In addition to the current 192 member states, the United Nations welcomes several other international agencies, entities, and one non-member state (for several years prior to their admission after a referendum in 2002, Switzerland was also an observer state). Observers have the right to speak at meetings, but not vote on resolutions. As of 2005, they include:

Non-member states

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The Holy See (with sovereignty over the territory ) is a permanent observer in the United Nations, and in July 2004, gained all the rights of full membership except voting.

Non-member states are recognized as sovereign entities, like any actual member. They are free to submit a petition to join the General Assembly at their discretion. They can only acceed to full membership after a vote in the Security Council.

Permanent international organizations and other entities

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• African Union (formerly the Organisation of African Unity)
• Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (formerly the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee)
• Commonwealth Secretariat
• European Union
• International Committee of the Red Cross
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
• International Organization for Migration International Seabed Authority
• International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (or the World Conservation Union)
• Inter-Parliamentary Union La Francophonie League of Arab States
• Organization of the Islamic Conference Palestinian National Authority (Described as "Palestine" in UN literature)
• Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Certain intergovernmental organizations (such as the League of Arab States, or Commonwealth Secretariat), non-governmental organizations, or the International Seabed Authority), and certain entities whose statehood/sovereignty are not precisely defined (Palestine, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta) are afforded a permanent office in the United Nations headquarters in New York City. They have an assured presence at General Assembly meetings, unless they are expelled.

Current international organizations and other entities

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• African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States African Development Bank
• Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean Andean Community
• Asian Development Bank Association of Caribbean States
• Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization
• Central American Integration System
• Collective Security Treaty Organization Commonwealth of Independent States Community of Portuguese Language Countries
• Community of Sahelo-Saharan States
• Council of Europe East African Community
• Economic Community of Central African States Economic Community of West African States
• Economic Cooperation Organization Eurasian Economic Community
• GUAM
• Inter-American Development Bank
• International Centre for Migration Policy Development International Criminal Court International Criminal Police Organization
• International Development Law Institute International Hydrographic Organization
• International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
• Latin American Economic System
• Latin American Parliament Organization of American States
• Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Pacific Islands Forum
• Partners in Population and Development
• Permanent Court of Arbitration Shanghai Cooperation Organization South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
• World Customs Organization, formerly the Customs Cooperation Council

These intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations are invited to observe the proceedings of the General Assembly. They can be expelled, or simply not invited to the next Assembly.

See also

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• List of sovereign states

External links

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• UN General Assembly
• United Nations missions in New York City

United Nations

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