The term 'International Accord' is used to refer to a variety of agreements between nations. The most common of these agreements are Detente, PACT, and ENTENTE. Detente is a French word meaning 'relaxation of tensions' and is used to describe the easing of diplomatic relations between two or more countries. A PACT is an agreement between two or more parties, usually involving mutual promises or obligations. ENTENTE is a French word meaning 'UNDERSTANDING' and is used to describe an agreement between two or more countries that is less formal than a treaty. All three of these terms are used to refer to agreements between nations that are intended to promote peace and stability.