(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Iran on Sunday pledged to spare no efforts to promote the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during its presidency over the bloc in the next three years.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of NAM experts meeting here in Tehran on Sunday, Salehi voiced Iran's pleasure in hosting the meeting, saying, "We are honored to be entrusted with the responsibility to host and preside over the summit at this sensitive historical juncture."
"Assuming the hosting of the summit by Iran indicates Iran's active membership in the movement during the last three decades," he stated.
As regards Iran's programs for NAM's future, the Iranian minister said, "At this phase, we will make our utmost efforts to promote the movement's general objectives, including consolidation of solidarity among the member states which necessitates an influential and efficient movement," Salehi noted.
During the two-day experts meeting, the NAM Deputy Foreign Ministers and senior experts will draw up the 16th NAM Summit agenda.
The meeting of NAM Foreign Ministers will be held for two days from August 27-28 with the NAM Summit slated for August 29-30.
NAM was founded in Belgrade in 1961 by Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito, Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah, and Indonesian president Sukarno, all legends of the national liberation movement, with solid anti-imperial credentials, who advocated a middle course for the developing world between the Western and Eastern blocs in the Cold War.
Its principles are solidarity and peaceful resolution of conflicts, though it was founded as a counterweight to the superpowers, abjuring big power military alliances and pacts.
The movement is publicly committed to sustainable development and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, making international financial decision-making more democratic, easing poor countries' debt burden, making trade fairer and increasing foreign aid.
By hosting the conference and taking on the responsibility for NAM leadership, Iran is clearly intent on injecting new life into the most important anti-imperialist international organization.
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26 August 2012 - 10:08
News ID: 339777
Iran on Sunday pledged to spare no efforts to promote the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during its presidency over the bloc in the next three years.
