - to promote regional economic cooperation 
   
 members - (16) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, 
  The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, 
  Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo 
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) 
   
 address - No. 1 Goulbou Alley, Kamraniyeh, P. O. Box 14155-6176, 
  Teheran, Iran Islamic Republic
   
 telephone - [98] (21) 2831731, 2831733 
   
 FAX - [98] (21) 2831732
   
 established - 27-29 January 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" 
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) 
   
 note - began as the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC); 
  an extension of NATO
   
 address - c/o NATO, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium
   
 telephone - [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 - (44) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, 
  Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, 
  Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, 
  Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, 
  Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, 
  Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan 
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
   
 address - EBRD Headquarters, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2EH, 
  UK
   
 telephone - [44] (171) 338 6000
   
 FAX - [44] (171) 338 6100
   
 established - 8-9 January 1990 (proposals made); 15 April 1991 
  (bank inaugurated)
   
 aim - to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned economies 
  in Europe (Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former 
  USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its loans 
  to privatization
   
 members - (60) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, 
  Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, EU, European Investment Bank (EIB), Estonia, 
  Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, 
  Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, 
  Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, 
  Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, 
  Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, 
  UK, US, Uzbekistan; note - includes all 25 members of the OECD; also 
  includes the EU as a single entity 
European Community (or European Communities, EC) 
   
 was established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community 
  (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ESC), the European Economic 
  Community (EEC or Common Market), and to establish a completely integrated common 
  market and an eventual federation of Europe; merged into the European Union 
  (EU) on 7 February 1992; member states at the time of merger were Belgium, Denmark, 
  France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, 
  Spain, UK 
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 
   
 address - 9-11 Rue de Varembe, CH-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 - (4) Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland  
European Investment Bank (EIB)
   
 address - Boulevard Konrad Adenauer 100, L-2950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
   
 telephone - [352] 4379 3122
   
 FAX - [352] 4379 3188, 4379 3189
   
 established - 25 March 1957
   
 effective - 1 January 1958
   
 aim - to promote economic development of the EU and its predecessors, 
  the EEC and the EC
   
 members - (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, 
  Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK 
   
European Monetary Union (EMU)
   
 note - an integral part of the European Union; also known as the 
  European Economic and Monetary Union 
  address - c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, 
  Belgium
   
 telephone - [32] (2) 299 11 11
   
 proposed - 1-2 December 1969 at summit conference of heads of government
   
 signed - 7 February 1992 Maastrict Treaty 
   
 aim - to promote a single market by creating a single currency, 
  the euro; time table - 2 May 1998: European exchange rates fixed for 
  1 January 1999; 1 January 1999: all banks and stock exchanges begin using euros; 
  1 January 2002: the euro goes into circulation; 1 July 2002 local currencies 
  no longer accepted
   
 members - (11) Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, 
  Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; note - Denmark, Sweden, 
  and UK decided not to join, and Greece did not meet all the criteria to take 
  part 
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
  note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeenne 
  pour la Recherche Nucleaire
   
 address - CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland 
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 767 4101, 767 2141 
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 785 0247
   
 established - 1 July 1953
   
 effective - 29 September 1954
   
 aim - to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only
   
 members - (20) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
  Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, 
  Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
   
 observers - (7) EU, Israel, Japan, Russia, Turkey, United Nations 
  Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), US 
European Space Agency (ESA)
   
 address - ESA Headquarters, 8-10 Rue Mario Nikis, F-75738 Paris 
  CEDEX 15, France
   
 telephone - [33] (1) 53 69 76 54
   
 FAX - [33] (1) 53 69 75 60
   
 established - 31 May 1975
   
 aim - to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and technology
   
 members - (14) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, 
  Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
   
 cooperating state - (1) Canada 
European Union (EU)
   
 note - evolved from the European Community (EC)
   
 address - c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, 
  Belgium
   
 telephone - [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 to be called the 'euro', which 
  will supersede the EU's accounting unit, the ECU; defense, within the concept 
  of a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP); and justice and home affairs, 
  including immigration, drugs, terrorism, and improved living and working conditions
   
 members - (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, 
  Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK
   
 membership applicants - (13) Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, 
  Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, 
  Turkey 
 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) 57051
   
 FAX - [39] (6) 5705 3152
   
 established - 16 October 1945
   
 aim - to raise living standards and increase availability of agricultural 
  products, as a UN specialized agency 
   
 members - (176) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua 
  and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, 
  Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia 
  and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, 
  Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, 
  Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, 
  Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, 
  Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, 
  Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, 
  The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, 
  Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South 
  Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, 
  Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, 
  Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, 
  Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, 
  Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, 
  Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint 
  Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, 
  Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South 
  Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, 
  Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, 
  Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, 
  Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe  
former Soviet Union (FSU)
   
a collective term often used to identify as a group the successor nations 
  to the Soviet Union or USSR; this group of 15 countries consists of Armenia, 
  Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, 
  Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 
former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE) 
   
the middle group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former 
  USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); these 
  countries are in political and economic transition and may well be grouped differently 
  in the near future; this group of 27 countries consists of Albania, Armenia, 
  Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, 
  Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former 
  Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and 
  Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; 
  this group is identical to the IMF group "countries in transition" 
  except for the IMF's inclusion of Mongolia 
Four Dragons
   
the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs) that have experienced 
  unusually rapid economic growth; also known as the Four Tigers; this group consists 
  of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan; these countries are included in 
  the IMF's "advanced economies" group 
 Four Tigers
   
another term for the Four Dragons; see Four Dragons 
Franc Zone (FZ)
   
 note - also known as Conference des Ministres des Finances des 
  Pays de la Zone Franc
   
 address - c/o Banque de France, Service de la Zone Franc, 39 Rue 
  des Croix des Petits Champs, F-75001 Paris, France
   
 telephone - [33] (1) 42 92 42 92
   
 FAX - [33] (1) 42 96 04 23
   
 established - NA 1964
   
 aim - to form a monetary union among countries whose currencies 
  are linked to the French franc
   
 members - (16) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, 
  Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, 
  Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, 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; has since 
  gone out of existence; members included Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, 
  Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
  was established 30 October 1947 to promote the expansion of international trade 
  on a nondiscriminatory basis; subsumed by the World Trade Organization (WTrO) 
  on 1 January 1995; members at the time were Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, 
  Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, 
  Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central 
  African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
  Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, 
  The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, 
  Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, 
  Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, 
  Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, 
  Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, 
  Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, 
  Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 
  Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, 
  Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia 
  (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe 
Group of 2 (G-2)
   
 informal term that came into use about 1986; to facilitate bilateral economic 
  cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants Japan, US 
Group of 3 (G-3)
   
 address - c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Grupo de los Tres, Caracas, 
  Venezuela
   
 established - NA September 1990
   
 aim - mechanism for policy coordination 
   
 members - (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela  
Group of 5 (G-5)
   
 established - 22 September 1985
   
 aim - to coordinate the economic policies of five major noncommunist 
  economic powers
   
 members - (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US 
Group of 6 (G-6)
   
 note - also known as Groupe des Six Sur le Desarmement; not to 
  be confused with the Big Six
   
 established - 22 May 1984
   
 aim - to achieve nuclear disarmament 
   
 members - (6) Argentina, Greece, India, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania 
Group of 7 (G-7)
   
 note - membership is the same as the Big Seven
   
 established - 22 September 1985
   
 aim - to facilitate economic cooperation among the seven major 
  noncommunist economic powers
   
 members - (7) Group of 5 (France, Germany, Japan, UK, US) plus 
  Canada and Italy  
Group of 8 (G-8)
   
 established - NA October 1975
   
 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 - (9) Canada, EU (as one member), France, Germany, Italy, 
  Japan, Russia, UK, 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 Avenue d'Iena, 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 - 21-22 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 Nonaligned Movement 
   
 address - Technical Support Facility, Ch du Champ d'Ancier 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 Nonaligned Movement
   
 members - (15) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, 
  Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Venezuela, former Yugoslavia, 
  Zimbabwe 
Group of 19 (G-19)
   
established in NA October 1975 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 included Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Democratic 
  Republic of the Congo, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Mexico, 
  Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia 
 Group of 24 (G-24)
   
 address - c/o European Commission, DGIA General Matters and G-24 
  Coordination Unit, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
   
 telephone - [32] (2) 299 02 28
   
 FAX - [32] (2) 296 59 59
   
 established - 1 August 1989
   
 aim - to promote the interests of developing countries in Africa, 
  Asia, and Latin America within the IMF
   
 members - (24) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Democratic 
  Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, 
  India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, 
  Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Yugoslavia 
 Group of 30 (G-30)
   
 address - 1990 M Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20036, US
   
 telephone - [1] (202) 331 2472
   
 FAX - [1] (202) 785 9423
   
 established - NA 1978
   
 aim - to discuss and propose solutions to the world's economic 
  problems
   
 members - (30) informal group of 30 leading international bankers, 
  economists, financial experts, and business leaders organized by Johannes Witteveen 
  (former managing director of the IMF) 
Group of 33 (G-33)
   
established in NA 1987 to promote solutions to international economic 
  problems; members included the leading economists from 13 countries 
Group of 77 (G-77)
   
 address - Office of the Chairman, United Nations, Room S-3959, 
  P. O. Box 20, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 3816, 963 0192, 963 4777
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 3515, 963 1753
   
 established - 15 June 1964 was set up; NA October 1967 first ministerial 
  meeting
   
 aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; 
  name persists in spite of increased membership
   
 members - (131 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, 
  Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, 
  Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, 
  Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, 
  Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic 
  Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, 
  Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, 
  Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, 
  Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, 
  Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, 
  Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall 
  Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, 
  Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 
  Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint 
  Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome 
  and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon 
  Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, 
  Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE, 
  Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine 
  Liberation Organization 
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
   
 note - also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States 
  of the Gulf
   
 address - P. O. Box 7153, Riyadh 11462, Saudi Arabia
   
 telephone - [966] (1) 482 7777, extension 1238
   
 FAX - [966] (1) 482 9109
   
 established - 25 May 1981
   
 aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political, 
  and military affairs
   
 members - (6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE 
Hexagonal Group
  see Central European Initiative (CEI) 
 high-income countries
   
another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs; 
  see developed countries (DCs)  
Indian Ocean Commission (InOC)
  address - Q4 Avenue Sir Guy Forget, BP7, Quatre Bornes, Mauritius
  telephone - [230] 425 9564, 425 1652 
  FAX - [230] 425 1209
  established - 21 December 1982
  aim - to organize and promote regional cooperation in all sectors, especially 
  economic
  members - (5) Comoros, France (for Reunion), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles 
industrial countries
   
another term for the developed countries; see developed countries (DCs) 
   
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) 
   
 note - also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)
   
 address - 1300 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20577, US
   
 telephone - [1] (202) 623 1000
   
 FAX - [1] (202) 623 3096
   
 established - 8 April 1959
   
 effective - 30 December 1959
   
 aim - to promote economic and social development in Latin America
   
 members - (46) Argentina, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, 
  Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, 
  Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, 
  Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, 
  Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela 
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
   
 note - formerly known as Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought 
  and Development (IGADD)
   
 address - P. O. Box 2653, Djibouti, Djibouti 
   
 telephone - [253] 354050
   
 FAX - [253] 356994, 356284
   
 established - 15-16 January 1986 as the Inter-Governmental Authority 
  on Drought and Development
   
 revitalized - 21 March 1996 as the Inter-Governmental Authority 
  on Development
   
 aim - to promote a social, economic, and scientific community among 
  its members
   
 members - (7) Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, 
  Uganda 
Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)
   
see Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 
   
 address - Wagramerstrasse 5, P. O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
   
 telephone - [43] (1) 26000
   
 FAX - [43] (1) 26007
   
 established - 26 October 1956
   
 effective - 29 July 1957
   
 aim - to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy
   
 members - (129) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, 
  Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and 
  Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, 
  Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, 
  Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, 
  Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, 
  Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, 
  Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, 
  South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, 
  Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, 
  Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, 
  Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, 
  Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, 
  Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, 
  Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, 
  Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, 
  Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe 
 International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC)
   
was established on 22 October 1963 to promote economic cooperation and 
  development; members were Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary, Mongolia, 
  Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam; now it is a Russian bank with a new charter 
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
   
 note - also known as the World Bank
   
 address - 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, US
   
 telephone - [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 - (181) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua 
  and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, 
  Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, 
  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, 
  Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, 
  Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
  Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial 
  Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, 
  Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, 
  Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, 
  Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, 
  Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, 
  Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated 
  States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, 
  Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, 
  Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, 
  Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 
  Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, 
  Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, 
  Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, 
  Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 
  Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, 
  Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) 
   
 address - 38 Cours Albert 1st, F-75008 Paris, France
   
 telephone - [33] (1) 49 53 28 28
   
 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 - (62 national councils) Argentina, Australia, Austria, 
  Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, 
  Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
  Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South 
  Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, 
  Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, 
  Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, 
  Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia 
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
   
 address - ICAO, 999 University Street, Montreal H3C 5H7, Canada
   
 telephone - [1] (514) 954 8219
   
 FAX - [1] (514) 954 6077
   
 established - 7 December 1944
   
 effective - 4 April 1947
   
 aim - to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a 
  UN specialized agency
   
 members - (185) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua 
  and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, 
  Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, 
  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, 
  Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, 
  Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, 
  Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, 
  The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, 
  Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, 
  South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, 
  Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, 
  Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, 
  Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, 
  Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, 
  Norway, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, 
  Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent 
  and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, 
  Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, 
  Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, 
  Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and 
  Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, 
  Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
   
 address - ICRC, 19 Avenue de la Paix, CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 734 60 01
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 733 20 57
   
 established - 17 February 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, Boulevard Emile Jacqmain 
  155, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium
   
 telephone - [32] (2) 224 02 11
   
 FAX - [32] (2) 201 58 15, 203 07 56
   
 established - NA December 1949
   
 aim - to promote the trade union movement 
   
 members - (206 affiliated organizations in the following 141 countries) 
  Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, 
  Barbados, Basque Country, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, 
  Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, 
  Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of 
  the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El 
  Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French 
  Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, 
  Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, 
  Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, 
  South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, 
  Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, 
  Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, 
  Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, 
  Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, 
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, 
  Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, 
  Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
International Court of Justice (ICJ) 
   
 note - also known as the World Court 
   
 address - Peace Palace, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
   
 telephone - [31] (70) 302 23 23
   
 FAX - [31] (70) 364 99 28
   
 established - 3 February 1946 superseded Permanent Court of International 
  Justice
   
 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] (4) 72 44 70 00
   
 FAX - [33] (4) 72 44 71 63
   
 established - NA September 1923 set up as the International Criminal 
  Police Commission; 13 June 1956 constitution modified and present name adopted
   
 aim - to promote international cooperation among police authorities 
  in fighting crime
   
 members - (177) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and 
  Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, 
  Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia 
  and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, 
  Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, 
  China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa 
  Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, 
  Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, 
  Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, 
  Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, 
  Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, 
  Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, 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, Moldova, Monaco, 
  Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands 
  Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua 
  New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, 
  Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 
  Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, 
  Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, 
  Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, 
  Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
   
 subbureaus - (14) American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin 
  Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, Montserrat, Northern 
  Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands  
International Development Association (IDA)
   
 address - 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, US
   
 telephone - [1] (202) 477 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (202) 477 6391
   
 established - 26 January 1960
   
 effective - 24 September 1960
   
 aim - UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate that provides economic 
  loans for low income countries 
   
 members - (160) 
   
 Part I - (26 developed countries) Australia, Austria, 
  Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, 
  Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Russia, South 
  Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US 
   
 Part II - (134 less developed countries) Afghanistan, 
  Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, 
  Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, 
  Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, 
  Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, 
  Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, 
  Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, 
  Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, 
  Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, 
  Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, The Former Yugoslav Republic 
  of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, 
  Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, 
  Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, 
  Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Saint 
  Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome 
  and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon 
  Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, 
  Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, 
  Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
International Energy Agency (IEA)
   
 address - 9 Rue de la Federation, F-75739 Paris CEDEX 15, France
   
 telephone - [33] (1) 40 57 65 00
   
 FAX - [33] (1) 40 57 65 09
   
 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 - (24) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, 
  France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, 
  NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
   
 observers - (16) Commission of the European Communities, Czech 
  Republic, Iceland, South Korea, Mexico, Poland 
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
   
 note - formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 
  (LORCS)
   
 address - Chemin des Crets 17, CP 372, Petit-Saconnex, CH-1211 
  Geneva 19, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 730 4222
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 733 0395
   
 established - 5 May 1919
   
 aim - to organize, coordinate, and direct international relief 
  actions; to promote humanitarian activities; to represent and encourage the 
  development of National Societies; to bring help to victims of armed conflicts, 
  refugees, and displaced people; to reduce the vulnerability of people through 
  development programs
   
 members - (175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, 
  Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The 
  Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, 
  Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, 
  Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, 
  Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, 
  Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican 
  Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, 
  Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, 
  Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, 
  India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, 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, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, 
  Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, 
  NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, 
  Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, 
  Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, 
  San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra 
  Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, 
  Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, 
  Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 
  Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, 
  Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
   
 associate members - (4) Comoros, Cyprus, Gabon, Tuvalu 
International Finance Corporation (IFC) 
   
 address - 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20433, US
   
 telephone - [1] (202) 477 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (202) 974 4384, 477 6391
   
 established - 25 May 1955
   
 effective - 24 July 1956
   
 aim - to support private enterprise in international economic development; 
  a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate 
   
 members - (174) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua 
  and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, 
  Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia 
  and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, 
  Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, 
  Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, 
  Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, 
  Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, 
  Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, 
  Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, 
  Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, 
  Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, 
  Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former 
  Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, 
  Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, 
  Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, 
  Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, 
  Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and 
  Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, 
  Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, 
  Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, 
  Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, 
  Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, 
  Zambia, Zimbabwe  
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
   
 address - Via del Serafico 107, I-00142 Rome, Italy
   
 telephone - [39] (6) 54591
   
 FAX - [39] (6) 5043463
   
 established - NA November 1974
   
 aim - to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency
   
 members - (161) 
   
 Category I - (22 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, 
  Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, 
  Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, 
  Switzerland, UK, US
   
 Category II - (12 petroleum-exporting aid contributors) 
  Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi 
  Arabia, UAE, Venezuela 
  Category III - (127 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, 
  Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, 
  Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, 
  Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, 
  Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, 
  Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial 
  Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, 
  Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, 
  Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, 
  Liberia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, 
  Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, 
  Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua 
  New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, 
  Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, 
  Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri 
  Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, 
  Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, 
  Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe 
 International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
   
 note - name changed from International Hydrographic Bureau on 22 
  September 1970
   
 address - BP 445, 4 Quai Antoine 1st, Monaco MC 98011, CEDEX, Monaco
   
 telephone - [33] (93) 01 81 00
   
 FAX - [33] (93) 10 81 40
   
 established - NA June 1919
   
 effective - NA June 1921
   
 aim - to train hydrographic surveyors and nautical cartographers 
  to achieve standardization in nautical charts and electronic chart displays; 
  to provide advice on nautical cartography and hydrography; to develop the sciences 
  in the field of hydrography and techniques used for descriptive oceanography 
  
   
 members - (66) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, 
  Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Croatia, 
  Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, 
  France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, 
  Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Monaco, Mozambique Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, 
  Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, 
  Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, 
  Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, 
  UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
   
 membership pending - (7) Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Jamaica, Kuwait, 
  Mauritania, Morocco, Qatar 
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 - 28 June 1919 set up as part of Treaty of Versailles; 
  11 April 1919 became operative; 14 December 1946 affiliated with the UN 
   
 aim - to deal with world labor issues; a UN specialized agency
   
 members - (173) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua 
  and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, 
  Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia 
  and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, 
  Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, 
  Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, 
  Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, 
  Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, 
  Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, 
  Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, 
  Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, 
  Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, 
  Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former 
  Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, 
  Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, 
  NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, 
  Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, 
  Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, 
  Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, 
  Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, 
  Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, 
  Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, 
  Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia 
  (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe 
International Maritime Organization (IMO) 
   
 note - name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative 
  Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982
   
 address - 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, UK
   
 telephone - [44] (171) 735 7611
   
 FAX - [44] (171) 587 3210
   
 established - 6 March 1948 set up as the Inter-Governmental Maritime 
  Consultative Organization
   
 effective - 17 March 1958
   
 aim - to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized 
  agency
   
 members - (157) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, 
  Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, 
  Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, 
  Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, 
  Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, 
  Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican 
  Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, 
  Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, 
  Greece, 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, Latvia, 
  Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic 
  of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, 
  Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, 
  Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 
  Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, 
  Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, 
  Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, 
  Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, 
  Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, 
  Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen
   
 associate members - (2) Hong Kong, Macau 
International Maritime Satellite Organization (Inmarsat)
   
see International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) 
 International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat)
   
 note - formerly International Maritime Satellite Organization
   
 address - 99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX, UK
   
 telephone - [44] (171) 728 1000, 728 1100
   
 FAX - [44] (171) 728 1044, 728 1100
   
 established - 3 September 1976
   
 effective - 16 July 1979
   
 aim - to provide worldwide communications for commercial, distress, 
  and safety applications, at sea, in the air, and on land
   
 members - (86) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, 
  Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, 
  Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, 
  Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, 
  Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall 
  Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, 
  Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, 
  Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, South 
  Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, 
  Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vietnam 
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
   
 address - 700 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20431, US
   
 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 - (182) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua 
  and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, 
  Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, 
  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, 
  Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, 
  Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
  Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial 
  Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, 
  Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, 
  Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, 
  Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, 
  Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, 
  Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated 
  States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, 
  Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, 
  Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, 
  Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 
  Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, 
  Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South 
  Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, 
  Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, 
  Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, 
  Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
International Olympic Committee (IOC) 
   
 address - Chateau de Vidy, CH-1007 Lausanne, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (21) 621 61 11
   
 FAX - [41] (21) 621 62 16, 621 63 54 
   
 established - 23 June 1894
   
 aim - to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic 
  games: 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia; 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt 
  Lake City, United States; 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece
   
 National Olympic Committees - (199 and the Palestine Liberation 
  Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, 
  Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, 
  The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, 
  Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British 
  Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, 
  Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, 
  Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, 
  Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, 
  Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, 
  Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, 
  The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, 
  Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, 
  Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, 
  Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, 
  Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, 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, Netherlands 
  Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, 
  Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, 
  Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent 
  and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, 
  Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, 
  Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, 
  Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, 
  Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Yemen, Yugoslavia (Serbia 
  and Montenegro), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization 
 International Organization for Migration (IOM)
   
 note - established as Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for 
  the Movement of Migrants from Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for 
  European Migration (ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee 
  for Migration (ICM) in November 1980; current name adopted 14 November 1989
   
 address - 17 route des Morillons, CP 71, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 717 91 11
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 798 61 50
   
 established - 5 December 1951
   
 aim - to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration
   
 members - (69) Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, 
  Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa 
  Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, 
  Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Liberia, 
  Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, 
  Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, 
  South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, 
  Tunisia, Uganda, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia
   
 observers - (47) Afghanistan, Algeria, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia 
  and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Cuba, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Holy See, India, 
  Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Madagascar, 
  Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Namibia, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Rwanda, 
  San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 
  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 with 
  a view to facilitating international exchange of goods and services and to developing 
  cooperation in the sphere of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic 
  activity 
   
 members - (88 national standards organizations) Albania, Algeria, 
  Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia 
  and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, 
  Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, 
  Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, 
  Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, 
  North Korea, South Korea, Libya, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of 
  Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, 
  Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, 
  Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, 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, 
  Zimbabwe
   
 correspondent members - (35) Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Barbados, 
  Bolivia, Brunei, Cote d'Ivoire, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, 
  Hong Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Madagascar, 
  Malawi, Malta, Moldova, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Papua New Guinea, 
  Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Seychelles, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE
   
 subscriber members - (9) Benin, Cambodia, Democratic Republic 
  of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Namibia, Saint Lucia 
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
   
 address - International Conference of the Red Cross, 19 Avenue 
  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 - (175 countries) Afghanistan, Albania, 
  Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, 
  Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, 
  Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, 
  Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, 
  Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, 
  Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, 
  Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, 
  Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, 
  Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, 
  Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, 
  Kenya, 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, Mali, Malta, 
  Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, 
  Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, 
  Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, 
  Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and 
  the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, 
  Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, 
  South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, 
  Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, 
  Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, 
  Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
 International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
   
 address - Place des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 730 6039
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 733 7256, 730 5939
   
 established - 17 May 1865 set up as the International Telegraph 
  Union; 9 December 1932 adopted present name
   
 effective - 1 January 1934
   
 affiliated with the UN - 15 November 1947
   
 aim - to deal with world telecommunications issues; a UN specialized 
  agency
   
 members - (188) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, 
  Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The 
  Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, 
  Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina 
  Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African 
  Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the 
  Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, 
  El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, 
  Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, 
  Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, 
  Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, 
  Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, 
  Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav 
  Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, 
  Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, 
  Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, 
  NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, 
  Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, 
  Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and 
  Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, 
  Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, 
  US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), 
  Zambia, Zimbabwe 
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat)
   
 address - Intelsat, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 
  20008-3098, US
   
 telephone - [1] (202) 944 7500
   
 FAX - [1] (202) 944 7890
   
 established - 20 August 1964 set up as the Telecommunications Satellite 
  Consortium; 12 February 1973 adopted present name
   
 aim - to develop and operate a global commercial telecommunications 
  satellite system
   
 members - (143) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, 
  Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, 
  Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, 
  Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, 
  Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
  Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, 
  Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, 
  Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, 
  Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, 
  Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, 
  Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, 
  Monaco, 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, Saudi Arabia, 
  Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and 
  Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, 
  Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
   
 nonsignatory users - (42) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, 
  Belarus, Belize, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Eritrea, 
  The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kiribati, North Korea, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, 
  Liberia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Maldives, Marshall 
  Islands, Moldova, Nauru, Niue, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 
  Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, 
  Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Vanuatu  
 Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
   
 address - P. O. Box 5925, Jeddah 21432, Saudi Arabia
   
 telephone - [966] (2) 6361400
   
 FAX - [966] (2) 6366871
   
 established - 15 December 1973 by declaration of intent
   
 effective - 12 August 1974
   
 aim - to promote Islamic economic aid and social development
   
 members - (51 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, 
  Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, 
  Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, 
  Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, 
  Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, 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, Avenida 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 - (28) Argentina, The Bahamas, 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
  observers - (21) Andean Promotion Corporation, China, Costa Rica, Dominican 
  Republic, El Salvador, EEC, Guatemala, Honduras, IADB, Inter-American Institute 
  for Agricultural Cooperation, Italy, Nicaragua, OAS, Panama, Portugal, Romania, 
  Russia, Spain, Switzerland, UN Development Program, UN Economic Commission for 
  Latin America and the Caribbean 
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) 400 11 21, 409 59 15
   
 FAX - [598] (2) 409 06 49
   
 established - 12 August 1980
   
 effective - 18 March 1981
   
 aim - to promote freer regional trade 
   
 members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, 
  Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela 
  observers - (21) China, Commission of the European Communities, Corporacion 
  Andina de Fomento, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 
  Inter-American Development Bank, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on 
  Agriculture, Italy, Latin America Economic System, Nicaragua, Organization of 
  American States, Panama, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, United 
  Nations Development Program, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America 
  and the Caribbean 
League of Arab States (LAS)
   
see Arab League (AL) 
League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS)
   
see International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) 
least developed countries (LLDCs)
   
that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) initially identified by the UN General Assembly in 1971 as having no significant economic growth, per capita GDPs normally less than $1,000, and low literacy rates; also known as the undeveloped countries; the 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen
 less developed countries (LDCs)
   
the bottom group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former 
  USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); mainly 
  countries and dependent areas with low levels of output, living standards, and 
  technology; per capita GDPs are generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; 
  however, the group also includes a number of countries with high per capita 
  incomes, areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes the 
  advanced developing countries, developing countries, Four Dragons (Four Tigers), 
  least developed countries (LLDCs), low-income countries, middle-income countries, 
  newly industrializing economies (NIEs), the South, Third World, underdeveloped 
  countries, undeveloped countries; the 172 LDCs are: Afghanistan, Algeria, American 
  Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, 
  Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, 
  British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, 
  Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas 
  Island, Cocos Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 
  Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, 
  Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial 
  Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Guiana, French Polynesia, 
  Gabon, The Gambia, Gaza Strip, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, 
  Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong 
  Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, 
  North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, 
  Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Isle of Man, Marshall Islands, 
  Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, 
  Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands 
  Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern 
  Mariana Islands, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, 
  Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint 
  Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint 
  Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, 
  Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, 
  Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, 
  Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, 
  Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West 
  Bank, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - similar to the new International 
  Monetary Fund (IMF) term "developing countries" which adds Malta, 
  Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey but omits in its recently published statistics 
  American Samoa, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Christmas 
  Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cuba, Eritrea, Falkland Islands, French 
  Guiana, French Polynesia, Gaza Strip, Gibraltar, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, 
  Guam, Guernsey, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Isle of Man, Martinique, Mayotte, 
  Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, 
  Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and 
  Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, 
  Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara 
 London Suppliers Group
   
see Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) 
low-income countries
   
another term for those less developed countries with below-average per 
  capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs) 
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) 
 Near Abroad
  Russian term for the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, in which 25 
  million ethnic Russians live and in which Moscow has expressed a strong national 
  security interest; the 14 countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, 
  Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, 
  Ukraine, Uzbekistan 
newly industrializing countries (NICs) 
   
 former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly industrializing 
  economies (NIEs) 
 newly industrializing economies (NIEs) 
   
 that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) that has experienced 
  particularly rapid industrialization of their economies; formerly known as the 
  newly industrializing countries (NICs); also known as advanced developing countries; 
  usually includes the Four Dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan), 
  and Brazil 
Nonaligned Movement (NAM)
   
 address - Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa 
  to the United Nations, 333 East 38th Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10016, 
  US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 213 5583
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 692 2498
   
 established - 1-6 September 1961
   
 aim - to establish political and military cooperation apart from 
  the traditional East or West blocs
   
 members - (113 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, 
  Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, 
  Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, 
  Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, 
  Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, 
  Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, 
  The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, 
  India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, 
  Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, 
  Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, 
  Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, 
  Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia 
  and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, 
  Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, 
  Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
   
 observers - (16) Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, 
  China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Kazakhstan, 
  Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Paraguay, Ukraine, Uruguay
   
 guests - (28) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, 
  Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, 
  Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, 
  Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US 
Nordic Council (NC)
   
 address - Store Strandstraede 18, PB 3043, DK-1021 Kobenhavn K, 
  Denmark
   
 telephone - [45] 33 96 04 00
   
 FAX - [45] 33 11 18 70
   
 established - 16 March 1952
   
 effective - 12 February 1953
   
 aim - to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental 
  cooperation
   
 members - (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), 
  Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden
   
 observers - (3) the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, 
  and Sweden 
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB)
   
 address - Fabianinkatu 34, P. O. Box 249, FIN-00171 Helsinki, Finland
   
 telephone - [358] (0) 18001
   
 FAX - [358] (0) 1800210
   
 established - 4 December 1975
   
 effective - 1 June 1976
   
 aim - to promote economic cooperation and development
   
 members - (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), 
  Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden 
North
   
a popular term for the rich industrialized countries generally located 
  in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the counterpart of the South; 
  see developed countries (DCs)  
North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) 
   
see Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)  
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 
   
 address - B-1110 Brussels, Belgium
   
 telephone - [32] (2) 707 4111
   
 FAX - [32] (2) 707 4579
   
 established - 4 April 1949
   
 aim - to promote mutual defense and cooperation 
   
 members - (19) Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, 
  Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, 
  Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US 
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
   
 note - also known as OECD Nuclear Energy Agency
   
 address - AEN/NEA, Le Seine St. Germain, 12 Boulevard des Iles, 
  F-92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
   
 telephone - [33] (1) 45 24 10 10
   
 FAX - [33] (1) 45 24 11 10
   
 established - 1 February 1958
   
 aim - to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; associated 
  with OECD
   
 members - (27) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, 
  Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, 
  Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
  
   
 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
   
 note - also known as the London Suppliers Group or the London Group
   
 address - c/o Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations 
  in Vienna, Andromeda Tower, 23rd floor, Donau City Strasse 6, A-1220 Vienna, 
  Austria
   
 telephone - [43] (1) 260 6300
   
 FAX - [43] (1) 263 6749
   
 established - NA 1974
   
 effective - NA 1975
   
 aim - to establish guidelines for exports of nuclear materials, 
  processing equipment for uranium enrichment, and technical information to countries 
  of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability
   
 members - (35) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, 
  Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
  Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, 
  NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US 
   
 observer - (1) European Commission (a policy-planning body for 
  the EU) 
Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en 
  la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)
  see Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean 
  (OPANAL) 
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
   
 address - 2 Rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 Paris CEDEX 16, France
   
 telephone - [33] (1) 45 24 82 00
   
 FAX - [33] (1) 45 24 85 00, 45 24 81 76, 45 24 18 15
   
 established - 14 December 1960
   
 effective - 30 September 1961
   
 aim - to promote economic cooperation and development
   
 members - (29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, 
  Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, 
  Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, 
  Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
   
 special member - (1) EU 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
   
 note - formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe 
  (CSCE) established 3 July 1975
   
 address - Karntner Ring 5-7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria
   
 telephone - [43] (1) 514 36-190
   
 FAX - [43] (1) 514 36-96
   
 established - 1 January 1995
   
 aim - to foster the implementation of human rights, fundamental 
  freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law; to act as an instrument of early warning, 
  conflict prevention and crisis management; and to serve as a framework for conventional 
  arms control and confidence building measures
   
 members - (55) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, 
  Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, 
  Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, 
  Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 
  Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, 
  San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, 
  Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia (suspended)
   
 partners for cooperation - (8) Algeria, Egypt, Israel, 
  Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, Tunisia 
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
   
 address - Johan de Wittlaan 32, NL-2517 JR The Hague, Netherlands
   
 telephone - [31] (70) 416 33 00
   
 FAX - [31] (70) 360 09 44
   
 established - 29 April 1997
   
 aim - to enforce the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, 
  Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction; 
  to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among the signatories of 
  the Convention
   
 members - (169) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, 
  Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, 
  Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, 
  Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central 
  African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic 
  of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, 
  Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican 
  Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, 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, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, 
  Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, 
  Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, 
  Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States 
  of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, 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 Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, 
  San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra 
  Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, 
  Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, 
  Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
Organization of African Unity (OAU)
   
 address - P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
   
 telephone - [251] (1) 517700
   
 FAX - [251] (1) 512622, 517844
   
 established - 25 May 1963
   
 aim - to promote unity and cooperation among African states
   
 members - (54) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, 
  Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic 
  Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, 
  Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, 
  Morocco (temporarily suspended), Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, 
  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, 
  Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, 
  Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
Organization of American States (OAS) 
   
 address - corner of 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 
  DC 20006, US
   
 telephone - [1] (202) 458 3000
   
 FAX - [1] (202) 458 3967
   
 established - 14 April 1890 as the International Union of American 
  Republics; 30 April 1948 adopted present charter 
   
 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 - (45) Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and 
  Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, 
  EU, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, Israel, 
  Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, 
  Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Yemen 
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)
   
 address - P. O. Box 20501, Safat 13066, Kuwait
   
 telephone - [965] 4844500
   
 FAX - [965] 4815747
   
established - 9 January 1968
   
 aim - to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry
   
 members - (10) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, 
  Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE 
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
   
 address - OECS, P. O. Box 179, Morne Fortune, Castries, Saint Lucia
   
 telephone - [1] (758) 45 22537, 45 22538 
   
 FAX - [1] (758) 45 31628
   
 established - 18 June 1981
   
 effective - 4 July 1981
   
 aim - to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation
   
 members - (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, 
  Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines associate 
  members - (2) Anguilla, British Virgin Islands 
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
   
 address - Obere Donaustrasse 93, A-1020 Vienna, Austria
   
 telephone - [43] (1) 21 11 20
   
 FAX - [43] (1) 216 43 20
   
 established - 14 September 1960
   
 aim - to coordinate petroleum policies 
   
 members - (11) Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, 
  Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela 
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
   
 address - 6 km Makkah Al-Mukarramah Road, P. O. Box 178, Jeddah 
  21411, Saudi Arabia
   
 telephone - [966] (2) 680-0800
   
 FAX - [966] (2) 687-6568
   
 established - 22-25 September 1969
   
 aim - to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, 
  and political affairs
   
 members - (52 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, 
  Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, 
  Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, 
  Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, 
  Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, 
  Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine 
  Liberation Organization
   
 observers - (4) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, 
  Moro National Liberation Front of the Philippines, "Turkish Republic of 
  Northern Cyprus" 
Pacific Community
  note - formerly known as the South Pacific Commission (SPC)
  address - BP D5, 98848 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 - (26) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, 
  French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, 
  Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, 
  Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, US, Vanuatu, 
  Wallis and Futuna 
 Paris Club
   
see Group of 10 
Partnership for Peace (PFP)
   
 address - NATO Office of Information and Press, B-1110 Brussels, 
  Belgium
   
 telephone - [32] (2) 728 44 15
   
 FAX - [32] (2) 728 45 79
   
 established - 10-11 January 1994
   
 aim - to expand and intensify political and military cooperation 
  throughout Europe, increase stability, diminish threats to peace, and build 
  relationships by promoting the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment 
  to democratic principles that underpin NATO; program under the auspices of NATO 
  
   
 members - (27) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, 
  Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, 
  Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, 
  Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, 
  Ukraine, Uzbekistan 
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) 
   
 address - Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, NL-2517 KJ The Hague, 
  Netherlands
   
 telephone - [31] (70) 302 42 42
   
 FAX - [31] (70) 302 41 67
   
 established - 29 July 1899
   
 aim - to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
   
 members - (86) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, 
  Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, 
  China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, 
  Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, 
  Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, 
  Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, 
  Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, 
  Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, 
  Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, 
  Zaire, Zimbabwe 
Population Commission
   
see Commission on Population and Development 
Rio Group (RG)
  note - formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established in December 1986
  address - Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Edificio AYFRA, Piso 10, 
  Pdte Franco y Ayolas, Asuncion, Paraguay 
  telephone - [595] (21) 448409, 493872 
  FAX - [595] (21) 450911, 493910
  established - NA 1988
  aim - to consult on regional Latin American issues
  members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, 
  Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela 
Second World
  another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states of the USSR and Eastern 
  Europe, with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet 
  model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies 
 Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
   
see Pacific Community 
Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA) 
   
see Latin American Economic System (LAES) 
Social Commission
   
see Commission for Social Development 
socialist countries
   
in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note - the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for communist countries
 South
   
a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally 
  located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see 
  less developed countries (LDCs) 
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
   
 address - P. O. Box 4222, Kathmandu, Nepal
   
 telephone - [977] (1) 221785, 226350, 221792, 228029
   
 FAX - [977] (1) 227033, 223991
   
 established - 8 December 1985
   
 aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation
   
 members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, 
  Sri Lanka  
South Pacific Commission (SPC)
   
see Pacific Community (SPC) 
 South Pacific Forum (SPF)
   
 address - c/o Forum Secretariat, Ratu Sukuna Road, Private Mail 
  Bag, Suva, Fiji
   
 telephone - [679] 312 600, 303 106
   
 FAX - [679] 301 102, 305 573
   
 established - 5 August 1971
   
 aim - to promote regional cooperation in political matters
   
 members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall 
  Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, 
  Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (Sparteca)
   address - c/o forum Secretariat, Ratu Sukuna Road GPO Box 856, 
  Suva, Fiji 
  telephone - [679] 312 600, 303 106
   
 FAX - [679] 302 204
   
 established - NA 1981
   
 aim - to redress unequal trade relationships of Australia and New 
  Zealand with small island economies in the Pacific region
   
 members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall 
  Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, 
  Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 
Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 
   
 address - Director of Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance, 
  Private Bag 13295, Windhoek, Namibia
   
 established - 11 December 1969
   
 aim - to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters
   
 members - (5) Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland 
 Southern African Development Community (SADC)
   
 note - evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination 
  Conference (SADCC)
   
 address - Private Bag 0095, Gaborone, Botswana
   
 telephone - [267] (31) 351863, 351864, 351865
   
 FAX - [267] (31) 372848
   
 established - 17 August 1992
   
 aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
   
 members - (14) Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 
  Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, 
  Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe  
Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) or Southern Common Market
   
 note - also known as Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (Mercosur)
   
 address - Rincon 575 Piso 12, 11000 Montevideo, Uruguay
   
 telephone - [598] (2) 9164590
   
 FAX - [598] (2) 9164591
   
 established - 26 March 1991
   
 aim - to increase regional economic cooperation 
   
 members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
   
 associate member - (2) Bolivia, Chile 
Statistical Commission
   
 address - Statistics Division, Department of Economic and Social 
  Affairs, United Nations, DC-2 Building, Room 2963, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 9851
   
 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 obsolescent; see 
  less developed countries (LDCs) 
refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above-average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)
undeveloped countries
   
refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)
Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale (UDEAC)
   
see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) 
 United Nations (UN)
   
 address - United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
   
 established - 26 June 1945
   
 effective - 24 October 1945
   
 aim - to maintain international peace and security and to promote 
  cooperation involving economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems
   
 members - (187 excluding Yugoslavia) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, 
  Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, 
  Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, 
  Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, 
  Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central 
  African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic 
  of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, 
  Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, 
  Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, 
  France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, 
  Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, 
  Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, 
  Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, 
  Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav 
  Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, 
  Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, 
  Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, 
  NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua 
  New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, 
  Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 
  Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, 
  Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South 
  Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, 
  Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 
  Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, 
  Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members 
  are represented in the General Assembly; Tuvalu will become a member in 2000
   
 observers - (2 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy 
  See, Switzerland, Palestine Liberation Organization 
United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III)
   
 successor to original UNAVEM and UNAVEM II; established 20 December 1988; 
  renewed for third time 8 February 1995; aim was to assist the parties in restoring 
  peace and achieving national reconciliation in Angola on the basis of the Peace 
  Accords, the Lusaka Protocol, and relevant Security Council resolutions; established 
  by the UN Security Council; members Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, Fiji, 
  Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Jordan, Mongolia, Mali, Morocco, Netherlands, 
  Nigeria, Portugal, Sweden, Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe; disbanded 30 
  June 1997 
United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR)
   
established 5 October 1993 to support and provide safe conditions for 
  displaced persons and human rights monitors, and to assist in training a new 
  national police force; established by the UN Security Council; members were 
  Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Chad, Republic of the Congo, 
  Djibouti, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Jordan, Malawi, 
  Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, 
  Zambia, Zimbabwe; terminated 8 March 1996 
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) 
   
 note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization UN International 
  Children's Emergency Fund
   
 address - UNICEF House, Three United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 
  10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 326 7000
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 888 7465, 888 7454
   
 established - 11 December 1946
   
 aim - to help establish child health and welfare services
   
 members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions 
United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Office for 
  Special Political Affairs, Room S-3260E, United Nations, New York NY 10017, 
  US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
   
 established - 28 November 1997
   
 aim - to support the professionalization of the Haitian National 
  Police; established by UN Security Council 
   
 members - (11) Argentina, Benin, Canada, France, India, Mali, Niger, 
  Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, US
   
United Nations Civilian Police Support Group in Croatia
   
established 19 December 1997 to monitor the Croatian police with respect 
  to the return of displaced persons; members were Argentina, Austria, Denmark, 
  Egypt, Fiji, Finland, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Nepal, Nigeria, 
  Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, US; disbanded 15 October 1998 
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
   
 address - UNCTAD, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 907 00 57, 907 00 43 
   
 established - 30 December 1964
   
 aim - to promote international trade 
   
 members - (188) all UN members plus Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga 
United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia (UNCRO)
   
established 31 March 1995 to separate Croatian and Krajina Serb forces; 
  to monitor demilitarization of the Prevlaka Peninsula; to maintain a presence 
  on Croatia's international borders; to monitor and report the crossing of military 
  personnel, equipment, supplies and weapons; to facilitate delivery of humanitarian 
  assistance; to aid refugees and displaced persons; to protect ethnic minorities; 
  and to clear mines; established by the UN Security Council; members were Argentina, 
  Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, 
  Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, 
  Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, 
  Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US; disbanded 
  January 1996
   
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) 
   
 address - One United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 906 5788, 906 5000 
   
 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 Department of Peace-keeping Operations, United Nations, 
  Room S-3260E, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
   
 established - 31 May 1974 
   
 aim - to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; established 
  by the UN Security Council 
   
 members - (5) Austria, Canada, Japan, Poland, Slovakia 
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
   
 address - 7 place de Fontenoy, F-75352 Paris 07SP, 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 - (186) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, 
  Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The 
  Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, 
  Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, 
  Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, 
  Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, 
  El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, 
  Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, 
  Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, 
  Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, 
  Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, 
  Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic 
  of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall 
  Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, 
  Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, 
  Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, 
  Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint 
  Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, 
  Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon 
  Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, 
  Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), 
  Zambia, Zimbabwe
   
 associate members - (4) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, 
  Macau, Netherlands Antilles 
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) 
   
 address - P. O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya 
   
 telephone - [254] (2) 230800, 520600, 621234, 623292
   
 FAX - [254] (2) 226890, 623927, 623692 
   
 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 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 High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
   
 address - UNHCR Headquarters, Case Postale 2500, Depot, CH-1211 
  Geneva 2, 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 - (53) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, 
  Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 
  Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, 
  Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, 
  Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, 
  Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, 
  Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela 
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 - (168) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, 
  Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, 
  Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, 
  Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, 
  Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic 
  Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, 
  Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, 
  Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, 
  France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, 
  Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, 
  Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South 
  Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, 
  The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, 
  Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, 
  Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, 
  Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, 
  Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and 
  the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra 
  Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, 
  Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe 
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
   
 address - Palais des Nations, Bureau 1070, CH-1211, Geneva 10, 
  Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 798-58-50, 798-84-00 
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 733-13-83
   
 established - 11 December 1963 adoption of the resolution establishing 
  the Institute
   
 effective - 24 March 1965
   
 aim - to help the UN become more effective through training and 
  research
   
 members (Board of Trustees) - (19) Argentina, Australia, Austria, 
  Cameroon, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, 
  Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand; note - the UN 
  Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members 
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
   
 established - 10 June 1999
   
 aim - to promote the establishment of substantial autonomy and 
  self-government in Kosovo; to perform basic civilian administrative functions; 
  to support the reconstruction of key infrastructure and humanitarian and disaster 
  relief
   
 members - (49) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, 
  Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, 
  Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, 
  Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, 
  Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, 
  Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine UK, US, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
   
 established - 19 March 1978
   
 aim - to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and assist in 
  reestablishing Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN 
  Security Council
   
 members - (9) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, 
  Nepal, Poland 
United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 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, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, 
  Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, 
  Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela  
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
   
 address - P. O. Box 68, Rawalpindi, Pakistan 
   
 telephone - [92] (51) 564 298
   
 FAX - [92] (51) 567 897, 565 861
   
 established - 24 January 1949
   
 aim - to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan cease-fire; established 
  by the UN Security Council
   
 members - (8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea, 
  Sweden, Uruguay 
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
   
 established - 29 April 1991
   
 aim - to supervise the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western 
  Sahara; established by the UN Security Council
   
 members - (29) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Egypt, 
  El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, India, Ireland, Italy, 
  Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, 
  Sweden, Togo, US, Uruguay, Venezuela 
United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 758 2718
   
 established - 21 December 1995
   
 aim - to establish an International Police Task Force (IPTF) to 
  implement the Dayton Peace Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina
   
 members - (44) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, 
  Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, 
  Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, 
  Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, 
  Russia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, 
  UK, US 
United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) 
   
established 23 September 1993; aim was to assist in implementing the agreement 
  to transfer power back into the civilian government; established by the UN Security 
  Council; became the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH) 28 June 
  1996 with the aim to assist in the professionalization of the Haitian National 
  Police; members were Algeria, Canada, France, India, Mali, Pakistan, Togo, US; 
  disbanded 31 July 1997 
United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA)
   
established NA April 1998 to provide security in the capital as the government 
  undertakes the necessary reforms to provide its own security; to provide training 
  to civilian police; members were Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon Canada, Chad, 
  Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, France, Gabon, Mali, Portugal, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia; 
  was disbanded 15 February 2000 
 United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963-1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 758-2718
   
 established - 22 October 1999
   
 aim - to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the 
  other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the agreement; 
  to monitor the military and security situation in Sierra Leone; to monitor the 
  disarmament and demobilization of combatants and members of the Civil Defense 
  Forces (CFD); to assist in monitoring respect for international humanitarian 
  law
   
 members - (30) Bangladesh, Bolivia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, 
  Denmark, Egypt, France, The Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, 
  Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, 
  Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand, Tanzania, UK, Uruguay, Zambia 
United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 758 2718
   
 established - 1 February 1996
   
 aim - to monitor the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula
   
 members - (24) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, 
  Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, 
  Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, 
  Ukraine 
United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 758 2718
   
 established - 16 December 1994
   
 aim - to monitor and investigate violations of the cease-fire of 
  17 September 1994 between Tajikistan and the Tajik opposition and to assist 
  in the political negotiation process; established by the UN Security Council
   
 members - (13) Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
  Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Nigeria, Poland, Ukraine, Uruguay  
United Nations Monitoring and Verification Commission (UNMOVIC)
   
 note - formerly known as United Nations Special Commission for 
  the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM)
   
 address - c/o United Nations, Room S-3120H, New York, NY 10017, 
  US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 3018
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 3922
   
 established - NA December 1999
   
 aim - to identify, account for, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of 
  mass destruction and the capacity to produce them
   
 members - (22) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech 
  Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Nigeria, 
  Norway, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, UK, US, Venezuela 
United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA)
   
established 1 July 1997 to assist in implementation of peace agreement; 
  oversee normalization of state administration throughout National territory; 
  established by UN Security Council; members were Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, 
  Egypt, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, 
  Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe; terminated 26 February 1999 
United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL)
   
established 20 May 1991 to verify cease-fire arrangements and to monitor 
  the maintenance of public order pending the organization of a new National Civil 
  Police; established by the UN Security Council; members were Argentina, Austria, 
  Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, 
  Sweden, Venezuela; disbanded April 1995 
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
   
 established - 24 August 1993
   
 aim - to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement, to monitor 
  weapons exclusion zone, and to supervise CIS peacekeeping force for Abkhazia; 
  established by the UN Security Council
   
 members - (22) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
  Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, South Korea, Pakistan, 
  Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay 
United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL)
   
established 22 September 1993 to assist in the implementation of the peace 
  agreement; established by the UN Security Council; members were Bangladesh, 
  Egypt, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan; disbanded September 1997 
United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR)
   
established 1993 for six months to monitor the Uganda/Rwanda border to 
  verify that no military assistance reaches Rwanda across the border; established 
  by the UN Security Council; members were Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Hungary, 
  Netherlands, Senegal, Slovakia, Zimbabwe; subsumed by UNAMIR 
United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ)
   
established 16 December 1992 to supervise the cease-fire; established 
  by the UN Security Council; members were Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Botswana, 
  Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, 
  India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, 
  Russia, Spain, Sweden, US, Uruguay, Zambia; shut down operations 31 January 
  1995 
United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II)
   
established 24 April 1992 to facilitate an immediate cessation of hostilities, 
  to maintain a cease-fire in order to promote a political settlement, and to 
  provide urgent humanitarian assistance; established by the UN Security Council; 
  members were Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, India, Ireland, 
  Malaysia, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Zimbabwe; UN peacekeepers left 
  Somalia on 1 March 1995; some UN personnel remain in Somalia engaged in humanitarian 
  work 
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the 
  Congo (MONUC)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
   
 established - 30 November 1999
   
 aim - to establish contacts with the signatories to the cease-fire 
  agreement and to plan for the observation of the cease-fire and disengagement 
  of forces
   
 members - (24) Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Canada, Egypt, 
  France, Ghana, India, Italy, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Nepal, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, 
  Russia, South Africa, Sweden, UK, Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia 
United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
   
 address - Chief of Mission, P. O. Box 1642, Nicosia, Cyprus
   
 telephone - [357] (2) 359 700
   
 FAX - [357] (2) 359 753
   
 established - 4 March 1964
   
 aim - to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and 
  Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council
  members - (10) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Hungary, 
  Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, UK 
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 
   
 note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for 
  Population Activities
   
 address - 220 East 42nd Street, 19th Floor, Room DN-1901, New York, 
  NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [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 - (34) selected on a rotating basis from all regions 
 United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP)
   
established 31 March 1995; to monitor border activity in the Former Yugoslav 
  Republic of Macedonia; members were Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, 
  Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, 
  Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, US; mandate ended 25 March 1999 
United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) 
   
established 28 February 1992; to create conditions for peace and security 
  required for the negotiation of an overall settlement of the "Yugoslav" 
  crisis; established by the UN Security Council; members were Bangladesh, Belgium, 
  Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, 
  Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, 
  Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, 
  UK, US; disbanded December 1995; replaced by the Implementation Force (IFOR), 
  which has been replaced by the Stabilization Force (SFOR) 
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the 
  Near East (UNRWA)
   
 address - P. O. Box 700, Vienna International Center, A-1400 Vienna, 
  Austria
   
 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)
   
 address - Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 798 84 00, 798 58 50
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 740 07 91
   
 established - NA 1963
   
 aim - to conduct research into the problems of economic development 
  during different phases of economic growth 
   
 members - no country members, but a Board of Directors consisting 
  of a chairman appointed by the UN secretary general and 10 individual members 
United Nations Secretariat
   
 address - see United Nations
   
 established - 26 June 1945
   
 effective - 24 October 1945
   
 aim - to serve as the primary administrative organ of the UN; a 
  Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly 
  on the recommendation of the Security Council
   
 members - the UN Secretary General and staff 
United Nations Security Council
   
 address - c/o United Nations, Room S-3520A, New York, NY 10017, 
  US
   
 telephone - [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 (1999-2000), Bangladesh (2000-01), Canada (1999-2000), Jamaica 
  (2000-01), Malaysia (1999-2000), Mali (2000-01), Namibia (1999-2000), Netherlands 
  (1999-2000), Tunisia (2000-01), Ukraine (2000-01) 
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET)
   
 address - c/o Department of Peace-keeping Operations, Room S-3260E, 
  United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US
   
 telephone - [1] (212) 963 1234
   
 FAX - [1] (212) 963 4879
   
 established - 25 October 1999
   
 aim - to provide security throughout the territory of East Timor; 
  to establish an effective administration; to ensure the coordination and delivery 
  of humanitarian assistance; to support capacity-building for self-government
   
 members - (27) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, 
  Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Ghana, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, 
  Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, 
  UK, US, Uruguay, Zimbabwe 
United Nations Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, 
  and Western Sirmium (UNTAES)
   
established 12 November 1995; aim to facilitate and supervise the Basic 
  Agreement between the government of the Republic of Croatia and the local Serbian 
  community that will lead to a peaceful integration of that region into the national 
  state of Croatia; members were Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Czech 
  Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, 
  Kenya, Nepal, NZ, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russian, Slovakia, Sweden, 
  Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US; disbanded 15 January 1998; a UN Civilian 
  Police Support Group was established in December 1997 as follow-on mission to 
  UNTAES; the support group will continue to monitor the Croatian police in the 
  Danube region, particularly in connection with the return of displaced people 
 United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) 
   
established by the UN Security Council on 28 February 1992 to contribute 
  to the restoration and maintenance of peace and to the holding of free elections; 
  disbanded sometime after the UN-supervised election in May 1993; members were 
  Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, 
  Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, 
  Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, 
  Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, 
  Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, UK, US, Uruguay 
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
   
 address - Government House, P. O. Box 490, Jerusalem 91004, Israel
   
 telephone - [972] (2) 673 4223
   
 FAX - [972] (2) 673 5282, 673 4223 extension 400
   
 established - NA June 1948 
   
 aim - to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; currently 
  supports timely deployment of reinforcements to other peacekeeping operations 
  in the region as needed; initially established by the UN Security Council
   
 members - (22) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, 
  Chile, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, 
  NZ, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, US 
United Nations Trusteeship Council
   
established on 26 June 1945, effective on 24 October 1945, to supervise 
  the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members were China, France, 
  Russia, UK, US; it formally suspended operations 1 November 1995 after the Trust 
  Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a constitutional 
  government in free association with the US; the Trusteeship Council was not 
  dissolved 
United Nations University (UNU)
   
 address - 53-70 Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150, Japan
   
 telephone - [81] (3) 3499 2811
   
 FAX - [81] (3) 3499 2828
   
 established - 3 December 1973
   
 aim - to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival 
  and to train scholars
   
 members - (38 associated institutes in 32 countries) 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 
United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA)
   
established on 20 January 1997; to verify fulfillment of cease-fire provisions; 
  established by UN Security Council; members were Argentina, Australia, Austria, 
  Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia, Singapore, 
  Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Venezuela; mandate terminated in May 1997 
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
   
 address - Bureau International de l'UPU, 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 Faso, Burma, 
  Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, 
  Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, 
  Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, 
  Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, 
  The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, 
  Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, 
  North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, 
  Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic 
  of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, 
  Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, 
  Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, 
  Norway, Oman, Overseas Territories of the UK, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, 
  Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, 
  Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, 
  San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra 
  Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, 
  Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, 
  Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 
  Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, 
  Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe 
 Warsaw Pact (WP)
  established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991 to 
  dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of dissolution were Bulgaria, 
  Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier members included 
  GDR and Albania 
West African Development Bank (WADB) 
   
 note - also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD); 
  is a financial institution of WAEMU
   
 address - 68 Avenue de la Liberation, BP 1172, 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
   
 regional members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, 
  Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo 
   
 international/nonregional members - (5) African Development 
  Bank, Belgium, European Investment Bank, France, Germany 
West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
   
 note - also known as Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine 
  (UEMOA)
   
 address - Commission de l'UEMOA, 01 BP 543, Ouadgadougou, Burkina 
  Faso
   
 telephone - [226] 31 88 73 through 76 
   
 FAX - [226] 31 88 72
   
 established - 1 August 1994
   
 aim - to increase competitiveness of members' economic markets; 
  to create a common market
   
 members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, 
  Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo 
West African Economic Community (CEAO) 
   
 note - acronym from Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
   
established on 3 June 1972 to promote regional economic development; its 
  members were Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal; 
  it was disbanded in 1994 
Western European Union (WEU)
   
 address - Rue de la Regence 4, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
   
 telephone - [32] (2) 500 44 11
   
 FAX - [32] (2) 511 32 70
   
 established - 23 October 1954
   
 effective - 6 May 1955
   
 aim - to provide mutual defense and to move toward political unification
   
 members - (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, 
  Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK 
   
 associate members - (6) Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, 
  Norway, Poland, Turkey
   
 associate partners - (7) Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 
  Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia
   
 observers - (5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden 
World Bank
   
see International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) 
World Bank Group
   
 includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), 
  International Development Association (IDA), and International Finance Corporation 
  (IFC)  
World Confederation of Labor (WCL)
   
 address - Rue de Treves 33, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
   
 telephone - [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 Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape 
  Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic 
  of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican 
  Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, 
  Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, 
  Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, 
  Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, 
  Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, 
  Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts 
  and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, 
  Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, 
  Thailand, Togo, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
World Court
   
see International Court of Justice (ICJ) 
World Customs Organization (WCO)
   
see Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) 
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) 
   
 address - Branicka 112, 14701 Prague 4, Czech Republic
   
 telephone - [42] (2) 44 46 21 40, 44 46 20 85, 44 46 29 61
   
 FAX - [42] (2) 44 46 13 78
   
 established - 3 October 1945
   
 aim - to promote the trade union movement 
   
 members - (125 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, 
  Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, 
  Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, 
  Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, 
  Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, 
  Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, 
  El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, The Gambia, 
  Ghana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, 
  Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, 
  North Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, 
  Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, New 
  Caledonia, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, 
  Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Saint 
  Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, 
  Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri 
  Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, 
  Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization 
World Food Council (WFC)
   
established 17 December 1974; to study world food problems and to recommend 
  solutions; ECOSOC organization; there were 36 members selected on a rotating 
  basis from all regions; subsumed by the World Food Program and Food and Agriculture 
  Organization 
World Food Program (WFP)
   
 address - Via Cesare Giullio Viola, 68/70 Parco de Medici, I-00148 
  Rome, Italy
   
 telephone - [39] (6) 522821
   
 FAX - [39] (6) 59602348, 52282840
   
 established - 24 November 1961
   
 aim - to provide food aid in support of economic development or 
  disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization 
   
 members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions 
World Health Organization (WHO)
   
 address - CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland 
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 791 21 11, 791 32 23
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 791 07 46
   
 established - 22 July 1946
   
 effective - 7 April 1948
   
 aim - to deal with health matters worldwide; a UN specialized agency
   
 members - (191) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, 
  Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The 
  Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, 
  Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina 
  Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African 
  Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the 
  Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, 
  Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, 
  Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, 
  Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, 
  Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, 
  India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, 
  Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, 
  Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former 
  Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, 
  Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of 
  Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, 
  Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niue, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, 
  Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, 
  Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent 
  and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, 
  Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, 
  Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, 
  Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and 
  Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, 
  Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), 
  Zambia, Zimbabwe
   
 associate members - (2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau 
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
   
 address - 34 Chemin des Colombettes, Case Postale 18, CH-1211 Geneva 
  20, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 338 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 - (171) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, 
  Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, 
  Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, 
  Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, 
  Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic 
  Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, 
  Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, 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, 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, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, 
  Monaco, 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, Samoa, San Marino, 
  Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra 
  Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, 
  Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, 
  Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, 
  UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 
   
 address - Case Postale 2300, 41 Avenue 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 UN specialized agency
   
 members - (185) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua 
  and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, 
  Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia 
  and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Caribbean Territories, Brunei, Bulgaria, 
  Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central 
  African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic 
  of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, 
  Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican 
  Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, 
  France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, 
  Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, 
  Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, 
  Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, 
  Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, The 
  Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, 
  Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, 
  Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, 
  Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, 
  Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, 
  Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, 
  Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, 
  Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, 
  Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad 
  and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, 
  Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, 
  Zimbabwe  
World Tourism Organization (WToO)
   
 address - Calle Capitan Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain
   
 telephone - [34] (1) 567 81 00
   
 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 - (131) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, 
  Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
  Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, 
  Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic 
  of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, 
  Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, 
  Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, 
  Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, 
  India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, 
  Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, 
  Libya, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, 
  Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, 
  Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, 
  Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao 
  Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South 
  Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, 
  Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, 
  Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 
   
 associate members - (5) Aruba, Flanders, Macau, 
  Madeira Islands, Netherlands Antilles 
 
  observer - (1) Holy See 
World Trade Organization (WTrO)
   
 note - succeeded General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT)
   
 address - Centre William Rappard, 154 Rue de Lausanne, CH-1211 
  Geneva 21, Switzerland
   
 telephone - [41] (22) 739 51 11
   
 FAX - [41] (22) 739 54 58
   
 established - 15 April 1994
   
 effective - 1 January 1995
   
 aim - to provide a means to resolve trade conflicts between members 
  and to carry on negotiations with the goal of further lowering and/or eliminating 
  tariffs and other trade barriers
   
 members - (136) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, 
  Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, 
  Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central 
  African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic 
  of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
  Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, 
  EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, 
  Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, 
  Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, 
  South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, 
  Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, 
  Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, 
  Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, 
  Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, 
  Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, 
  Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, 
  Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, 
  Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
   
 observers - (6) Azerbaijan, Laos, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, 
  Turkmenistan
   
 applicants - (31) Albania, Algeria, Armenia, The Bahamas, Belarus, 
  Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Croatia, Equatorial Guinea, Georgia, Kazakhstan, 
  Kiribati, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Nepal, 
  Oman, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Tonga, Tuvalu, 
  Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Taiwan; note - some of 
  these countries applied to GATT and are still under consideration for membership 
  in WTrO; the following member of GATT had not become a member of WTrO as of 
  1 January 1998: Yugoslavia (suspended) 
 Zangger Committee (ZC)
  established - early 1970s
  aim - to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the 
  Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT)
  members - (33) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, 
  China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, 
  Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, 
  Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, 
  UK, US