Part II - (139 less developed countries) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,

Angola, 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, Costa Rica, Cote

d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica,

Dominican Republic, East Timor, 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, 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, Serbia, Sierra

Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri

Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,

Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,

Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

International Energy Agency (IEA): 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 - (27) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,

Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal,

Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

(IFRCS): note - formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent

Societies (LORCS)

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 - (185 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,

Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,

Armenia, 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, Comoros, Democratic Republic of

the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote

d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,

Dominican Republic, East Timor, 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, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,

Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,

Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,

Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova,

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, Serbia, 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, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Palestine Liberation Organization

observers - (2) Eritrea and Tuvalu

International Finance Corporation (IFC): 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 - (177) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,

Brunei, Cuba, Guinea, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro,

Nauru, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome

and Principe, Suriname, Tuvalu

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD): established -

November 1974

aim - to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency

members - (165)

Category I - (23 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria,

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,

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 - (130 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, East Timor, 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, Kiribati, North

Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,

Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,

Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,

Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, 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, Serbia (suspended since 1992), 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, Zambia, Zimbabwe

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO): note - name changed

from International Hydrographic Bureau on 22 September 1970

established - June 1919; effective - 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 oceanograrphy

members - (76) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh,

Belgium, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Chile, China (including Hong Kong and

Macau), Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (suspended),

Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic (suspended),

Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,

Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,

North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico,

Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,

Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,

Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,

Suriname (suspended), Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and

Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela

International Labor Organization (ILO): 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 - (179) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,

Bhutan, Brunei, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Marshall Islands,

Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, and

Tuvalu; note - includes the following dependencies: Netherlands

(Netherlands Antilles and Aruba)

International Maritime Organization (IMO): note - name changed from

Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May

1982

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 - (167) includes all UN member countries except Afghanistan,

Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,

Central African Republic, Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho,

Liechtenstein, Mali, Federated States of Micronesia, Montenegro, Nauru,

Niger, Palau, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia

associate members - (3) Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Macau

International Monetary Fund (IMF): established - 22 July 1944;

effective - 27 December 1945

aim - to promote world monetary stability and economic development; a

UN specialized agency

members - (184) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Cuba,

North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu; note - includes the

following dependencies or areas of special interest: China (Hong Kong

and Macau), Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba)

International Olympic Committee (IOC): established - 23 June 1894

aim - to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games:

2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy; 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing,

China; 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada; 2012 Summer Olympics

in London, UK

National Olympic Committees - (201 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, East Timor, 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, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,

Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, 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, 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, Serbia,

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, 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

established - 5 December 1951

aim - to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration

members - (118) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh,

Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,

Chile, Colombia, 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, Estonia,

Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,

Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iran,

Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,

South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,

Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,

Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,

Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda,

Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain,

Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,

Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela,

Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

observers - (20) Bhutan, Burundi, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Guyana, Holy

See, India, Indonesia, Macedonia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New

Guinea, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia,

Turkmenistan, Vietnam

International Organization for Standardization (ISO): established -

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 - (103 national standards organizations) Algeria, Argentina,

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,

Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,

Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa

Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,

Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana,

Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,

Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,

South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia,

Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria,

Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,

Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore,

Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden,

Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,

Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,

Zimbabwe

correspondent members - (43 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization)

Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei, Burkina

Faso, Burma, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia,

Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan,

Latvia, Lithuania, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Moldova,

Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Papua New Guinea,

Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Swaziland, Togo,

Turkmenistan, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Palestine Liberation Organization

subscriber members - (9) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Cambodia,

Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Lesotho, Saint Vincent and the

Grenadines

International Organization of the French-speaking World (OIF): note -

name changed from Agency of Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT)

in 1997

established - 20 March 1970

aim - founded around a common language to promote and spread the

cultures of its members and to reinforce cultural and technical

cooperation between them

members - (55) Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina

Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canada - New Brunswick,

Canada - Quebec, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,

Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus,

Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, French Community

of Belgium, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Laos,

Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania,

Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Saint

Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo,

Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam

observers - (13) Armenia, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia,

Hungary, Lithuania, Mozambique, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,

Ukraine

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM): established

- 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 - (182 countries); note - same as membership for

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

(IFRCS)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU): 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 - (191) includes all UN member countries except East Timor,

Palau (190 total); plus Holy See

Islamic Development Bank (IDB): established - 15 December 1973 by

declaration of intent; effective - 12 August 1974

aim - to promote Islamic economic aid and social development

members - (55 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, 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

Latin American Economic System (LAES): note - also known as Sistema

Economico Latinoamericana (SELA)

established - 17 October 1975

aim - to promote economic and social development through regional

cooperation

members - (27) Argentina, 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

Latin American Integration Association (LAIA): note - also known as

Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)

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 - (26) China, Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Costa Rica,

Dominican Republic, EC, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-

American Development Bank, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on

Agriculture, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latin America Economic System,

Nicaragua, Organization of American States, Panama, Pan-American Health

Organization, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine,

United Nations Development Program, United Nations Economic Commission

for Latin America and the Caribbean

League of Arab States (LAS): note - also known as Arab League (AL)

established - 22 March 1945

aim - 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

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, Isle of Man,

Jamaica, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea,

Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar,

Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, 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, Isle of Man,

Jersey, North Korea, Macau, 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

low-income countries: another term for those less developed countries

with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)

middle-income countries: another term for those less developed

countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed

countries (LDCs)

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA): established - 12

April 1988

aim - encourages flow of foreign direct investment among member

countries by offering investment insurance, consultation, and

negotiation on conditions for foreign investment and technical

assistance; a UN specialized agency

members - (168) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,

Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Iraq, Kirabati, North

Korea, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco,

Montenegro, Nauru, NZ, Niger, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,

Somalia, Tonga, Tuvalu

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

new independent states (NIS): a term referring to all the countries of

the FSU except the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)

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): established - 1-6 September 1961

aim - to establish political and military cooperation apart from the

traditional East or West blocs

members - (114 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, Dominican

Republic, 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, 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 - (15) Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil,

China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvadore, Kazakhstan,

Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Paraguay, Ukraine, Uruguay

guests - (24) Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,

Canada, 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 - (26) Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, 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)

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

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) - (180)

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, 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, Cook

Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech

Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Djibouti, East Timor, Ecuador, El

Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,

France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,

Guatemala, Guinea, 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, 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, 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) - (6) The Bahamas, Burma, Republic of the Congo, 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 - (60) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,

Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus,

Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, EU,

Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Holy See, Hungary,

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, 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 - (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint

Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

associate member - (2) Anguilla, British Virgin Islands

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC): 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): 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 - (11) AU, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic,

ECO, LAS, Moro National Liberation Front, NAM, Russia, Thailand,

Turkish Muslim Community of Kibris, UN

Pacific Community (SPC): note - formerly known as the South Pacific

Commission (SPC)

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; note - UK

withdrew in January 2005

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

observers - (4) East Timor, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Tokelau

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 - (20) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia,

Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova,

Russia, 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 - (105) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium,

Belize, 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, 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

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 - (20) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, CARICOM, Chile, Colombia,

Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala,

Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, 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 Communities (SPC): established - 6 February

1947

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 1901

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

observer - (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 - 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 - (7) 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 - (2) China, Japan

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 - (12) Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,

Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey

observers - (15) Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, France, Georgia,

Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, 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, 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 - (5) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela

associate members - (5) Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru; note -

Mexico is to become an associate member by the end of 2006

Third World: another term for the less developed countries; the term

is obsolescent; 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)

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 (INSTRAW), Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Organization for the Prohibition

of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Preparation Commission for the Nuclear-Ban-

Treaty Operation ((CTBTU), United Nations Center for Human Settlements

(UN-Habitat), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations

Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations

Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Drug Control Program

(UNDCP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), 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), 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

Burundi (ONUB), United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI),

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO),

United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), United Nations

Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), United Nations Monitoring and

Verification Commission (UNMOVIC), United Nations Observer Mission in

Georgia (UNOMIG), United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic

Republic of the Congo (MONUC), 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 (WToO), 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

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 - (7) Austria, Canada, India, Japan, Nepal, Poland, Slovakia

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 - (191) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein,

Montenegro, and Singapore (188 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue

associate members - (6) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands,

Macau, Netherlands Antilles, 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) - (70) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,

Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark,

Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece,

Guinea, Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,

Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mexico,

Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria,

Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,

Serbia, 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 - (171) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Estonia, Iceland,

Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Federated States of

Micronesia, Montenegro, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, 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) - (18) Belgium, Brazil, China, Czech

Republic, Egypt, France, Ghana, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,

Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, US; note - the UN

Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members

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 - (11) Belgium, China, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Ireland,

Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain

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, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea,

Sweden, Uruguay

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO):

established - 29 April 1991

aim - to supervise the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western

Sahara; established by the UN Security Council

members - (25) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, China, Croatia, Denmark,

Egypt, El Slavador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary,

Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland,

Russia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay

United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE): established -

31 July 2000

aim - to monitor the cessation of hostilities

members - (39) Algeria, Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,

Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya,

Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland,

Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,

Tunisia, Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Zambia

United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL): established - 19 September

2003

aim - to support the cease-fire agreement and peace process, protect UN

facilities and people, support humanitarian activities, and assist in

national security reform

Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech

Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland,

France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya,

South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia,

Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,

Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Sweden, Togo, Ukraine, UK,

US, Zambia

United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL): established on 22

October 1999; aim was to 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; mandate ended 31 December 2005; members were Bangladesh, Bolivia,

China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,

Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria,

Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, UK,

Uruguay, Zambia

United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS): established - March 2005

aim - to support implementation of the comprehensive Peace Agreement by

Monitoring and verifying the implementation of the Cease Fire

Agreement, by observing and monitoring movements of armed groups, and

by helping disarm, demobilizing and reintegrating armed bands

members - (59) Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,

Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador,

Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,

Guinea, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,

Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,

Netherland, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,

Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand,

Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET): established

on 17 May 2002 to provide assistance to structures critical to public

security and to assist in the development of law enforcement agencies;

to contribute to extenal security; members were Australia, Bangladesh,

Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal,

NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Sweden; completed its

mandate 20 May 2005

United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission

(UNMOVIC): note - formerly known as United Nations Special Commission

for the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM)

established - December 1999

aim - to identify, account for, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass

destruction and the capacity to produce them

commissioners - (16) Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, UN Department

for Disarmament Affairs, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico,

Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, UK, US

United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB): established - 21 May 2004

aim - to support and help implement the efforts undertaken by

Burundians to restore lasting peace and bring about national

reconciliation

members - (30) Algeria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt,

Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Jordan, Kenya, South

Korea, Malawi, Mali, Nambia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan,

Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Togo,

Tunisia, Yemen

United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG): 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 - (26) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Croatia, Czech Republic,

Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia,

Jordan, South Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden,

Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay

United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the

Congo (MONUC): 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 - (51) Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China, Czech Republic,

Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia,

Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco,

Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay,

Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain,

Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay,

Zambia

United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI): established - 27

February 2004

aim - to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the

peace agreement signed by them in January 2003

members - (41) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Chad, China,

Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France,

The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya,

Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay,

Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Tanzania,

Togo, Turkey, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yemen

United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP): 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 - (7) Argentina, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, UK,

Uruguay

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): note - acronym retained from

predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities

established - July 1967

aim - to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with

their population problems

members (executive board ) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all

regions

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the

Near East (UNRWA): established - 8 December 1949

aim - to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees

members (advisory commission) - (22) Australia, Belgium, Canada,

Denmark, EC, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon,

Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,

Turkey, UK, US

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD):

established - 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: 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 (UNSC): 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 (2005-06), Republic of the Congo (2006-07),

Denmark (2005-06), Ghana (2006-07), Greece (2005-06), Japan (2005-06),

Peru (2006-07), Qatar (2006-07), Slovakia (2006-07), Tanzania (2005-06)

United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH): established

- 30 April 2004

aim - to stabilize Haiti in many areas for at least six months

members - (19) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia,

Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Jordan, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay,

Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, US, Uruguay

United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO): established -

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 - (23) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile,

China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Nepal,

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): established - 3 December 1973

aim - to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival

and to train scholars

members - (24 members of UNU Council and the Rector are appointed by

the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Director General of

UNESCO)

Universal Postal Union (UPU): 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) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,

Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau (188

total); plus Holy See; note - includes the following dependencies or

areas of special interest: Australia (Norfolk Island), China (Hong

Kong, Macau), Denmark (Faroe Islands, Greenland), France (French

Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands,

Guadeloupe, Iles Eparses, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion,

Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna), Netherlands (Aruba,

Netherlands Antilles), NZ (Cook Island, Niue, Tokelau), UK (Guernsey,

Isle of Man, Jersey; Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,

British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar,

Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos), US (American

Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, South Georgia and

South Sandwich Islands, Virgin Islands)

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 German Democratic

Republic (GDR) and Albania

West African Development Bank (WADB): note - also known as Banque

Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD); is a financial institution of

WAEMU

established - 14 November 1973

aim - to promote regional economic development and integration

regional members - (9) Central Bank of West African States, Benin,

Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo

international/nonregional members - (6) African Development Bank,

Belgium, European Investment Bank, France, Germany, People's Bank of

China

West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): note - also known as

Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)

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

Western European Union (WEU): 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 Group: includes International Bank for Reconstruction and

Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA),

International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment

Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

World Confederation of Labor (WCL): 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 - (105 national organizations) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,

Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil,

Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, 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, Ecuador, El Salvador, France,

French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea,

Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,

Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,

Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta,

Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal,

Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Panama,

Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania,

Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and

Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South

Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand,

Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam,

Zambia, Zimbabwe

World Customs Organization (WCO): note - began as the Customs

Cooperation Council (CCC)

established - 15 December 1950

aim - to promote international cooperation in customs matters

members - (168) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,

Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bermuda,

Bhutan, Bolivia, 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, Dominican Republic, East Timor,

Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,

France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,

Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,

Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,

Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon,

Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia,

Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,

Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,

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 Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra

Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, 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,

Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU): 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 Program (WFP): 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): established - 22 July 1946; effective

- 7 April 1948

aim - to deal with health matters worldwide; a UN specialized agency

members - (193) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein

(191 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): established - 14 July

1967; effective - 26 April 1970

aim - to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific

works; a UN specialized agency

members - (183) includes all UN member countries except East Timor,

Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Montenegro,

Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu (182 total); plus Holy

See

World Meteorological Organization (WMO): established - 11 October

1947; effective - 4 April 1951

aim - to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a UN specialized agency

members - (188) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, East

Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands,

Montenegro, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the

Grenadines, San Marino, Tuvalu (179 total); plus Aruba, British

Caribbean Territories, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hong Kong,

Macau, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, and Niue

World Tourism Organization (WToO): established - 2 January 1975

aim - to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic

development, international understanding, and peace

members - (150) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,

Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, 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, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El

Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon,

The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-

Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel,

Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South

Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya,

Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,

Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,

Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger,

Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,

Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San

Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,

Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri

Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,

Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay,

Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

associate members - (7) Aruba, Flanders, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira

Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico

observers - (1 plus Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See,

Palestine Liberation Organization

World Trade Organization (WTO): note - succeeded General Agreement on

Tariff and Trade (GATT)

established - 15 April 1994; effective - 1 January 1995

aim - to provide a forum 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 - (149) Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,

Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina

Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, 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, Estonia, EC, Fiji, Finland,

France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, 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, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, 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, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,

Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,

Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand,

Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US,

Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe

observers - (32) Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, The

Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde,

Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos,

Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe,

Serbia, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,

Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen; note - with the exception of the Holy See, an

observer must start accession negotiations within five years of

becoming observers; Montenegro and Serbia each sent observers

Zangger Committee (ZC): established - early 1970s

aim - to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the

Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT)

members - (36) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,

Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,

Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea,

Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,

Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,

Ukraine, UK, US

observers - (1) EC

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

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Appendix C - Selected International Environmental Agreements

Air Pollution

see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or

Their Transboundary Fluxes

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Air Pollution-Sulphur 85

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary

Fluxes by at least 30%

Air Pollution-Sulphur 94

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions

Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic

Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

Antarctic - Environmental Protocol

see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

Antarctic Treaty

opened for signature - 1 December 1959

entered into force - 23 June 1961

objective - to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes

only (such as international cooperation in scientific research); to

defer the question of territorial claims asserted by some nations and

not recognized by others; to provide an international forum for

management of the region; applies to land and ice shelves south of 60

degrees south latitude

parties - (45) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,

Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic,

Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,

Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands,

NZ, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,

South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US,

Uruguay, Venezuela

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous

Wastes and Their Disposal

note - abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes

opened for signature - 22 March 1989

entered into force - 5 May 1992

objective - to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the

Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and

efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and

toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound

management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to

assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and

other wastes they generate

parties - (149) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, 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, Chile, China,

Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote

d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica,

Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU,

Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,

Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,

Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,

Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein,

Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,

Maldives, Mali, Malta, 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, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint

Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,

Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri

Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and

Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,

Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Afghanistan,

Haiti, US

Biodiversity

see Convention on Biological Diversity

Climate Change

see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

see Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change

Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals

note - abbreviated as Antarctic Seals

opened for signature - 1 June 1972

entered into force - 11 March 1978

objective - to promote and achieve the protection, scientific study,

and rational use of Antarctic seals, and to maintain a satisfactory

balance within the ecological system of Antarctica

parties - (16) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile,

France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa,

UK, US

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) NZ

Convention on Biological Diversity

note - abbreviated as Biodiversity

opened for signature - 5 June 1992

entered into force - 29 December 1993

objective - to develop national strategies for the conservation and

sustainable use of biological diversity

parties - (182) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,

Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,

Bolivia, 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, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,

Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,

Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, 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, 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, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,

Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,

Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo,

Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda,

Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,

Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Afghanistan,

Kuwait, Serbia, Thailand, Tuvalu, US

Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High

Seas

note - abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation

opened for signature - 29 April 1958

entered into force - 20 March 1966

objective - to solve through international cooperation the problems

involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas,

considering that because of the development of modern technology some

of these resources are in danger of being overexploited

parties - (37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina

Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland,

France, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,

Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Serbia,

Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland,

Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (21) Afghanistan,

Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland,

Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, NZ,

Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay

Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution

opened for signature - 13 November 1979

entered into force - 16 March 1983

objective - to protect the human environment against air pollution and

to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range

transboundary air pollution

parties - (48) Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,

Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece,

Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,

Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova,

Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia,

Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Holy See, San

Marino

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as

Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)

note - abbreviated as Wetlands

opened for signature - 2 February 1971

entered into force - 21 December 1975

objective - to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of

wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological

functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and

recreational value

parties - (125) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,

Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus,

Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,

Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China,

Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the

Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic,

Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon,

The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-

Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,

Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Latvia,

Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar,

Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,

Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,

Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,

Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra

Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname,

Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and

Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,

Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia

Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Marine Living Resources

opened for signature - 5 May 1980

entered into force - 7 April 1982

objective - to safeguard the environment and protect the integrity of

the ecosystem of the seas surrounding Antarctica, and to conserve

Antarctic marine living resources

parties - (31) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada,

Chile, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South

Korea, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South

Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu

Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Flora and Fauna (CITES)

note - abbreviated as Endangered Species

opened for signature - 3 March 1973

entered into force - 1 July 1975

objective - to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation

by means of a system of import/export permits

parties - (156) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,

Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados,

Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,

Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,

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, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,

Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,

Kenya, South Korea, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,

Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,

Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,

Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,

Norway, 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, Tanzania, Thailand,

Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,

US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,

Zimbabwe

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Ireland, Kuwait,

Lesotho

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and

Other Matter (London Convention)

note - abbreviated as Marine Dumping

opened for signature - 29 December 1972

entered into force - 30 August 1975

objective - to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage

regional agreements supplementary to the Convention

parties - (78) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,

Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde,

Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote

d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt,

Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras,

Hong Kong (associate member), Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy,

Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Libya,

Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ,

Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,

Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia,

Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,

Tonga, Tunisia, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vanuatu

Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of

Environmental Modification Techniques

note - abbreviated as Environmental Modification

opened for signature - 10 December 1976

entered into force - 5 October 1978

objective - to prohibit the military or other hostile use of

environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace

and trust among nations

parties - (66) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,

Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil,

Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech

Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece,

Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South

Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, NZ,

Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia,

Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,

Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,

Tajikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam,

Yemen

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (17) Bolivia,

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran,

Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal,

Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda

Desertification

see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those

Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,

Particularly in Africa

Endangered Species

see Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Flora and Fauna (CITES)

Environmental Modification

see Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use

of Environmental Modification Techniques

Hazardous Wastes

see Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of

Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

note - abbreviated as Whaling

opened for signature - 2 December 1946

entered into force - 10 November 1948

objective - to protect all species of whales from overhunting; to

establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries

to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to

safeguard for future generations the great natural resources

represented by whale stocks

parties - (42) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,

Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France,

Germany, Grenada, Guinea, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South

Korea, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Oman, Panama,

Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the

Grenadines, Senegal, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,

Switzerland, UK, US

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983

note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83

opened for signature - 18 November 1983

entered into force - 1 April 1985; this agreement expired when the

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force

objective - to provide an effective framework for cooperation between

tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the

development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and

conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources

parties - (54) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma,

Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo,

Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU,

Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras,

India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia,

Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua New

Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden,

Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994

note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94

opened for signature - 26 January 1994

entered into force - 1 January 1997

objective - to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber

originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to

assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary

to reach this objective

parties - (58) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma,

Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia,

Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,

Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,

Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy,

Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands,

NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal,

Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and

Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) Ireland

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change

note - abbreviated as Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

opened for signature - 16 March 1998

entered into force - 23 February 2005

objective - to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing the

national programs of developed countries aimed at this goal and by

establishing percentage reduction targets for the developed countries

parties - (144) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,

Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,

Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma,

Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook

Island, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,

Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial

Guinea, Estonia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia,

Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras,

Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,

Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,

Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,

Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,

Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia,

Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,

Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,

Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,

Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi

Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South

Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,

Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,

Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,

Vietnam, Yemen

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Australia,

Croatia, Kazakhstan, Monaco, US, Zambia

Law of the Sea

see United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)

Marine Dumping

see Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes

and Other Matter (London Convention)

Marine Life Conservation

see Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the

High Seas

Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer

< I>note - abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection

opened for signature - 16 September 1987

entered into force - 1 January 1989

objective - to protect the ozone layer by controlling emissions of

substances that deplete it

parties - (183) 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, 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,

Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,

Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana,

Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,

Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati,

North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,

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, 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, Sao Tome

and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, 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,

Zambia, Zimbabwe

Nuclear Test Ban

see Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer

Space, and Under Water

Ozone Layer Protection

see Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer

Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the

Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)

note - abbreviated as Ship Pollution

opened for signature - 17 February 1978

entered into force - 2 October 1983

objective - to preserve the marine environment through the complete

elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the

minimization of accidental discharge of such substances

parties - (119) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,

Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,

Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada,

Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,

Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,

Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The

Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras,

Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,

Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon,

Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall

Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands,

NZ, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru,

Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis,

Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,

Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,

Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden,

Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,

Tuvalu, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

opened for signature - 4 October 1991

entered into force - 14 January 1998

objective - to provide for comprehensive protection of the Antarctic

environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; applies to the

area covered by the Antarctic Treaty

consultative parties - (27) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil,

Bulgaria, Chile, China, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India,

Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland,

Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, UK, US, Uruguay

non consultative parties - (16) Austria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech

Republic, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, North Korea, Papua New

Guinea, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or

Their Transboundary Fluxes

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides

opened for signature - 31 October 1988

entered into force - 14 February 1991

objective - to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides

and their transboundary fluxes

parties - (28) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech

Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,

Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands,

Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) Poland

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic

Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

opened for signature - 18 November 1991

entered into force - 29 September 1997

objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of

volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary

fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse

effects

parties - (21) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark,

Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein,

Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden,

Switzerland, UK

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Canada, EU,

Greece, Portugal, Ukraine, US

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94

opened for signature - 14 June 1994

entered into force - 5 August 1998

objective - to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or

transboundary fluxes

parties - (23) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic,

Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,

Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia,

Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (5) Bulgaria,

Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

opened for signature - 24 June 1998

entered into force - 23 October 2003

objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of

persistent organic pollutants in order to reduce their transboundary

fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse

effects

parties - (22) Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic,

Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia,

Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Romania,

Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (14) Armenia,

Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal,

Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine, UK, US

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air

Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary

Fluxes by at Least 30%

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85

opened for signature - 8 July 1985

entered into force - 2 September 1987

objective - to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or

transboundary fluxes by 1993

parties - (22) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech

Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,

Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia,

Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine

Ship Pollution

see Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the

Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)

Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space,

and Under Water

note - abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban

opened for signature - 5 August 1963

entered into force - 10 October 1963

objective - to obtain an agreement on general and complete disarmament

under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of

the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race and eliminate

incentives for the production and testing of all kinds of weapons,

including nuclear weapons

parties - (113) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,

Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan,

Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma,

Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Democratic

Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus,

Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El

Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,

Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,

Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea,

Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi,

Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal,

Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New

Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San

Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,

Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,

Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,

Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Zambia

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (17) Algeria,

Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, Ethiopia, Haiti, Libya, Mali,

Pakistan, Paraguay, Portugal, Somalia, Tanzania, Uruguay, Vietnam,

Yemen

Tropical Timber 83

see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983

Tropical Timber 94

see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)

note - abbreviated as Law of the Sea

opened for signature - 10 December 1982

entered into force - 16 November 1994

objective - to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea and

oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as well as

enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine environment

parties - (148) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,

Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain,

Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma,

Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Democratic

Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,

Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,

Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,

Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-

Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,

Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South

Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia,

Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,

Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco,

Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,

Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New

Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,

Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the

Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,

Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,

Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,

Suriname, Sweden, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,

Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,

Zimbabwe

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (29) Afghanistan,

Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African

Republic, Chad, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, El

Salvador, Ethiopia, Iran, North Korea, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,

Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Niue, Rwanda,

Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries

Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in

Africa

note - abbreviated as Desertification

opened for signature - 14 October 1994

entered into force - 26 December 1996

objective - to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of

drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term

strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership

arrangements

parties - (178) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and

Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The

Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,

Benin, Bolivia, 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, 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, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,

Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,

Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,

Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,

Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova,

Monaco, Mongolia, 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, 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, South Africa, Spain,

Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,

Thailand, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,

Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,

Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

note - abbreviated as Climate Change

opened for signature - 9 May 1992

entered into force - 21 March 1994

objective - to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations

in the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous

anthropogenic interference with the climate system

parties - (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, 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,

Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,

Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,

Lebanon, 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, 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, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,

Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,

Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,

Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Wetlands

see Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As

Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)

Whaling

see International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

=====================================================================

Appendix D - Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes

FIPS 10: Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and

Their Principal Administrative Divisions (FIPS 10) is maintained by

the Office of Targeting and Transnational Issues, National

Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and published by the National

Institute of Standards and Technology (Department of Commerce).

FIPS 10 codes are intended for general use throughout the US

Government, especially in activities associated with the mission

of the Department of State and national defense programs.

ISO 3166: Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries

(ISO 3166) is prepared by the International Organization for

Standardization. ISO 3166 includes two- and three-character

alphabetic codes and three-digit numeric codes that may be needed

for activities involving exchange of data with international

organizations that have adopted that standard. Except for the numeric

codes, ISO 3166 codes have been adopted in the US as FIPS 104-1:

American National Standard Codes for the Representation of Names

of Countries, Dependencies, and Areas of Special Sovereignty for

Information Interchange.

Internet: The Internet country code is the two-letter digraph

maintained by the International Organization for Standardization

(ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned

Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level

domains (ccTLDs).

Entity FIPS 10 ISO 3166 Internet Comment

Afghanistan AF AF AFG 004 .af

Albania AL AL ALB 008 .al

Algeria AG DZ DZA 012 .dz

American Samoa AQ AS ASM 016 .as

Andorra AN AD AND 020 .ad

Angola AO AO AGO 024 .ao

Anguilla AV AI AIA 660 .ai

Antarctica AY AQ ATA 010 .aq

ISO defines as the territory south of 60 degrees south latitude

Antigua and Barbuda AC AG ATG 028 .ag

Argentina AR AR ARG 032 .ar

Armenia AM AM ARM 051 .am

Aruba AA AW ABW 533 .aw

Ashmore and

Cartier Islands AT - - -

ISO includes with Australia

Australia AS AU AUS 036 .au

ISO includes Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Coral Sea Islands

Austria AU AT AUT 040 .at

Azerbaijan AJ AZ AZE 031 .az

Bahamas, The BF BS BHS 044 .bs

Bahrain BA BH BHR 048 .bh

Baker Island FQ - - -

ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Bangladesh BG BD BGD 050 .bd

Barbados BB BB BRB 052 .bb

Bassas da India BS - - - -

administered as part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands;

no ISO codes assigned

Belarus BO BY BLR 112 .by

Belgium BE BE BEL 056 .be

Belize BH BZ BLZ 084 .bz

Benin BN BJ BEN 204 .bj

Bermuda BD BM BMU 060 .bm

Bhutan BT BT BTN 064 .bt

Bolivia BL BO BOL 068 .bo

Bosnia and

Herzegovina BK BA BIH 070 .ba

Botswana BC BW BWA 072 .bw

Bouvet Island BV BV BVT 074 .bv

Brazil BR BR BRA 076 .br

British Indian

Ocean Territory IO IO IOT 086 .io

British Virgin

Islands VI VG VGB 092 .vg

Brunei BX BN BRN 096 .bn

Bulgaria BU BG BGR 100 .bg

Burkina Faso UV BF BFA 854 .bf

Burma BM MM MMR 104 .mm

ISO uses the name Myanmar

Burundi BY BI BDI 108 .bi

Cambodia CB KH KHM 116 .kh

Cameroon CM CM CMR 120 .cm

Canada CA CA CAN 124 .ca

Cape Verde CV CV CPV 132 .cv

Cayman Islands CJ KY CYM 136 .ky

Central African

Republic CT CF CAF 140 .cf

Chad CD TD TCD 148 .td

Chile CI CL CHL 152 .cl

China CH CN CHN 156 .cn

see also Taiwan

Christmas Island KT CX CXR 162 .cx

Clipperton Island IP - - -

ISO includes with French Polynesia

Cocos (Keeling) IslandsCK CC CCK 166 .cc

Colombia CO CO COL 170 .co

Comoros CN KM COM 174 .km

Congo, Democratic

Republic of the CG CD COD 180 .cd

formerly Zaire

Congo, Republic of theCF CG COG 178 .cg

Cook Islands CW CK COK 184 .ck

Coral Sea Islands CR - - -

ISO includes with Australia