A country interested in becoming a member of the International Mathematical Union, shall send to the Secretary of IMU, a sample of activities in mathematics, specially concerning research, as well as a sample of research papers published in international journals by the local mathematicians in the last 10 years or so. The Secretary of IMU shall then present the case to the Executive Committee, and, upon a recommendation of this board, the Adhering Organizitions are consulted. The final decision depends on a majority vote of the members at a General Assembly or through a Postal Ballot.