Member countries of the Non Aligned Movement agreed on strengthening cooperation to face challenges and to defend against external pressures

CUBA, April 30, 2009. The Political and Socioeconomic Commissions of high-level officials continue to work hard during the ongoing Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Havana.

According to Raymond Wolf, president of the Socioeconomic Commission, there has been consensus on the need to take specific measures to protect developing countries in order to help them achieve the Millennium Objectives.

Wolf, who is also a Jamaican representative before the United Nations, said that the international economic infrastructure must be reformed, especially regarding financing to achieve development and the need for rich countries to fulfil their economic obligations in the current difficult circumstances.

He said that the paragraphs included in the draft Declaration agreed upon at the Coordination Bureau in New York are very important and include issues such as the World Conference against Racism recently held in Durban.

At the Political Commission, efforts have also been made to complete the final document to be approved by the Foreign ministers from the 118 NAM member countries on Thursday.

The Commission’s president, Egyptian UN representative Mayid Abdelazíz, said that they agreed on strengthening cooperation among the NAM member countries so that the Movement can become a permanent support force for its members and defence mechanism against pressures from other nations, while at the same time respecting UN legislations. To this end, all existing mechanisms have been studied by the Commission in order to consolidate or improve them when necessary.

“Our assessment on the first part of the Ministerial Meeting is extremely positive. Participants have reached general consensus,” said Abdelazíz upon speaking about the meeting taking place in Havana.

Responding to questions about Cuba´s work as the NAM chair —which will be taken over by Egypt after the 15th NAM Summit in July—, he said, “Cuba has been an example of good performance.”

The main objective of this Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau is to prepare for the 15th NAM Summit to be held in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt, from July 11 to 16. (Cuabaminrex- Juventud Rebelde)