The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization has elected the following 32 States to be members of its Council for the 2000-2001 biennium:

Category (a) Eight States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services;

Category (b) Eight Other States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade;

Category (c) Sixteen States not elected under (a) or (b) above which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.

The Council is the Executive Organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.

The previous Members of the Council elected by the 20th Assembly in 1997 for 1998-1999 were as follows:

• China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.
• Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Sweden.
• Algeria, Australia, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Liberia, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia.

IMO is the United Nations agency concerned with maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution from ships. The 21st session of the IMO Assembly is being held at its London headquarters from 15-26 November.