Hi all,
Someone wants to send this to [email protected] when this bounces.
>>>> ... The <ISOcountryCode> element specifies the country using the
>>>> ISO 3166 [11] code.
>>> Does that reference dated 1988 automatically pull in the latest
>>> list of country codes?
>> Not sure about that. I've checked other RFCs (this is certainly not
>> the first one to reference country codes) and they don't contain
>> a better reference (i.e. 4676 uses it, but doesn't provide a
>> reference).
[I am cc:ing Jaap that is also working with ISO 3166 so he can object
to what I am suggesting, if needed]
I'm also on vacation which will be interrupted by the ietf in Chicago so
this will be a brief reaction.
First of all you have to make up your mind if you really want to use
the 3166 list or the list of codes used in the DNS. There are a few
differences between the two lists. I presume you really want to
reference 3166.
The ISO standard of alpha-2 (and alph-3 and the numeric values)
country codes is actually part one of ISO 3166. Parts are seperated
from the standard number with a hyphen; after the date of publication
comes after a colon. The latest version appeared in 2006, so the
official reference to the standard document is ISO 3166-1:2006.
(The part 2 of the standard is codes for the subdivisions and part
3 is the list of the historic alpha-2 codes that are not in use
anymore).
I would say:
The <ISOcountryCode> element specifies the country using the alpha-2
country code from the ISO 3166-2:1988 list of countries and their
subdivisions.
This is fine (but do correct it for part 1, ISO 3166-1:2006) if you
mean the base document. If you want the official list, you should
also take in the Newsletters from 3166 MA into account. The MA
(Maintenance Agency is maintaining the current list because that
changes much more then the standards. The Newsletters are published
by the MA and update the standard when needed.
(See http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/iso3166ma/01whats-new/index.html
for the latest versions and announcements).
The ISO 3166 documents costs money but a current list is kept on
the web:
http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/iso3166ma/02iso-3166-code-lists/index.html
(and the page says it is free!).
If your intention was to reference the list of country codes as used
in DNS, come back and I can help with that as well. Also note that a
reference like this only reference the codes that actually are on the
3166-1 list. "EU" is not for example.
Patrik
Yes, that is an interesting twist. The EU code is on the "reserved
list" with the special remark saying it can be used by "any application
needing to represent the name European Union".
Some other reserved codes used as TLDs are UK, IO, AC are also taken
from the reserved, but note that not all reserved codes are used as
TLDs.
The list of reserved codes is also maintained by the 3166 MA but
not published. There is a MA document with this list and you can
get this list by writing the secretariat. However, they also publish
a "ISO 3166-1 decoding table"
(http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/iso3166ma/02iso-3166-code-lists/iso_3166-1_decoding_table.html),
a 26x26 matrix with all the codes and a list with the status so you
don't really need to write (although the table doesn't has all
details).
And did I already mentioned that not all ISO 3166-1:2006 alpha-2 codes
actually are delegated? I think there are 5 or 6. What I remember is KP
(North Korea), EH (Western Sahara), UM (US Minor Islands or so) and RS
(Serbia), ME (Montenegro) and I'm sure I forgot one.
So, coming back to the original question, the answer is, your mileage
varies. It really depends what you want to refer to.
Anyway, for more details, speak to me in Chicago. (Or mail again).
jaap
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