BAKU, (AZERBAIJAN), Oct 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Multilateralism is more important than ever, and it is the responsibility of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) to protect this asset, said Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
Mammadyarov said NAM, as the second-largest international political organisation after the United Nations, is definitely one of the main driving forces of multilateral cooperation.
In his closing remarks at the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting of the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of NAM on Thursday, the minister said that Azerbaijan is proud to take over the chairmanship of this esteemed Movement and contribute to its further success.
“We believe that with this Summit and throughout our chairmanship, together with your support, we will be able to reinforce the role of the Movement in the international relations system. Furthermore, we believe that our chairmanship will be instrumental in building framed cooperation with non-members of NAM,” he further said.
At this Summit, the Republic of Azerbaijan under President Ilham Aliyev is taking over the chairmanship of NAM for the next three years from Venezuela.
Mammadyarov also said that the ministers had a very fruitful deliberation during the two days of their meeting here.
“During the interactive debates, we heard interesting interventions, and these debates once more clearly demonstrated that NAM has an important role in strengthening international peace and security. The comprehensive documents which we have agreed upon with you contain several crucial aspects in this regard,” he added.
NAM, which had its first summit in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1961, was formed at the height of the Cold War as an independent path in international politics for those countries wishing to be free from the influence of the superpowers – led by the Soviet Union and the United States at that time – and not becoming pawns in their ideological rivalry.
NAM currently has 120 member countries, 17 observer countries and 10 observer organisations.
The 18th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of NAM will be held Friday and Saturday (Oct 25-26). The Summit was preceded by the Preparatory Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) (Oct 21-22) and the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting (October 23-24).
