Chapter XLVIII: Front Matter (48)

A ABEDA Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa ACC Arab Cooperation Council ACCT Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique; see Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation; changed name in 1996 to Agence de la francophonie or Agency for the French-speaking Community ACP African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries AfDB African Development Bank AFESD Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development AG Andean Group Air Pollution Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Air Pollution-Nitrogen Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Oxides Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 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 Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions Air Pollution-Volatile Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Organic Compounds Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes AL Arab League ALADI Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion; see Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) AMF Arab Monetary Fund AMU Arab Maghreb Union Antarctic-Environmental Protocol Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty ANZUS Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Arabsat Arab Satellite Communications Organization AsDB Asian Development Bank ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations Autodin Automatic Digital Network B BAD Banque Africaine de Developpement; see African Development Bank (AfDB) BADEA Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique; see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA) BCIE Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico; see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) BDEAC Banque de Developpment des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale; see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) Benelux Benelux Economic Union BID Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo; see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity BIS Bank for International Settlements BOAD Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement; see West African Development Bank (WADB) BSEC Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone C C Commonwealth CACM Central American Common Market CAEU Council of Arab Economic Unity Caricom Caribbean Community and Common Market CB Citizen's band mobile radio communications CBSS Council of the Baltic Sea States CCC Customs Cooperation Council CDB Caribbean Development Bank CE Council of Europe CEAO Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest; see West African Economic Community (CEAO) CEEAC Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale; see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) CEI Central European Initiative CEMA Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; also known as CMEA or Comecon CEPGL Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs; see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) CERN Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire; see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) CG Contadora Group c.i.f. cost, insurance, and freight CIS Commonwealth of Independent States CITES see Endangered Species Climate Change United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change CMEA Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as Comecon COCOM Coordinating Committee on Export Controls Comecon Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA); also known as CMEA Comsat Communications Satellite Corporation CP Colombo Plan CSCE Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe; see Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) CY calendar year D DC developed country Desertification United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa DSN Defense Switched Network DWT deadweight ton E EADB East African Development Bank EAPC Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EC European Community; see European Union (EU) ECA Economic Commission for Africa ECAFE Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East; see Economic and Social for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) ECE Economic Commission for Europe ECLA Economic Commission for Latin America; see Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ECO Economic Cooperation Organization ECOSOC Economic and Social Council ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States ECSC European Coal and Steel Community; see European Union (EU) ECWA Economic Commission for Western Asia; see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) EEC European Economic Community; see European Union (EU) EFTA European Free Trade Association EIB European Investment Bank EMU European Monetary Union Endangered Species Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Entente Council of the Entente Environmental Modification Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques ESA European Space Agency ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESCWA Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia est. estimate EU European Union Euratom European Atomic Energy Community; see European Community (EC) Eutelsat European Telecommunications Satellite Organization Ex-Im Export-Import Bank of the United States F FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FAX facsimile f.o.b. free on board FLS Front Line States FRG Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany); used for information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91 FSU former Soviet Union FY fiscal year (FY93/94, for example, began in calendar year 1993 and ended in calendar year 1994) FYROM The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia FZ Franc Zone G G-2 Group of 2 G-3 Group of 3 G-5 Group of 5 G-6 Group of 6 (not to be confused with the Big Six) G-7 Group of 7 G-8 Group of 8 G-9 Group of 9 G-10 Group of 10 G-11 Group of 11 G-15 Group of 15 G-19 Group of 19 G-24 Group of 24 G-30 Group of 30 G-33 Group of 33 G-77 Group of 77 GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; subsumed by the World Trade Organization (WTrO) on 1 January 1995 GCC Gulf Cooperation Council GDP gross domestic product GDR German Democratic Republic (East Germany); used for information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91 GNP gross national product GRT gross register ton GWP gross world product H Hazardous Wastes Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal HF high-frequency I IADB Inter-American Development Bank IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency IBEC International Bank for Economic Cooperation IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization ICC International Chamber of Commerce ICEM Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration; see International Organization for Migration (IOM) ICFTU International Confederation of Free Trade Unions; see World Confederation of Labor (WCL) ICJ International Court of Justice ICM Intergovernmental Committee for Migration; see International Organization for Migration (IOM) ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross ICRM International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement IDA International Development Association IDB Islamic Development Bank IEA International Energy Agency IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IFC International Finance Corporation IFCTU International Federation of Christian Trade Unions IFRCS International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies IGAD Inter-Governmental Authority on Development IGADD Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development IHO International Hydrographic Organization IIB International Investment Bank ILO International Labor Organization IMCO Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization; see International Maritime Organization (IMO) IMF International Monetary Fund IMO International Maritime Organization Inmarsat International Mobile Satellite Organization InOC Indian Ocean Commission Intelsat International Telecommunications Satellite Organization Interpol International Criminal Police Organization Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications IOC International Olympic Committee IOM International Organization for Migration ISO International Organization for Standardization ITU International Telecommunication Union K kHz kilohertz km kilometer kW kilowatt kWh kilowatt hour L LAES Latin American Economic System LAIA Latin American Integration Association LAS League of Arab States; see Arab League (AL) Law of the Sea United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS) LDC less developed country LLDC least developed country London Convention see Marine Dumping LORCS League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; see International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) LOS see Law of the Sea M m meter Marecs Maritime European Communications Satellite Marine Dumping Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter Marine Life Conservation Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas MARPOL see Ship Pollution Medarabtel the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International Telecommunications Union Mercosur Mercado Comun del Cono Sur; see Southern Cone Common Market MHz megahertz MINURSO United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara MINUGUA United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala MIPONUH United Nations Police Mission in Haiti MONUA United Nations Observer Mission in Angola MTCR Missile Technology Control Regime N NA not available NACC North Atlantic Cooperation Council; see Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) NAM Nonaligned Movement NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NC Nordic Council NEA Nuclear Energy Agency NEGL negligible NIB Nordic Investment Bank NIC newly industrializing country; see newly industrializing economy (NIE) NIE newly industrializing economy nm nautical mile NMT Nordic Mobile Telephone NSG Nuclear Suppliers Group Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water NZ New Zealand O OAPEC Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries OAS Organization of American States OAU Organization of African Unity ODA official development assistance OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean States OIC Organization of the Islamic Conference ONUMOZ see United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ) ONUSAL United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador OOF other official flows OPANAL Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe; see Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OSCE Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe Ozone Layer Protection Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer P PCA Permanent Court of Arbitration PDRY People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]; used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91 PFP Partnership for Peace R Ramsar see Wetlands RG Rio Group S SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SACU Southern African Customs Union SADC Southern African Development Community SADCC Southern African Development Coordination Conference; see Southern African Development Community (SADC) SELA Sistema Economico Latinoamericana; see Latin American Economic System (LAES) SFRY Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; dissolved 5 December 1991 SHF super-high-frequency Ship Pollution Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL) Sparteca South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement SPC South Pacific Commission SPF South Pacific Forum sq km square kilometer sq mi square mile T TAT Trans-Atlantic Telephone Tropical Timber 83 International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983 Tropical Timber 94 International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994 U UAE United Arab Emirates UDEAC Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale; see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) UEMOA Union economique et monetaire Ouest africaine; see West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) UHF ultra-high-frequency UK United Kingdom UN United Nations UNAMIR United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda UNAVEM III United Nations Angola Verification Mission III UNCRO United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNDOF United Nations Disengagement Observer Force UNDP United Nations Development Program UNEP United Nations Environment Program UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization UNFICYP United Nations Force in Cyprus UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities; see UN Population Fund (UNFPA) UNHCR United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIFIL United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIKOM United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission UNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and Research UNMIH United Nations Mission in Haiti UNMIBH United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina UNMOGIP United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan UNMOP United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka UNMOT United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan UNOMIG United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia UNOMIL United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia UNOMOZ United Nations Operation in Mozambique UNOMUR United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda UNOSOM II United Nations Operation in Somalia II UNPREDEP United Nations Preventive Deployment Force UNPROFOR United Nations Protection Force UNRISD United Nations Research Institute for Social Development UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East UNSMIH United Nations Support Mission in Haiti UNTAC United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia UNTAES United Nations Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium UNTSO United Nations Truce Supervision Organization UNU United Nations University UPU Universal Postal Union US United States USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union); used for information dated before 25 December 1991 USSR/EE Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Eastern Europe V VHF very-high-frequency W WADB West African Development Bank WAEMU West African Economic and Monetary Union WCL World Confederation of Labor WCO World Customs Organization; see Customs Cooperation Council Wetlands Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat WEU Western European Union WFC World Food Council WFP World Food Program WFTU World Federation of Trade Unions Whaling International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling WHO World Health Organization WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization WMO World Meteorological Organization WP Warsaw Pact WTO see WToO for World Tourism Organization or WTrO for World Trade Organization WToO World Tourism Organization WTrO World Trade Organization Y YAR Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen]; used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91 Z ZC Zangger Committee

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@APPENDIXES

Appendix B: United Nations System

[Appendix B of the 1998 CIA World Factbook is a graphic depiction of the structure of the United Nations. It is not included in the Project Gutenberg edition.]

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@APPENDIXES

Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups

advanced developing countries another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs) _________________________________________________________________

advanced economies a new term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 28 advanced economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note-this group would presumably also cover the following seven smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino which are included in the more comprehensive group of "developed countries" _________________________________________________________________

African, Caribbean, and Pacific Countries (ACP) address-Avenue Georges Henri 451, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium telephone-[32] (2) 743 06 00 FAX-[32] (2) 735 55 73 established-1 April 1976 aim-to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with the EU members-(70) Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________

African Development Bank (AfDB) note-also known as Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD) address-01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01, Cote d'Ivoire telephone-[225] 20 41 18 FAX-[225] 20 40 06 established-4 August 1963 aim-to promote economic and social development regional members-(53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe nonpermanent members-(25) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US _________________________________________________________________

Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (ACCT) see Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) _________________________________________________________________

Agence de la francophonie (ACCT) see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT) _________________________________________________________________

Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) see Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT); acronym from Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique _________________________________________________________________

Agency for the French-speaking Community (ACCT) note-formerly Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation address-13 quai Andre-Citroen, F-75015 Paris, France telephone-[33] (1) 44 37 33 00 FAX-[33] (1) 45 79 14 98 established-21 March 1970 name changed-1996 aim-to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French-speaking countries members-(40) Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (may have dropped out), Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam associate members-(5) Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Morocco, Saint Lucia participating governments-(2) New Brunswick (Canada), Quebec (Canada) _________________________________________________________________

Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) note-acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL) address-Temistocles 78, Col Polanco, CP 011560, Mexico City 5 DF, Mexico telephone-[52] (5) 280 4923, 280 5064, 280 2715 FAX-[52] (5) 280 2965 established-14 February 1967 aim-to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons members-(30) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________

Andean Group (AG) note-known also as the Andean Parliament address-Carrera 7a, No. 13-58, Oficina 401, Apartado Aereo 039165, Santafe de Bogota, Columbia telephone-[57] (1) 284 41 91, 284 40 28, 284 33 74 FAX-[57] (1) 184 32 70 established-26 May 1969 effective-16 October 1969 aim-to promote harmonious development through economic integration members-(5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela associate members-(1) Panama observers-(26) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US, Uruguay, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________

Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA) note-also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA) address-Abdel Rahman El Mahdi Avenue, P.O. Box 2640, Khartoum, Sudan telephone-[249] (11) 770498, 773646, 773709 FAX-[249] (11) 770600 established-18 February 1974 effective-16 September 1974 aim-to promote economic development members-(17 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Palestine Liberation Organization; note-these are all the members of the Arab League excluding Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen _________________________________________________________________

Arab Cooperation Council (ACC) established-16 February 1989 aim-to promote economic cooperation and integration, possibly leading to an Arab Common Market members-(4) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen _________________________________________________________________

Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) address-P.O. Box 21923, Safat 13080, Kuwait telephone-[965] 4844500 FAX-[965] 4815750, 4815760, 4815770 established-16 May 1968 aim-to promote economic and social development members-(21 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt (suspended from 1979 to 1988), Iraq (suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993), Sudan (suspended 1993), Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________________________

Arab League (AL) note-also known as League of Arab States (LAS) address-Midan Attahrir, Tahrir Square, P.O. Box 11642, Cairo, Egypt telephone-[20] (2) 750 511 FAX-[20] (2) 740 331 established-22 March 1945 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 _________________________________________________________________

Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) address-27 avenue Okba Agdal, Rabat, Morocco telephone-[212] (7) 77 26 82, 77 26 76, 77 26 68 FAX-[212] (7) 77 26 93 established-17 February 1989 aim-to promote cooperation and integration among the Arab states of northern Africa members-(5) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia _________________________________________________________________

Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) address-P.O. Box 2818, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates telephone-[971] (2) 215000, 328500 FAX-[971] (2) 326454 established-27 April 1976 effective-2 February 1977 aim-to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs members-(20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________________________

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) address-438 Alexandra Road, Alexandra Point Building, 19th Floor 01/04, Singapore 119958, Singapore telephone-[65] 276 1880 FAX-[65] 276 1775 established-7 November 1989 aim-to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin members-(19) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Vietnam observers-(3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference, South Pacific Forum _________________________________________________________________

Asian Development Bank (AsDB) address-6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong, 0401 METRO Manila, Philippines telephone-[63] (2) 711 3851 FAX-[63] (2) 741 7961, 631 6816 established-19 December 1966 aim-to promote regional economic cooperation regional members-(40) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam nonregional members-(16) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US _________________________________________________________________

Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI) see Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) _________________________________________________________________

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) note-the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) consists of the 9 ASEAN members, 2 observers, 2 consultative partners, and 8 dialogue partners: Australia, Canada, EU, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, US address-70 A Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Kebayoran Baru, P.O. Box 2072, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia telephone-[62] (21) 7262410, 7262991, 7262272, 7251988 FAX-[62] (21) 7398234, 7243348 established-9 August 1967 aim-to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia members-(9) Brunei, Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam observers-(2) Cambodia, Papua New Guinea consultative partners-(2) China, Russia _________________________________________________________________

Australia Group established-1984 aim-to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons members-(28) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US; note-may now include only 23 countries observer-(1) Singapore _________________________________________________________________

Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS) address-c/o Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bag 8, Queen Victoria Terrace, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia telephone-[61] (62) 61 91 11 FAX-[61] (62) 61 21 51 established-1 September 1951 effective-29 April 1952 aim-to implement a trilateral mutual security agreement, although the US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986; Australia and the US continue to hold annual meetings members-(3) Australia, NZ, US _________________________________________________________________

Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico (BCIE) see Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) _________________________________________________________________

Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) see Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) _________________________________________________________________

Bank for International Settlements (BIS) address-Centralbahnplatz 2, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland telephone-[41] (61) 280 80 80 FAX-[41] (61) 280 91 00 established-20 January 1930 effective-17 March 1930 aim-to promote cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements members-(33) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US, Yugoslavia (suspended) pending members-(9) Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore _________________________________________________________________

Banque Africaine de Developpement (BAD) see African Development Bank (AfDB) _________________________________________________________________

Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA) see Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA) _________________________________________________________________

Banque de Developpement des Etats de l''Afrique Centrale (BDEAC) see Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) _________________________________________________________________

Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD) see West African Development Bank (WADB) _________________________________________________________________

Benelux Economic Union (Benelux) note-acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg address-Rue de la Regence 39, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium telephone-[32] (2) 519 38 11 FAX-[32] (2) 513 42 06 established-3 February 1958 effective-1 November 1960 aim-to develop closer economic cooperation and integration members-(3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands _________________________________________________________________

Big Seven note-membership is the same as the Group of 7 established-NA 1975 aim-to discuss and coordinate major economic policies members-(7) Big Six (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) plus the US _________________________________________________________________

Big Six note-not to be confused with the Group of 6 established-NA 1967 aim-to foster economic cooperation members-(6) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK _________________________________________________________________

Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC) address-I Hareket Kosku, Dolmabahce Sarayi, Besiktas 80680, Istanbul, Turkey telephone-[90] (1) 227 7300 through 227 7305 FAX-[90] (1) 227 7306 established-25 June 1992 aim-to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation members-(11) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine observers-(7) Austria, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Tunisia _________________________________________________________________

Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom) address-Caricom, P.O. Box 10827, Bank of Guyana Building, 3rd floor, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, Guyana telephone-[592] (2) 69281 through 69289 FAX-[592] (2) 66091, 67816, 57341 established-4 July 1973 effective-1 August 1973 aim-to promote economic integration and development, especially among the less developed countries members-(14) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago associate members-(2) British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands observers-(9) Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________

Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) address-P.O. Box 408, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados telephone-[1] (809) 431 1600 FAX-[1] (809) 426 7269 established-18 October 1969 effective-26 January 1970 aim-to promote economic development and cooperation regional members-(20) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Venezuela nonregional members-(5) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, UK _________________________________________________________________

Cartagena Group see Group of 11 _________________________________________________________________

Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC) note-acronym from Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale address-BP 969, Bangui, Central African Republic telephone-[236] 61 09 22, 61 45 77 FAX-[236] 61 21 35 established-8 December 1964 effective-1 January 1966 aim-to promote the establishment of a Central African Common Market members-(6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon _________________________________________________________________

Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC) note-acronym from Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale address-BDEAC, Place du Gouvernement, BP 1177, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo telephone-[242] 83 01 26, 83 01 49, 81 02 12, 81 02 21 FAX-[242] 83 02 66 established-3 December 1975 aim-to provide loans for economic development members-(9) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Kuwait _________________________________________________________________

Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) note-acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico address-Apartado Postal 772, Tegucigalpa DC, Honduras telephone-[504] 372230 through 372239, 371184 through 371188 FAX-[504] 370793 established-3 December 1960 aim-to promote economic integration and development members-(5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua nonregional members-(3) Argentina, Mexico, Taiwan _________________________________________________________________

Central American Common Market (CACM) address-c/o SIECA, Apart Postal 1237, 4a Avenida 10-25, Zona 14, Guatemala 01901, Guatemala telephone-[502] (2) 682151, 682152, 682153, 682154 FAX-[502] (2) 681071 established-13 December 1960 effective-3 June 1961 aim-to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market members-(6) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama _________________________________________________________________

Central European Initiative (CEI) note-evolved from the Hexagonal Group address-Ministry of Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Al I Ch Szucha 23, PL-00 580 Warsaw, Poland established-27 July 1991 aim-to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas members-(16) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine _________________________________________________________________

centrally planned economies a term applied mainly to the traditionally communist states that looked to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward more democratic and market-oriented systems; also known formerly as the Second World or as the communist countries; through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________

Colombo Plan (CP) address-Colombo Plan Bureau, P.O. Box 596, 12 Melbourne Avenue, Colombo 4, Sri Lanka telephone-[94] (1) 581813, 581853, 581754 FAX-[94] (1) 581754 established-1 July 1951 aim-to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific members-(24) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK, US _________________________________________________________________

Commission for Social Development note-formerly Social Commission address-Division Policy Coordination ECOSOC Affairs, Department Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, United Nations, Room S-29631, New York, NY 10017, US telephone-[1] (212) 963 1234 FAX-[1] (212) 963 5935 established-21 June 1946 as the Social Commission, renamed 29 July 1966 aim-to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with social development programs of UN members-(32) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice address-Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division, Vienna International Center, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone-[43] (1) 21345, extension 4272 FAX-[43] (1) 21345 5898 established-6 February 1992 aim-to provide guidance, as part of the Economic and Social Council, on crime prevention and criminal justice members-(40) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

Commission on Human Rights address-c/o United Nations Office, Centre for Human Rights, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone-[41] (22) 917 12 34, 907 12 34 FAX-[41] (22) 733 32 46 established-18 February 1946 aim-to assist, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with human rights programs of UN members-(53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

Commission on Narcotic Drugs address-c/o United Nations Drug Control Programme, Treaty Implementation and Legal Affairs Division, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria telephone-[43] (1) 213450 FAX-[43] (1) 21345-5885 established-16 February 1946 aim-Economic and Social Council organization dealing with illicit drugs programs of UN members-(53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions with emphasis on producing and processing countries _________________________________________________________________

Commission on Population and Development address-Division for Policy and Coordination and ECOSOC Affairs, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, United Nations, Room 2963, New York, NY 10017, US telephone-[1] (212) 963 1234 FAX-1] (212) 963 5935 established-3 October 1946 aim-to deal with population matters of importance to the UN, as part of Economic and Social Council members-(47) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

Commission on Science and Technology for Development address-United Nations, New York, NY 10017, US telephone-[1] (212) 963 1234 FAX-[1] (212) 758 2718 established-30 April 1992 aim-to promote international cooperation, as part of the Economic and Social Council, in the field of science and technology members-(53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

Commission on the Status of Women address-Division for Policy and Coordination and ECOSOC Affairs, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, United Nations, Room S-2963, New York, NY 10017, US telephone-[1] (212) 963 1234 FAX-[1] (212) 963 5935 established-21 June 1946 aim-to deal, as part of the Economic and Social Council, with women's rights goals of UN members-(45) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

Commission on Sustainable Development address-Division for Sustainable Development, UN DPCSD, Room DC2-2274, New York, NY 10017, US telephone-[1] (212) 963 0902 FAX-[1] (212) 963 4260 established-12 February 1993 aim-to monitor, as part of the Economic and Social Council, implementation of agreements reached at the UN Conference on Environment and Development members-(53) selected on a rotating basis from all regions _________________________________________________________________

Commonwealth (C) note-also known as Commonwealth of Nations address-c/o Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, UK telephone-[44] (171) 839 3411 FAX-[44] (171) 930 0827 established-31 December 1931 aim-to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a voluntary association that evolved from the British Empire members-(52) Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, NZ, Nigeria (suspended), Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe special members-(2) Nauru (soon to become full member), Tuvalu _________________________________________________________________

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) address-Kirov Street 17, 220000 Minsk, Belarus telephone-[375] 293434, 293517 FAX-[375] 261894, 261944 established-8 December 1991 effective-21 December 1991 aim-to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide a mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR members-(12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________

Commonwealth of Nations see Commonwealth (C) _________________________________________________________________

Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEAO) see West African Economic Community (CEAO) _________________________________________________________________

Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (CEEAC) see Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) _________________________________________________________________

Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs (CEPGL) see Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) _________________________________________________________________

communist countries traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; most of the original and the successor states are no longer communist; see centrally planned economies _________________________________________________________________

Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) see Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) _________________________________________________________________

Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN) see European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) _________________________________________________________________

Contadora Group (CG) established 5 January 1983 (on the Panamanian island of Contadora) to reduce tensions and conflicts in Central America; has evolved into the Rio Group (RG); members included Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela _________________________________________________________________

Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf see Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) _________________________________________________________________

Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM) established in 1949 to control the export of strategic products and technical data from member countries to proscribed destinations; members were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US; abolished 31 March 1994; COCOM members are working on a new organization with expanded membership which focuses on nonproliferation export controls as opposed to East-West control of advanced technology _________________________________________________________________

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA) note-also known as CMEA or Comecon established 25 January 1949 to promote the development of socialist economies and abolished 1 January 1991; members included Afghanistan (observer), Albania (had not participated since 1961 break with USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos (observer), Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua (observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia (associate) _________________________________________________________________

Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) address-International Trade Centre Building, 12th Floor, 1191 Cornish El Nile, P.O. Box 1, Mohamad Freed, Cairo, Egypt telephone-[20] (2) 754252, 755321 FAX-[20] (2) 754090 telephone-[962] (6) 66 43 26, 66 43 27, 66 43 28 FAX-[962] (6) 66 33 43 established-3 June 1957 effective-30 May 1964 aim-to promote economic integration among Arab nations members-(11 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________________________

Council of Europe (CE) address-Palais de l'Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg CEDEX, France telephone-[33] (3) 88 41 20 00 FAX-[33] (3) 88 41 27 81, 88 41 27 82 established-5 May 1949 effective-3 August 1949 aim-to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe members-(40) Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK guests-(4) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia observers-(5) Canada, Israel, Italy, Japan, US _________________________________________________________________

Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) address-Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Box 16121, S-10323 Stockholm, Sweden telephone-[46] (8) 405 1000 FAX-[46] (8) 723 1176 established-5 March 1992 aim-to promote cooperation among the Baltic Sea states in the areas of aid to new democratic institutions, economic development, humanitarian aid, energy and the environment, cultural programs and education, and transportation and communication members-(11) Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden _________________________________________________________________

Council of the Entente (Entente) address-BP 3734, Abidjan 01, Cote d'Ivoire telephone-225] 33 10 01, 33 28 35 FAX-[225] 33 11 49 established-29 May 1959 aim-to promote economic, social, and political coordination members-(5) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo _________________________________________________________________

countries in transition a new term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the middle group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 28 countries in transition: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note-this group is identical to the group traditionally referred to as the "former USSR/Eastern Europe" except for the addition of Mongolia _________________________________________________________________

Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) note-also known as World Customs Organization (WCO) address-Rue de l'Industrie 26-38, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium telephone-[32] (2) 508 42 11 FAX-[32] (2) 508 42 40 established-5 December 1950 aim-to promote international cooperation in customs matters members-(142) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe _________________________________________________________________

developed countries (DCs) the top group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); includes the market-oriented economies of the mainly democratic nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Bermuda, Israel, South Africa, and the European ministates; also known as the First World, high-income countries, the North, industrial countries; generally have a per capita GDP in excess of $10,000 although four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000; the 35 DCs are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US; note-similar to the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) term "advanced economies" which adds Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan but drops Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey _________________________________________________________________

developing countries a new term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the bottom group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; recently published IMF statistics include the following 126 developing countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, 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, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note-this category would presumably also cover the following 46 other countries that are traditionally included in the more comprehensive group of "less developed countries": 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, Jersey, North Korea, Macau, Isle of Man, 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 _________________________________________________________________

East African Development Bank (EADB) address-4 Nile Avenue, P.O. Box 7128, Kampala, Uganda, or Bruce House, P.O. Box 47685, Nairobi Kenya, or Nic Investment House, P.O. Box 9401, Miranbo Street, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania telephone-[256] (41) 230021, 230825 or [254] (2) 340642, 340656 or [255] (51) 113194, 113195 FAX-[256] (41) 259763 or [255] (51) 113197 established-6 June 1967 effective-1 December 1967 aim-to promote economic development members-(3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda _________________________________________________________________

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) address-United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand telephone-[66] (2) 2881234 FAX-[66] (2) 2881000 established-28 March 1947 as Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) aim-to carry out the commitment of the Economic and Social Council of the UN to promote economic development members-(51) Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam associate members-(9) American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands _________________________________________________________________

Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) address-28 Abdel Hameed Sharaf Street, P.O. Box 927115, Amman, Jordan telephone-[962] (6) 694351 FAX-[962] (6) 694981, 694982 established-9 August 1973 as Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA) aim-to promote economic development as a regional commission for the UN's Economic and Social Council members-(12 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization _________________________________________________________________

Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) address-P.O. Box 3001-3005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia telephone-[251] (1) 51 72 00 FAX-[251] (1) 51 44 16 established-29 April 1958 aim-to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council members-(53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe associate members-(2) France, UK _________________________________________________________________

Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) see Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) _________________________________________________________________

Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) address-Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland telephone-[41] (22) 917 1234, 907 2893 FAX-[41] (22) 917 0036 established-28 March 1947 aim-to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council members-(55) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia _________________________________________________________________

Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) see Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) _________________________________________________________________

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) address-Edificio Naciones Unidas, Avenida Dag Hammarskjold, Casilla 179 D, Santiago, Chile telephone-[56] (2) 2102000 FAX-[56] (2) 2080252, 2081946 established-25 February 1948 as Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) aim-to promote economic development as a regional commission of the UN's Economic and Social Council members-(41) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela associate members-(7) Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands _________________________________________________________________

Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA) see Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) _________________________________________________________________

Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) note-acronym from Communaute Economique des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale address-CEEAC, BP 2112, Libreville, Gabon telephone-[241] 73 35 47, 73 35 48, 73 36 77 established-18 October 1983 aim-to promote regional economic cooperation and establish a Central African Common Market members-(10) Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe observer-(1) Angola _________________________________________________________________

Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) note-acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs address-B.O. Box 58, Gisenyi, Rwanda telephone-[250] 40228 FAX-[250] 40785 established-26 September 1976 aim-to promote regional economic cooperation and integration members-(3) Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda _________________________________________________________________

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) address-6 King George V Road, PMB 12745, Lagos, Nigeria telephone-[234] (1) 636839, 636841, 636064, 630398 FAX-[234] (1) 636822 established-28 May 1975 aim-to promote regional economic cooperation members-(16) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo _________________________________________________________________

Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) address-No. 5 Khayahan-A-Hejab, Bd Keshavarz, P.O. Box 14155-6176, Teheran, Iran Islamic Republic telephone-[98] (21) 653349, 654888, 655100, 658614, 656152, 658045, 659052 FAX-[98] (21) 658046 established-NA 1985 aim-to promote regional cooperation in trade, transportation, communications, tourism, cultural affairs, and economic development members-(10) Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan associate members-(1) "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" _________________________________________________________________

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) note-began as the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC); an extension of NATO address-c/o NATO, B-1110 Brussels, Belgium telephone-[32] (2) 728 41 11 FAX-[32] (2) 728 45 79 established-8 November 1991 effective-20 December 1991 aim-to discuss cooperation on mutual political and security issues members-(44) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) address-EBRD Headquarters, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2EH, UK telephone-[44] (171) 338 6000, 338 7931 FAX-[44] (171) 338 6100, 338 6139 established-15 April 1991 aim-to facilitate the transition of seven centrally planned economies in Europe (Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, former USSR, and former Yugoslavia) to market economies by committing 60% of its loans to privatization members-(60) Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, EU, European Investment Bank (EIB), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan; note-includes all 25 members of the OECD; also includes the EU as a single entity _________________________________________________________________

European Community (or European Communities, EC) was established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ESC), the European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market), and to establish a completely integrated common market and an eventual federation of Europe; merged into the European Union (EU) on 7 February 1992; member states at the time of merger were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK _________________________________________________________________

European Free Trade Association (EFTA) address-9-11 rue de Varembe, CH-1202 Geneva 20, Switzerland telephone-[41] (22) 749 13 35 FAX-[41] (22) 733 92 91 established-4 January 1960 effective-3 May 1960 aim-to promote expansion of free trade members-(4) Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland _________________________________________________________________

European Investment Bank (EIB) address-Bd Konrad Adenauer 100, L-2950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg telephone-[352] 43791 FAX-[352] 437704 established-25 March 1957 effective-1 January 1958 aim-to promote economic development of the EU and its predecessors, the EEC and the EC members-(15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK _________________________________________________________________

European Monetary Union (EMU) note-an integral part of the European Union address-c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Bruxelles, telephone-[32] (2) 199 11 11 proposed-7 February 1992 aim-to promote a single market by creating a single currency, the euro; time table-2 May 1998: European exchange rates are likely to be fixed for 1 January 1999; 1 January 1999: all banks and stock exchanges begin using euros; 1 January 2002: the euro goes into circulation; 1 July 2002 local currencies no longer accepted members-(0) likely to be included in the first wave of members: Austria, Beligum, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; note-Denmark, Sweden, and UK decided not to join, and Greece did not meet all the criteria to take part _________________________________________________________________

European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) note-acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire address-CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland telephone-[41] (22) 767 61 11 FAX-[41] (22) 767 65 55 established-1 July 1953 effective-29 September 1954 aim-to foster nuclear research for peaceful purposes only members-(19) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK observers-(7) EU, Israel, Japan, Russia, Turkey, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Yugoslavia (suspended) _________________________________________________________________

European Space Agency (ESA) address-8-10 rue Mario Nikis, F-75738 Paris CEDEX 15, France telephone-[33] (1) 53 69 76 54 FAX-[33] (1) 53 69 75 60 established-31 July 1973 effective-1 May 1975 aim-to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and technology members-(14) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK cooperating state-(1) Canada _________________________________________________________________

European Union (EU) note-evolved from the European Community (EC) address-c/o European Commission, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium telephone-[32] (2) 299 11 11 FAX-[32] (2) 295 01 38 through 295 01 40 established-7 February 1992 effective-1 November 1993 aim-to coordinate policy among the 15 members in three fields: economics, building on the European Economic Community's (EEC) efforts to establish a common market and eventually a common currency to be called the 'euro', which will supercede the EU's accounting unit, the ECU; defense, within the concept of a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP); and justice and home affairs, including immigration, drugs, terrorism, and improved living and working conditions members-(15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK membership applicant-(12) Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia _________________________________________________________________

First World another term for countries with advanced, industrialized economies; this term is fading from use; see developed countries (DCs) _________________________________________________________________

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) address-Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, I-00100 Rome, Italy telephone-[39] (6) 52251 FAX-[39] (6) 5225 3152 established-16 October 1945 aim-to raise living standards and increase availability of agricultural products, as a UN specialized agency members-(175) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 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, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of 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, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, 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, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zambia, Zimbabwe associate members-(1) Puerto Rico _________________________________________________________________

former Soviet Union (FSU) a collective term often used to identify as a group the successor nations to the Soviet Union or USSR; this group of 15 countries consists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan _________________________________________________________________