land, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda,
Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zimbabwe

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Population Commission

established - 3 October 1946

aim - ECOSOC organization dealing with population matters

members - (27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

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Rio Group (RG)

established - NA 1988

aim - a consultation mechanism on regional Latin American issues

members - (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela; note -
Panama was expelled in 1988

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Second World

Note - another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states
with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the
Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned
economies

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socialist countries

Note - 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

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South

Note - 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)

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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

established - 8 December 1985

aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation

members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka

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South Pacific Commission (SPC)

established - 6 February 1947

effective - 29 July 1948

aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic and social
matters

members - (27) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji,
France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue,
Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
(Palau), Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands,
Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna,
Western Samoa

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South Pacific Forum (SPF)

established - 5 August 1971

aim - to promote regional cooperation in political matters

members - (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall
Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua
New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western
Samoa

observer - (1) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)