WEOG Member States

The Western European and Others Group (WEOG) is one of several unofficial Regional Groups in the United Nations that act as voting blocs and negotiation forums. Regional voting blocs were formed in 1961 to encourage voting to various UN bodies from regional groups. Almost all members are in Western Europe, but the WEOG is unusual in that geography is not the sole defining factor; Europe is divided between the WEOG and the Eastern European Group, and the WEOG also contains Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which are culturally and politically descended from Western European states but are located far away from them. The group also contains one observer, United States (which cannot vote but can put forward candidates for the General Assembly), and one temporary full member, Israel (on a basis of "permanent renewal of temporary full membership").

There are 28 member states, as of 2010.^[1]

WEOG Member States[link]

Western European permanent members, belonging to WEOG exclusively[link]

Other permanent members, belonging to WEOG exclusively[link]

•  Australia
•  Canada
•  New Zealand

Permanent Members belonging to WEOG not on an exclusive basis[link]

•  Turkey participates fully in both WEOG and the Asian Group, but for electoral purposes is considered a member of WEOG only.^[2]

Members belonging to WEOG exclusively, on a basis of permanent renewal of temporary full membership[link]

•  Israel: In May 2000, Israel, though naturally a part of the Asian Group in geographical terms but with membership blocked by Arab countries, became a WEOG full^[2] member, on a temporary^[2] basis (subject to renewal), in WEOG's headquarters in the US, thereby enabling it to put forward candidates for election to various UN General Assembly bodies. In 2004, Israel obtained a permanent renewal to its membership^[3] (in WEOG's headquarters in US, while remaining an observer at the UN offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Rome and Vienna^[4]). On June 14, 2005, Dan Gillerman was elected to the position of Vice-President of the 60th UN General Assembly. The last Israeli to hold this position was UN envoy Abba Eban in 1952. Israel's candidacy was put forward by the United Nations Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG). In this position, Gillerman played a central role during the initial negotiation stages of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.

WEOG Observers[link]

•  United States: Voluntarily^[5] chooses not to be a member, and attends meetings as an observer only. However, it is considered to be a member for putting forward candidates for electoral purposes in the United Nations General Assembly.^[2][6]

Suggestions to re-arrange the group[link]

In 2000, the first anniversary of Nauru's UN membership in the Asian Group prompted a call by that country for a new Oceania regional grouping including Australia and New Zealand within the United Nations regional voting system.^[7]

JUSCANZ[link]

A related group is JUSCANZ. This is an alliance of Japan, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and others. It essentially includes most major non-European Union members of the WEOG, plus Japan. It ensures the European Union is not able to dominate WEOG discussions and proposals.

WEOG and elections[link]

Quotas for the five regional groups ensure that for most elections to UN bodies the number of seats available to members of the WEOG is set. For example, two of ten non-permanent seats of the Security Council are reserved for states from the Western European and Others Group. Similarly, 13 of ECOSOC's 54 members come from the WEOG.^[8]

See also[link]

• United Nations Regional Groups
• Eastern European Group
• Israel, Palestine, and the United Nations
• List of members of the United Nations Security Council
• List of members of the United Nations Economic and Social Council

References[link]

Official external links[link]

• UN-HABITAT's Global Report on Human Settlements, 2007 (pp. 330, 335); PDF document at UN-HABITAT website.
• UNAIDS, The Governance Handbook, January 2010 (p. 29); PDF document at UN-AIDS website.
• Official list of regional groups (p. 2); PDF document at UN website.File:Italic text

Charles Joseph John "Joe" Hart (born 19 April 1987) is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national football team and was previously a regular for the England under-21 team. Having made his competitive international debut in September 2010, Hart is now recognised as England's first choice goalkeeper.^[3]

Hart was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2010 but lost out to eventual new team-mate at Manchester City, James Milner but was voted as the Premier League goalkeeper of the 2009–10 season in recognition of his performances at Birmingham City. He returned to Manchester City for the 2010–11 season and won the Barclays Golden Glove for keeping the most clean sheets throughout the Premier League season, an award he received again in the 2011-12 season.^[4]

Club career[link]

Shrewsbury Town[link]

Hart was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire to Charles and Louise Hart ^[5], and attended Oxon Primary School, followed by Meole Brace School Science College in Shrewsbury, where he was Head Boy in his final year.^[6] Whilst he was still a Year 11 pupil at the school, he travelled with the first team squad of his hometown club, Shrewsbury Town, to Exeter City on 1 February 2003. He was a non-playing substitute on that occasion and fulfilled that role again versus Rochdale at Gay Meadow on 1 March 2003, still some six weeks short of his 16th birthday. This match yielded Shrewsbury's final victory in a season that culminated in relegation to the Conference. During the one season that Shrewsbury spent in the Conference, Hart made his senior debut on 20 April 2004, a day after his 17th birthday. He played the full 90 minutes in the match against Gravesend & Northfleet. Four days later, he conceded three at Morecambe.

Hart did not play again until April of the following year, as Scott Howie dominated goalkeeping duties. With Shrewsbury back in the Football League (the newly-renamed League Two) and struggling, Hart played six matches, conceding four goals.

From the start of the 2005–06 season, Hart made the step up into the first team, and became the club's first choice goalkeeper, claiming the number 1 shirt. He played a full 46 match league season, conceding 55 goals. Despite conceding more than one goal per game, Hart won plaudits for his personal performances, winning his first England U-19 cap in October 2005, as a substitute against Poland.

Hart also found admirers in the Premiership, with several top-flight scouts attending matches. On 30 November 2005, the Shropshire Star newspaper reported that Everton goalkeeping coach Chris Woods had been present at Town's previous league match, a 4–3 loss at Rochdale. boss Gary Peters said "Everton have been to watch him, but you could say the same about Arsenal, Chelsea and every other team in the Premiership". Speculation about his future continued for the duration of the season, and with the presence of their goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers at several matches, Manchester City became the most likely of his suitors.

On 7 February 2006, Hart was announced as the top League Two player in the PFA Fans' Player of the Month Awards for January 2006.^[7] Football fans voted him as the best player in the division via the PFA's website. At the PFA Awards ceremony on 23 March 2006, it was announced that Hart had been voted as League Two's best goalkeeper for 2005–06 by his fellow professionals, earning him a place in the PFA League Two Team of the Year.^[8]

Manchester City[link]

With Hart in Belgium preparing to make his fifth appearance for the England U19 squad, in the Elite qualifying round for the 2006 UEFA U-19 Championship,^[9] it was announced that his move to Manchester City had been completed.^[10] England lost the match to Serbia and Montenegro and failed to qualify.

On 22 May 2006, City paid an initial £600,000 for Hart, rising £1,500,000 if undisclosed clauses were achieved.^[11] Hart made his debut for City on 14 October 2006 after injuries ruled out Andreas Isaksson and Nicky Weaver for the Premier League match against Sheffield United. He kept a clean sheet in the match, which finished goalless.

Loaned to Tranmere Rovers and then Blackpool[link]

Hart spent the whole month of January 2007 on loan to League One club Tranmere Rovers. He made 6 appearances and conceded 8 goals. He was then named in his then-club manager Stuart Pearce's first squad in his part-time role as England U21 coach, alongside another goalkeeper uncapped at U21 level, Ben Alnwick. He was not chosen to start the match on 6 February 2007 against Spain, but did come on as a substitute late in the game.

In April 2007, Hart joined Blackpool on loan as cover for the injured trio of Rhys Evans, Paul Rachubka and Lewis Edge. He kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 win for Blackpool at Huddersfield Town on 9 April 2007, in his first game for the Seasiders.^[12] Blackpool won all five games in which Hart appeared, including a 6–3 win at Swansea City in his final game.^[13]

Return to Manchester City[link]

Hart playing for Manchester City in 2008

On his return from a successful loan spell at Blackpool, former Manchester City manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, named Hart as Manchester City's number 1 ahead of Andreas Isaksson. After his performance against Newcastle United, Eriksson touted him as "one of the biggest talents in this country as a goalkeeper", and that he had the potential to become an England international in the future.^[14] Only months later, he made his England debut against Trinidad and Tobago on 1 June 2008. In October, he was inducted to Shropshire Schools & Colleges Football Association’s Hall of Fame along with good friend and former teammate David Edwards in recognition of their achievements.^[15] Later that month, he signed a new five-year contract.^[16]

After Isaksson's departure to PSV Eindhoven, Hart took the vacant number 1 jersey when the official squad numbers for the 2008–09 season were announced. However, his position as first-choice keeper was taken by Shay Given upon the Irishman's arrival at the club in January 2009.

Loan to Birmingham City[link]

Hart at Birmingham City

Having played no games for City since Given's arrival, rumours began to emerge of a loan move away from Manchester.^[17] City secured the transfer of Stuart Taylor from Aston Villa on 23 June 2009,^[18] paving the way for Hart to leave. Manager Mark Hughes had been undecided about allowing the player to go out on loan as he was unwilling to sanction a permanent transfer.^{[citation needed]} The following day it was announced that Hart would spend the 2009–10 Premier League season on loan to newly-promoted Birmingham City.^[19] He made his debut in Birmingham's opening match of the season, a 1–0 defeat away to Manchester United.^[20] In the early part of the season, Hart made errors which cost his side goals, and Maik Taylor's clean sheet against Manchester City, a match for which Hart was ineligible, left manager Alex McLeish with a selection dilemma.^[21] McLeish chose Hart, who kept his place in the starting eleven as Birmingham went on a club-record 12-match unbeaten run in the top division^[22] and set a Premier League record by fielding the same starting eleven for nine consecutive games.^[23] His performances improved:^[24] against Chelsea in December, he "showed not only sharp judgment and reflexes, making three outstanding saves ... but a lack of fear also", despite needing staples in a gashed head sustained when diving at the feet of Salomon Kalou.^[25] Hart was voted Birmingham City's Player of the Year for 2009–10,^[26] and nominated for the 2010 PFA Young Player of the Year award alongside Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fàbregas and James Milner.^[27] Though Milner won that award, Hart earned a place in the PFA Team of the Year.^[28]

Return to Manchester City[link]

Joe Hart commanding his penalty area in 2011.

Joe Hart with team-mate, Kolo Touré in May 2012.

After a successful spell at Birmingham City, which earned him a place in the England squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Hart was chosen ahead of Shay Given to start the opening game of the 2010–11 season against Tottenham Hotspur. He produced a man-of-the-match performance, saving numerous challenging shots including a deflected effort from Benoît Assou-Ekotto, which helped City to draw the game 0–0.^[29] Hart also kept a clean sheet in Manchester City's 3–0 victory over Liverpool, where he was still first choice goalkeeper and made even more good saves, enhancing his reputation even further. Hart conceded his first goal of the season from a late penalty by Darren Bent in a 0–1 defeat at Sunderland.

Hart helped his team overcome Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final by producing an excellent early save to deny Dimitar Berbatov the opening goal. The match ended 1–0 to City, thanks to a goal scored by Yaya Touré. Hart kept another clean sheet against Tottenham Hotspur to earn his team a place in the qualifying round of the Champions League for the first time, and another in the FA Cup final in which Manchester City beat Stoke City 1–0 with another goal from Yaya Touré.

Hart was awarded the Premier League Golden Glove award for the most number of clean sheets in the 2010–11 Premier League season (18). He also broke the Manchester City club record for the most clean sheets during a season (29), previously held by Nicky Weaver (26, but whilst the team was two divisions lower).^[30] At the official Manchester City awards Hart was awarded performance of the season for his excellent performance against Tottenham Hotspur in August 2010. Hart's position as City's "number one" was cemented when Given departed City for Aston Villa in July 2011.^[31] Hart won the Golden Glove award for the second year running in 2011–12, and helped City to win their first Premier League title, and first top-flight title for 44 years, which they clinched on the final day of the season by beating Queens Park Rangers 3–2.^[32][33]

International career[link]

Under-21[link]

Hart was selected by Stuart Pearce in the preliminary England Under-21 30-man squad for Euro 2007, and later made the final 23. In the team's final friendly before the finals, Hart was selected for his first Under-21 start, and played the full 90 minutes in a 5–0 win over Turkey at Carrow Road. However, Hart took no part in the finals, with Scott Carson playing in all of England's four fixtures.

Hart was recalled to the U21s and was first choice at the Euro 2009 finals. He started in the first two group stage matches and was rested for the last match as England had already sealed its passage to the knock-out stage. In the semifinal against Sweden, he conceded three goals in the second half as the match ended 3–3 after extra time but he made up for it by saving a penalty and scoring another as England won 5–4 on penalties. However he was suspended for the final^[34] after being controversially yellow-carded for leaving his line to talk to Mikael Lustig as the Swede stepped up to take the penalty.^[35]

Senior team[link]

Having been a regular in the England U21 squad, Hart was called up by Fabio Capello to the full England squad for the friendly matches against USA and Trinidad and Tobago. An unused substitute against USA, he made his debut against Trinidad and Tobago, on 1 June 2008 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain. He came on at half time for David James with England 2–0 up, eventually running out 3–0 winners.^[36] However, Hart's senior England debut did not earn Shrewsbury Town the expected bonus of £500,000 from Manchester City, as negotiated at part of his transfer in 2006, because it was not a competitive match.^[37]

Hart received a second call-up by Fabio Capello to face Czech Republic on 20 August 2008, but was not brought on. Hart was called up to the next England squad due to a drop-out from Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson.^[38] On 8 November 2009, he was called up for a friendly against Brazil.^[39]

Capello named Hart in his provisional 30-man squad for the 2010 World Cup.^[40] Hart played the second half of both of England's warm-up games, replacing Robert Green against Mexico and James against Japan, and kept a clean sheet in each case.^[41][42] All three goalkeepers, Hart, Green and James, were included in the final 23-man selection.^[43]

Hart did not feature in the World Cup but started England's next match, a friendly against Hungary, to earn his fourth cap. He conceded his first England goal in dubious circumstances when the ball appeared not to have crossed the line from a deflection from Phil Jagielka, and made a vital late save from Zoltan Gera as England won 2–1.^[44] Hart was given his first competitive cap in a Euro 2012 Qualifier, a 4–0 win v Bulgaria at Wembley, making three crucial saves, one of which he palmed away and set up a counter attack for an England goal. He won another two caps in friendlies against World champions Spain, keeping a clean sheet in an England victory,^[45] and against Sweden, again keeping a clean sheet for a 1-0 England win.^[46]

In February 2012, some players^[47] and pundits^[48] backed Hart for England captaincy citing his strong performances and positive image.

Cricket[link]

Before he turned to football, Hart was a promising young cricket player with Shrewsbury CC and appeared for their first-team in the Birmingham and District Premier League between 2003–05,and also spent two years with the Academy of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, playing alongside England international Steven Davies.^[6]

Honours[link]

Club[link]

Blackpool

• League One Play-Offs (1): 2006–07

Manchester City

• FA Cup (1): 2010–11
• Premier League (1): 2011–12

Individual[link]

• Barclays Golden Glove (2): 2010–11, 2011–12
• PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2): 2009–10, 2011–12
• PFA League Two Team of the Year (1): 2005–06^[8]
• Birmingham City Player of the Year (1): 2009–10^[26]
• Manchester City Performance of the Season (1): 2010–11^[49]

Career statistics[link]

Club statistics[link]

As of match played 13 March 2012^[50]

Goalkeeper national stats[link]

As of 29 February 2012^[51]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Joe Hart club profile at the Official Manchester City website
• Joe Hart national profile at the TheFA.com
• Joe Hart career stats at Soccerbase
• Player Profile at skysports.com
• Profile at 4thegame.com
• Joe Hart's page on digdeep.com

England squads v t e England squad – 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship 1 Carson 2 Hoyte 3 Baines 4 Taylor 5 Ferdinand 6 Cahill 7 Reo-Coker 8 Bentley 9 Richardson 10 Nugent 11 Young 12 Routledge 13 Hart 14 Rosenior 15 Milner 16 Lita 17 Huddlestone 18 Noble 19 Derbyshire 20 Onuoha 21 Vaughan 22 Alnwick 23 Whittingham Coach: Pearce v t e England squad – 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship 1 Hart 2 Cranie 3 Taylor 4 Cattermole 5 Stearman 6 Onuoha 7 Milner 8 Gardner 9 Agbonlahor 10 Noble 11 Johnson 12 Muamba 13 Lewis 14 Walcott 15 Rodwell 16 Tomkins 17 Richards 18 Mancienne 19 Gibbs 20 Driver 21 Campbell 22 Loach 23 Rose Coach: Pearce v t e England squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup 1 James 2 Johnson 3 A. Cole 4 Gerrard (c) 5 Dawson 6 Terry 7 Lennon 8 Lampard 9 Crouch 10 Rooney 11 J. Cole 12 Green 13 Warnock 14 Barry 15 Upson 16 Milner 17 Wright-Phillips 18 Carragher 19 Defoe 20 King 21 Heskey 22 Carrick 23 Hart Coach: Capello v t e England squad – UEFA Euro 2012 1 Hart 2 Johnson 3 Cole 4 Gerrard (c) 5 Cahill 6 Terry 7 Walcott 8 Parker 9 Carroll 10 Rooney 11 Young 12 Baines 13 Green 14 Jones 15 Lescott 16 Milner 17 Henderson 18 Jagielka 19 Downing 20 Oxlade-Chamberlain 21 Defoe 22 Welbeck 23 Butland Coach: Hodgson