military cooperation apart from the traditional East or West blocs
members - (117 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, 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, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,
Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda,
UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Palestine Liberation Organization observers - (15) Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia,
El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Paraguay, Serbia, Ukraine,
Uruguay guests - (24) Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Italy,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Nordic Council (NC)
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)
established - 4 December 1975; effective - 1 June 1976 aim - to
promote economic cooperation and development members - (8) Denmark
(including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland (including
Aland Islands), Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, 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 American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
established - 17 December 1992 aim - to eliminate trade barriers,
promote fair competition, increase investment opportunities, provide
protection of intellectual property rights, and create procedures to
settle disputes members - (3) Canada, Mexico, US
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
established - 4 April 1949 aim - to promote mutual defense and
cooperation members - (28) Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey,
UK, US
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
note - also known as OECD Nuclear Energy Agency established - 1
February 1958 aim - to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy;
associated with OECD members - (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg,
Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
note - also known as the London Suppliers Group or the London Group
established - 1974; effective - 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 - (45)
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine,
UK, US observer - (1) European Commission (a policy-planning body for
the EU)
O
Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM)
note-acronym standing for the member countries, Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, Moldova; formerly known as GUUAM before Uzbekistan withdrew
in 5 May 2005 established - 7 June 2001 aim - commits the countries
to cooperation and assistance in social and economic development, the
strengthening and broadening of trade and economic relations, and the
development and effective use of transport and communications,
highways, and related infrastructure crossing the boundaries of the
member states members - (4) Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
established - 14 December 1960; effective - 30 September 1961 aim - to
promote economic cooperation and development members - (30) 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,
Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US special member -
(1) EC accession states - (5) Chile, Estonia, Israel, Russia, Slovenia
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
note - formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
(CSCE) established 3 July 1975 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 - (56) 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,
Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan partners for cooperation - (11)
Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea,
Mongolia, Morocco, Thailand, Tunisia
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
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 (countries that have ratified the Convention) - (184)
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, 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, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Djibouti,
Ecuador, 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, Ireland,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South
Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, 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, Serbia,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,
Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe signatory states (countries that have
signed, but not ratified, the Convention) - (5) The Bahamas, Burma,
Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Israel
Organization of African Unity (OAU)
see African Union
Organization of American States (OAS)
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 - (63) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea,
Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Holy
See, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Morocco,
Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,
Ukraine, UK, Vanuatu, Yemen
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)
established - 9 January 1968 aim - to promote cooperation in the
petroleum industry members - (11) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq,
Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia (suspended), UAE
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
established - 18 June 1981; effective - 4 July 1981 aim - to promote
political, economic, and defense cooperation members - (9) Anguilla,
Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada,
Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
established - 14 September 1960 aim - to coordinate petroleum policies
members - (13) Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait,
Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
established - 22-25 September 1969 aim - to promote Islamic solidarity
in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs members - (56
plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania,
Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives,
Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname,
Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE,
Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization observers - (14)
AU, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, ECO, Islamic
Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation, LAS, Moro National
Liberation Front, NAM, OAU, Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member
States, Russia, Thailand, Turkish Muslim Community of Kibris, UN
P
Pacific Community (SPC)
local name of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)
note - formerly known as South Pacific Forum (SPF) 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 associate
members - (2) French Polynesia, New Caledonia partners - (13) Canada,
China, EU, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia,
Philippines, Thailand, UK, US observers - (5) Asia Development Bank,
The Commonwealth, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna
Paris Club
established - 1956 aim - to provide a forum for debtor countries to
negotiate rescheduling of debt service payments or loans extended by
governments or official agencies of participating countries; to help
restore normal trade and project finance to debtor countries members -
(19) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Partnership for Peace (PFP)
established - 10-11 January 1994 aim - to expand and intensify
political and military cooperation throughout Europe, increase
stability, diminish threats to peace, and build relationships by
promoting the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment to
democratic principles that underpin NATO; program under the auspices of
NATO members - (22) Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - a
nation that becomes a member of NATO is no longer a member of PFP
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
established - 29 July 1899 aim - to facilitate the settlement of
international disputes members - (108) Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico,
Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay,
Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
R
Rio Group (RG)
note - formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established NA December
1986; composed of the Contadora Group and the Lima Group established -
1988 aim - to consult on regional Latin American issues members -
(21) Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, CARICOM, Chile, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay,
Venezuela
S
Schengen Convention
established - signed June 1990; effective March 1995 aim - to allow
free movement within an area without internal border controls members
- (25) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland; note - UK and Ireland
have not joined; Liechtenstein and Cyprus will probably join in 2009;
Bulgaria and Romania are still not fully implemented
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)
established - 6 February 1947; effective 29 July 1948 aim - to serve
island development in 22 Pacific countries; to develop technical
assistance and professional, scientific, and research support; to build
planning and management capability members - (26) America Samoa,
Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam,
Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New
Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, NZ, Palau, Papua New Guinea,
Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Vanuatu, US, Wallis and Futuna
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
established - 15 June 2001 aim - to combat terrorism, extremism, and
separatism; to safeguard regional security through mutual trust,
disarmament, and cooperative security; and to increase cooperation in
political, trade, economic, scientific and technological, cultural, and
educational fields members - (6) China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan observers - (4) India, Iran, Mongolia,
Pakistan guests - (6) Afghanistan, ASEAN, CIS, EurAsEC, Turkmenistan,
UN
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 American Community of Nations (CSN)
established - 9 December 2004 aim - to coordinate common policies
regarding multilateral organizations, to integrate physical
infrastructure, and to consolidate the merger of CAN and Mercosur
members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay, Venezuela observers - (2)
Mexico, Panama
South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP)
established - January 1983 aim - to promote regional cooperation in
South Asia in the field of environment, both natural and human, and on
issues of economic and social development; to support conservation and
management of natural resources of the region members - (8)
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
established - 8 December 1985 aim - to promote economic, social, and
cultural cooperation members - (8) Afghanistan. Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka observers - (9) Australia,
Burma, China, EU, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, US
South Pacific Forum (SPF)
note - see Pacific Island Forum
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement
(Sparteca)
established - 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
Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI)
established - 6 December 1996 aim - to encourage cooperation among
participating states and to facilitate their integration into European
structures members - (13) Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania,
Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey observers - (18) Austria, Azerbaijan,
Belgium, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, UK, US
Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
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) established - 17 August 1992 aim - to promote
regional economic development and integration members - (14) Angola,
Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar,
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) established
- 26 March 1991 aim - to increase regional economic cooperation
members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay associate members -
(5) Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
T
Third World
another term for the less developed countries; the term is obsolescent;
see less developed countries (LDCs)
U
underdeveloped countries
refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above-
average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)
undeveloped countries
refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with
little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries
(LLDCs)
Union Latina
established - 15 May 1954; became functional 1983 aim - to project,
protect, and promote the common heritage and unifying identities of the
Latin, and Latin-influenced, world members - (37) Andorra, Angola,
Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Costa
Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France,
Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Moldova,
Monaco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Spain,
Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Venezuela observers - (3) Argentina, Holy See,
Order of Malta
Union of South American Nations (UNASUR - Spanish; UNASUL - Portuguese)
formerly South American Community of Nations which terminated on 16
April 2007 established - 23 May 2008 aim - to model a community after
the European Union which will include a common currency, parliament,
passport, and defense policy members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname,
Uruguay, Venezuela observers - (2) Mexico, Panama
United Nations (UN)