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 - (12) Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya,
Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela; note - Indonesia left
OPEC in 2008
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 - (12)
AU, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, ECO, LAS, Moro
National Liberation Front, NAM, 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 - (14) Canada,
China, EU, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, UK, US observers - (6) Asia
Development Bank, The Commonwealth, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Wallis and
Futuna, the World Bank
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 associate members - (13) Abu Dhabi,
Argentina, Brazil, Israel, South Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Morocco, NZ,
Portugal, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey
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 - (111) 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, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta,
Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,
Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, 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, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
PetroCaribe
established - 29 June 2005 aim - to eliminate existing social
inequities, to foster high standards of living, to promote effective
people's participation in shaping their own destiny members - (18)
Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica,
Nicaragua, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, Suriname, Venezuela
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 -
(24) Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica (representing CARICOM), Mexico, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, 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 the
near future; Bulgaria and Romania are still not fully implemented De
Facto members - (3) Holy See, Monaco, San Marino
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 dialogue members - (2) Belarus, Sri
Lanka observers - (4) India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan
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 on 9 December 2004; its aim was to coordinate common
policies regarding multilateral organizations, to integrate physical
infrastructure, and to consolidate the merger of CAN and Mercosur; the
members were Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay, Venezuela; in 2008 it became
Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)
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, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Netherlands, 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 - (36) 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, 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 (CSN) 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)
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
constituent organizations - the UN is composed of six principal organs
and numerous subordinate agencies and bodies as follows: 1)
Secretariat 2) General Assembly: Joint United Nations Program on
HIV/AIDS (UN-AIDS), International Research and Training Institute for
the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW), Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Preparation Committee for the
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), United Nations Center for
Human Settlements (UN-Habitat), United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD),
United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), United Nations Development
Program (UNDP), United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), United
Nations Environment Program (UNEP),United Nations Fund for
International Partnerships (UNFIP), United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
(UNIDIR), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR),
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute
(UNICRI), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Office
of Project Services (UNOPS), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations Research
Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), United Nations System Staff
College (UNSSC), United Nations University (UNU), World Food Program
(WFP) 3) Security Council: International Criminal Tribunal for the
Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
(ICTR), United Nations Compensation Commission, United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), African Union/United Nations
Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), United Nations Assistance Mission
in Afghanistan (UNAMA), United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi
(BINUB), United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT),
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), United Nations Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Military Observer Group in India and
Pakistan (UNMOGIP), United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI),
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO),
United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), United Nations
Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (MONUSCO), United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus
(UNFICYP), United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH),
and United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) 4) Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC): Commission for Social Development,
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Commission on
Narcotics Drugs, Commission on Population and Development, Commission
on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable
Development, Commission on the Status of Women, Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Economic Commission for Africa
(ECA), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), Economic Commission for
Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD), International Center for Secretariat of Investment Disputes
(ICSID), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),
International Development Association (IDA), International Finance
Corporation (IFC), International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD), International Labor Organization (ILO), International Maritime
Organization (IMO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), Multilateral Investment Geographic
Agency (MIGA), Statistical Commission, United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Forum on
Forests, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),
Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Health Organization (WHO), World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and World Trade
Organization (WTO) 5) Trusteeship Council (inactive; no trusteeships at
this time) 6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)
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 executive
board members - (36) 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 - (193) all UN members plus Holy See
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
established - 22 November 1965 aim - to provide technical assistance
to stimulate economic and social development members (executive board)
- (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
established - 31 May 1974 aim - to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli
cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council members - (6)
Austria, Canada, Croatia, India, Japan, Philippines
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 - (193)
includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein (191 total); plus
Cook Islands and Niue associate members - (7) Aruba, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Faroe Islands, Macau, Tokelau
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 General Assembly
established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945 aim - to
function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN members - (192)
all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
established - 3 December 1949; effective - 1 January 1951 aim - to
ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent
solutions to refugee problems members (executive committee) - (79)
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin,
Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador,
Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guinea, Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Macedonia,
Madagascar, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia,
Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia
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 members - (173) includes all UN member countries
except Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brunei, Canada,
Estonia, Iceland, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, San Marino, Singapore,
Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, US
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
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) - (16) Algeria, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Republic of the
Congo, France, Guatemala, India, Iran, Jamaica, Nigeria, Norway,
Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, US; note - the UN Secretary General
can appoint up to 30 members
United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT)
established - 25 August 2006 aim - to support the Government, to
support the electoral process, to ensure the restoration and
maintenance of public security members - (14) Australia, Bangladesh,
Brazil, China, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines,
Portugal, Sierra Leone, Singapore
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
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 note - gives
civilian support only; works closely with NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR)
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
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 - (31)
Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark,
El Salvador, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, South Korea, Macedonia, Malaysia, Nepal,
Nigeria, Portugal, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Tanzania,
Turkey
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
established - 24 January 1949 aim - to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan
cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council members - (8)
Chile, Croatia, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Philippines, Sweden,
Uruguay
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)