missile technologies and equipment
members - (25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
UK, US
-----
Near Abroad
the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, in which 25 million ethnic
Russians live and in which Moscow has expressed a strong national security
interest
-----
newly industrializing countries (NICs)
former term for the newly industrializing economies; see newly
industrializing economies (NIEs)
-----
newly industrializing economies (NIEs)
that subgroup of the less developed countries (LDCs) that has experienced
particularly rapid industrialization of their economies; formerly known as
the newly industrializing countries (NICs); also known as advanced
developing countries; usually includes the Four Dragons (Hong Kong, South
Korea, Singapore, Taiwan) plus Brazil
-----
Nonaligned Movement (NAM)
established - 1-6 September 1961
aim - to establish political and military cooperation apart from the
traditional East or West blocs
members - (107 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,
Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia,
Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica,
Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,
Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, UAE,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (21) African National Congress, Afro-Asian Solidarity
Organization, Antigua and Barbuda, Arab League, Armenia, Brazil, China,
Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvador, Islamic Conference, Kanaka
Socialist National Liberation Front (New Caledonia), Mexico, Mongolia,
Organization of African Unity, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Socialist
Party of Puerto Rico, Thailand, UN, Uruguay
guests - (21) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada,
Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, NZ,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland
-----
Nordic Council (NC)
established - 16 March 1952
effective - 12 February 1953
aim - to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental cooperation
members - (5) Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden; note - Denmark
includes Faroe Islands and Greenland, and Finland includes Aland Islands
-----
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB)
established - 4 December 1975
effective - 1 June 1976
aim - to promote economic cooperation and development
members - (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland
(including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden
-----
North
a popular term for the rich industrialized countries generally located in
the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the counterpart of the
South; see developed countries (DCs)
-----
North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC)
note - an extension of NATO
established - 8 November 1991
effective - 20 December 1991
aim - to form a forum to discuss cooperation concerning mutual political
and security issues
members - (38) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US,
Uzbekistan
-----
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
established - 17 September 1949
aim - to promote mutual defense and cooperation
members - (16) Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US
-----
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
established - NA 1958
aim - associated with OECD, seeks to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear
energy
members - (23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
-----
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
note - also known as the London Suppliers Group
established - 1974
aim - to establish guidelines for exports of technical information,
processing equipment for uranium enrichment and nuclear materials to
countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability
members - (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
-----
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)
established - 14 December 1960
effective - 30 September 1961
aim - to promote economic cooperation and development
members - (25) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, UK, US
special member - (1) EU
-----
Organization of African Unity (OAU)
established - 25 May 1963
aim - to promote unity and cooperation among African states
members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote
d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,
Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome and
Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan,
Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-----
Organization of American States (OAS)
established - 30 April 1948
effective - 13 December 1951
aim - to promote regional peace and security as well as economic and social
development
members - (35) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados,
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba
(excluded from formal participation since 1962), Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname,
Trinidad and Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (31) Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Central American
Parliament, Cyprus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, EU, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia
-----
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)
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)
established - 18 June 1981
effective - 4 July 1981
aim - to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation
members - (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
associate member - (1) British Virgin Islands
-----
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
established - 14 September 1960
aim - to coordinate petroleum policies
members - (12) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya,
Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
-----
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
established - 22-25 September 1969
aim - to promote Islamic solidarity and cooperation in economic, social,
cultural, and political affairs
members - (47 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan
(suspended), Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin,
Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco,
Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen,
Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (4) Kazakhstan, Mozambique, Nigeria, "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus"
-----
Paris Club
see Group of 10
-----
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
established - 29 July 1899
aim - to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
members - (78) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China,
Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay,
Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda,
Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zimbabwe
-----
Population Commission
established - 3 October 1946
aim - Economic and Social Council organization dealing with population
matters of importance to the UN
members - (27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-----
Rio Group (RG)
note - formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established in December 1986
established - NA 1988
aim - a consultation mechanism on regional Latin American issues
members - (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Mexico, Paraguay, Peru (suspended), Uruguay, Venezuela; note-Panama was
expelled in 1988; Peru was suspended after April 1992 coup
-----
Second World
another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states with
authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model;
the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies
-----
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)
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)
established - 6 February 1947
effective - 29 July 1948
aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters
members - (27) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France,
French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn
Islands, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis
and Futuna, Western Samoa
-----
South Pacific Forum (SPF)
established - 5 August 1971
aim - to promote regional cooperation in political matters
members - (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon
Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
observer - (1) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
-----
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA)
established - NA 1981
aim - to redress unequal trade relationship of Australia and New Zealand
with small island economies in Pacific region
members - (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon
Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
-----
Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
established - 11 December 1969
aim - to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters
members - (9) 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 - (10) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia,
Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
-----
Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR)
established - 26 March 1991
aim - regional economic cooperation
members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
-----
Statistical Commission
established - 21 June 1946
aim - Economic and Social Council organization dealing with development and
standardization of national statistics of interest to the UN
members - (25) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-----
Third World
another term for the less developed countries; the term is fading from use;
see less developed countries (LDCs)
-----
underdeveloped countries
refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above-
average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)
-----
undeveloped countries
refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little
prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)
-----
Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale (UDEAC)
see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
-----
United Nations (UN)
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 - (183 excluding Yugoslavia) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,
Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,
Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,
Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members are represented in the General
Assembly
observers - (2 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See,
Switzerland, Palestine Liberation Organization
-----
United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II)
note - successor to original UNAVEM
established - 20 December 1988
aim - established by the UN Security Council to verify the withdrawal of
Cuban troops from Angola
members - (25) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Congo, Czech Republic,
Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco,
Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain,
Sweden, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
-----
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization UN International
Children's Emergency Fund
established - 11 December 1946
aim - to help establish child health and welfare services
members - (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-----
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD)
established - 30 December 1964
aim - to promote international trade
members - (187) all UN members plus Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga
-----
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
established - 22 November 1965
aim - to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social
development
members - (48) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-----
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
established - 31 May 1974
aim - established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1973 Arab-
Israeli ceasefire
members - (4) Austria, Canada, Finland, Poland
-----
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
established - 16 November 1945
effective - 4 November 1946
aim - to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture
members - (178) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica,
Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, 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, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,
Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,
Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa,
Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (3) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles
-----
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
established - 15 December 1972
aim - to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters
members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
-----
United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
established - 4 March 1964
aim - established by the UN Security Council to serve as a peacekeeping
force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus
members - (8) Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland,
Sweden, UK
-----
United Nations General Assembly
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - primary deliberative organ in the UN
members - (184) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
-----
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
established - 17 November 1966
effective - 1 January 1967
aim - UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially
among the members