Saturday, October 26, 2019

18th NAM Summit concludes with Baku Declaration

The 18th Summit of heads of state and government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) concluded this afternoon issuing the Baku Declaration that calls for resolving to increase the effectiveness of the Movement by making it a dynamic and effective mechanism to represent, coordinate and support the interests and priorities of all of its member states.
The NAM member states have also decided to activate the role of the Movement for making it adequate to new realities in the current geopolitical landscape by promoting and upholding its founding principles which continue to be as much valid and relevant as originally conceived, according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.
The 18th NAM Summit also decided that the member states will remain united and steadfast within the Movement in view of the emerging threats and challenges to international peace, security and development.
The two-day 18th Summit of heads of state and government of the NAM was held at the Baku Congress Centre in Baku, the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan from October 25 to 26, where the member-states – during the conclusion – also declared that the effective implementation of the NAM Baku Summit Outcome Document and the documents of the previous NAM Summits and ministerial meetings requires the highest commitment and determination of all NAM member states. The NAM member states also decided to consolidate their positions in order to advance the interests of the developing world, build a fair, inclusive, transparent and effective system of global governance. “The member states shall support multilateralism with the UN at its core and give a boost to the central role of the United Nations in the institutional and legal framework of global governance,” reads the Declaration.
In this regard, the member states also decided to call for further strengthening and modernising of the UN, revitalising the UN General Assembly and strengthening its authority as the most democratic, accountable, universal and representative body of the organisation, including in the area of international peace and security.
“All states shall respect the territorial integrity, sovereignty, the sovereign equality, political independence and inviolability of international borders of other states, comply with the principles of non-intervention in the internal affairs”, the Declaration reads, adding that that any attempt aimed at partial or total disruption of the national unity or territorial integrity of states shall be continued to be opposed.
The states also decided to strengthen NAM solidarity in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations while stressing that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group. A decision was taken to observe the 2021 as the International Year of Peace and Trust and to continue to work towards the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, leaving no one behind, remembering that the Agenda is universal and transformative, based on peoples’ needs and interest.
They have also reaffirmed the central importance of the development dimensions in trade negotiations and maintain that a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round, launched in 2001, can only be achieved, if the outcomes thereof significantly address the imbalances and inequities in the multilateral trading system, in which the interests of developing countries could be reflected.
The promulgation and application of unilateral coercive measures against member states of the Movement was strongly condemned, while demanding the repeal of, such measures, which affect human rights and prevent the full economic and social development of the peoples subjected to them.
They also reaffirmed that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of present time and express profound alarm that emissions of greenhouse gases continue to raise globally.
Reaffirming that the South-South Cooperation is an expression of solidarity and cooperation among the peoples and countries of the South, the NAM member states stressed on ensuring the full enjoyment of all human rights, including the right to development so as to build collective and sustainable peace and prosperity across the world.
The summit also recognised the member states’ primary responsibility to promote durable solutions for internally displaced persons in situations of armed conflict, including their voluntary return in safety and with dignity, as well as to ensure respect, protection and fulfillment of their human rights.
Finally, the member states congratulated President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for assuming the chairmanship of the NAM and expressed appreciation to the government and people of the Republic of Azerbaijan for hosting the 18th Summit of heads of state and government of the NAM in a grand manner.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli led a 21-member Nepali delegation to the 18th NAM summit in Baku. The Prime Minister Oli and the Nepali delegation will leave Baku tonight and arrive Kathmandu on Sunday morning.

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