NAM to hold online Contact Group summit to focus on fight against Covid-19

 Ilham Aliyev

BAKU, April 26 (NNN-BERNAMA-AZERTAC) — On the initiative of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who is the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a Summit of the NAM’s Contact Group will be held through videoconference on May 4.

The Summit entitled “We stand together against COVID-19” will focus on the fight against coronavirus pandemic, Assistant to the President, Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Affairs of Azerbaijan’s Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev told Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC).

He said it was important to enhance international solidarity and mobilise the efforts of states and international organisations to address the pandemic.

Hikmat Hajiyev noted that the Azerbaijan President`s initiative was unanimously supported by the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The leadership of the United Nations, the African Union, the World Health Organisation and other international organisations will also join the video Summit.

“We hope that the Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group’s Summit will make a significant contribution to the mobilisation of NAM member states in the fight against coronavirus, strengthening of solidarity and multilateralism,” Hikmat Hajiyev said.

Azerbaijan took over the NAM Chairmanship for 2019-2022.

On April 10, the government of Azerbaijan donated US$5 million in financial aid to the COVID-19 response fund as part of the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan of the World Health Organization in its efforts to global efforts to contain the outbreak.