• Affirms Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez on opening the Ministerial Meeting of the Movement’s Coordination Bureau

CUBA, April 28, 2009. THE Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) can always count on Cuba’s contribution to the fight to achieve its noble objectives, stated Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, on opening the senior officials’ segment of the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordination Bureau, which is in session until this Thursday in Havana’s International Conference Center.

Addressing delegates attending this last ministerial meeting before the 15th Summit of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for July 16 in Cairo, Rodríguez Parrilla explained that the principal motivation for the meeting in the Cuban capital is to prepare for the summit, at which Cuba will hand over the presidency to Egypt.

He recalled that at the historic 14th Summit, which took place here in September 2006, "we renewed our firm commitment to revitalize and fortify the NAM as a forum of political coordination for the countries of the South. We likewise adopted important decisions that have directed our work in the last three years."

In that context, he noted that the role of the NAM in international relations is now becoming consolidated, and that "we are actively participating in the principal debates and decision-making processes in a number of multilateral forums."

Rodríguez Parrilla emphasized that the meeting was taking place in the midst of a particularly complex international juncture. Urging those present to therefore continue strengthening the Movement’s unity, he noted the need for such agreements to support leaders of NAM member countries in the search for collective, just and sustainable solutions to the global economic and social crisis. (Cubaminrex- Granma Internacional)