LOS: see Law of the Sea
m: meter
Marecs: Maritime European Communications Satellite
Marine Dumping: Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by
Dumping Wastes and Other Matter
Marine Life Conservation: Convention on Fishing and Conservation of
Living Resources of the High Seas
MARPOL: see Ship Pollution
Medarabtel: Middle East Telecommunications Project of the
International Telecommunications Union
Mercosur: Southern Cone Common Market
MHz: megahertz
MICAH: International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti
MINURSO: United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency
MINUSTAH: United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
MONUC: United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo
NA: not available
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement
NAM: Nonaligned Movement
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NC: Nordic Council
NEA: Nuclear Energy Agency
NEGL: negligible
NGA: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
NIB: Nordic Investment Bank
NIC: newly industrializing country
NIE: newly industrializing economy
NIS: new independent states
nm: nautical mile
NMT: Nordic Mobile Telephone
NSG: Nuclear Suppliers Group
Nuclear Test Ban: Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the
Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water
NZ: New Zealand
OAPEC: Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
OAS: Organization of American States
OAU: Organization of African Unity; see African Union
ODA: official development assistance
OECD: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OECS: Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
OHCHR: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
OIC: Organization of the Islamic Conference
OIF: International Organization of the French-speaking World
ONUB: United Nations Operation in Burundi
OOF: other official flows
OPANAL: Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America
and the Caribbean
OPCW: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
OPEC: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
OSCE: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Ozone Layer Protection: Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete
the Ozone Layer
PCA: Permanent Court of Arbitration
PFP: Partnership for Peace
PIF: Pacific Islands Forum
PPP: purchasing power parity
Ramsar: see Wetlands
RG: Rio Group
SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SACU: Southern African Customs Union
SACEP: South Asia Co-opeative Environment Programme
SADC: Southern African Development Community
SCO: Shanghai Cooperation Organization
SAFE: South African Far East Cable
SECI: Southeast European Cooperative Initiative
SHF: super-high-frequency
Ship Pollution: Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
Sparteca: South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation
Agreement
SPC: Secretariat of the Pacific Communities
SPF: South Pacific Forum
sq km: square kilometer
sq mi: square mile
TAT: Trans-Atlantic Telephone
TEU: Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit
Tropical Timber 83: International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber 94: International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
UAE: United Arab Emirates
UDEAC: Central African Customs and Economic Union
UHF: ultra-high-frequency
UK: United Kingdom
UMA: Arab Maghreb Union
UN: United Nations
UNAMSIL: United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
UNCLOS: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, also know as
LOS
UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDCP: United Nations Drug Control Program
UNDOF: United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
UNDP: United Nations Development Program
UNEP: United Nations Environment Program
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization
UNFICYP: United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus
UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund
UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF: United Nations Children's Fund
UNICRI: United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research
Institute
UNIDIR: United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNIFIL: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
UNITAR: United Nations Institute for Training and Research
UNMEE: United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
UNMIK: United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
UNMIL: United Nations Mission in Liberia
UNMIT: United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste
UNMOGIP: United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
UNMOVIC: United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection
Commission
UNOCI: United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire
UNOMIG: United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
UNOPS: United Nations Office of Project Services
UNRISD: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East
UNSC: United Nations Security Council
UNSSC: Untied Nations System Staff College
UNTSO: United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
UNU: United Nations University
UNWTO: World Tourism Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
US: United States
USSR: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used for
information dated before 25 December 1991
UTC: Coordinated Universal Time
UV: ultra violet
VHF: very-high-frequency
VSAT: very small aperture terminal
WADB: West African Development Bank
WAEMU: West African Economic and Monetary Union
WCL: World Confederation of Labor
WCO: World Customs Organization
Wetlands: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
Especially As Waterfowl Habitat
WEU: Western European Union
WFP: World Food Program
WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions
Whaling: International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WP: Warsaw Pact
WTO: World Trade Organization
ZC: Zangger Committee
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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Appendix B - 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 term used by the International Monetary FUND
(IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies,
countries in transition, and developing countries; it includes 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 that are included in the more comprehensive
group of "developed countries"
African Development Bank Group (AfDB): note - regional multilateral
development finance institution temporarily located in Tunis, Tunisia;
the Bank Group consists of the African Development Bank, the African
Development Fund, and the Nigerian Trust Fund
established - 10 September 1964
aim - to promote economic development and social progress
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 - (24) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,
China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
African Union (AU): note - replaces Organization of African Unity
(OAU)
established - 8 July 2001
aim - to achieve greater unity among African States; to defend states'
integrity and independence; to accelerate political, social, and
economic integration; to encourage international cooperation; to
promote democratic principles and institutions
members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,
Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western
Sahara), Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia,
Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group):
established - 6 June 1975
aim - to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with
the EU
members - (79) 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, Cook Islands, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,
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, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Palau, 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, Timor-Leste, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the
Caribbean (OPANAL): note - acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion
de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)
established - 14 February 1967 under the Treaty of Tlatelolco;
effective - 25 April 1969 on the 11th ratification
aim - to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit
nuclear weapons
members - (33) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, 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) and the Andean Common Market (Ancom)
established - 26 May 1969; present name established 1 October 1992;
effective - 16 October 1969
aim - to promote harmonious development through economic integration
members - (4) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
associate members - (5) Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay
observers - (2) Mexico, Panama
Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA): note - also
known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)
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 Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD): established -
16 May 1968
aim - to promote economic and social development
members - (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria,
Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq (suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia
(suspended 1993), Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine
Liberation Organization
Arab Maghreb Union (AMU): 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): established - 27 April 1976; effective - 2
February 1977
aim - to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in
monetary and economic affairs
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
Arctic Council: established - 18 September 1996
aim - to address the common concerns and challenges faced by Arctic
governments and the people of the Arctic; to protect the Arctic
environment
members - (8) Canada, Denmark (Greenland, Faroe Islands), Finland,
Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, US
permanent participants - (6) Aleut International Association, Arctic
Athabaskan Council, Gwich'in Council International, Inuit Circumpolar
Conference, Russian Association of Indigenous People of the North,
Saami Council
observers - (8) China, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland,
Spain, UK
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): established - 25 July 1994
aim - to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and
security issues of common interest and concern
members - (26) Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada,
China, EU, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos,
Malaysia, Mongolia, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, US, Vietnam
Asian Development Bank (ADB): established - 19 December 1966
aim - to promote regional economic cooperation
members - (48) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Georgia,
Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated
States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Palau,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri
Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan,
Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam
nonregional members - (19) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): 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 Council, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): 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
dialogue partners - (11) Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan,
South Korea, NZ, Russia, US, UNDP; note - ASEAN promotes cooperation
with Pakistan in some areas of mutual interest
observers - (1) Papua New Guinea
Australia Group (AG): established - June 1985
aim - to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical
and biological weapons
members - (41) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European
Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US
Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS):
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
Baltic Assembly (BA): established - 12 May 1990
aim - to thoroughly discuss various cooperation issues between Baltic
states
members - (3) Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Bank for International Settlements (BIS): established - 20 January
1930; effective - 17 March 1930
aim - to promote cooperation among central banks in international
financial settlements
members - (55) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Denmark, European Central Bank, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania,
Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey,
UK, US; note - Serbia and Montenegro have separate central banks; their
links with BIS are currently under review
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC): established - June 1997
aim - to foster socio-economic cooperation among members
members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka,
Thailand
Benelux Economic Union (Benelux): note - acronym from Belgium,
Netherlands, and Luxembourg
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 - 1975
aim - to discuss and coordinate major economic policies
members - (7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus
the US
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC): established - 25 June 1992
aim - to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation
members - (12) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece,
Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine; note - Macedonia is
in the process of joining
observers - (17) Austria, Belarus, Black Sea Commission, Commission of
the EC, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Energy Charter Secretariat,
France, Germany, International Black Sea Club, Israel, Italy, Poland,
Slovakia, Tunisia, US; note - Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia have
applied for observer status
Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom): established - 4 July
1973; effective - 1 August 1973
aim - to promote economic integration and development, especially among
the less developed countries
members - (15) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname,
Trinidad and Tobago
associate members - (5) Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands,
Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
observers - (7) Aruba, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico,
Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): established - 18 October 1969;
effective - 26 January 1970
aim - to promote economic development and cooperation
regional members - (21) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela
nonregional members - (5) Canada, China, Germany, Italy, UK
Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC): see Economic and
Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC): note - acronym from
Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
established - 3 December 1975
aim - to provide loans for economic development
members - (10) African Development Bank (AfDB), Cameroon, Central
African States Bank (BEAC), Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of
the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Kuwait
Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE): note - acronym
from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico
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 - (7) Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic,
Mexico, Panama, Spain, Taiwan
Central American Common Market (CACM): 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 Initiative
established - 11 November 1989 as the Quadrilateral Initiative, 27 July
1991 became the Hexagonal Initiative, July 1992 its present name was
adopted
aim - to form an economic and political cooperation group for the
region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas
members - (18) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova,
Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, 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, German Democratic
Republic, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland,
Romania, Serbia, USSR, Vietnam
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): established - 7
October 2002
aim - to coordinate military and political cooperation, to develop
multilateral structures and mechanisms of cooperation for ensuring
national security of the member states
members - (7) Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan