PRETORIA, July 6 (NNN-SANEWS) — International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Alvin Botes is leading South Africa’s delegation to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau (CoB) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“The meeting reviews the movement’s principled positions on global issues pertaining to development, human rights, peace and security, and the promotion and preservation of multilateralism, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and the Bandung Founding Principles of the NAM.”
The gathering also consider preparations for the upcoming 19th Summit Conference of the NAM Heads of State and government to be held in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan 15-20, 2024.
This year’s theme is “NAM, united and steadfast in confronting emerging challenges”.
“Inspired by its founding principles, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the movement has proven itself to be one of the most united and efficient multilateral platforms.”
Meanwhile, a meeting of the NAM Ministerial Committee on Palestine will also be convened during this week’s session.
South Africa is a member of the NAM Committee on Palestine, which has the mandate to coordinate the NAM’s activities in support of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.
The Ministerial Meeting will conclude with the adoption of the outcome documents of the assembly, including the “Baku Political Declaration” and the “Political Declaration of the NAM Ministerial Committee on Palestine”.
With its 120 Member States, the NAM is the largest grouping of countries outside of the United Nations (UN), making it an important role player in global and multilateral affairs, especially in the current global context where geo-political divisions are negatively impacting the interest of developing countries.
Since its inception in 1961, the movement has played a crucial and highly visible political role in representing the interests of developing countries, particularly in the eradication of colonialism, supporting struggles for liberation and self-determination, the pursuit of world peace, and the search for a more equitable and just global order.
