More than 100 countries are partaking in the NAM meeting which kicked off at the expert level in Tehran on Sunday.
At the opening ceremony of the NAM expert-level meeting, Iran assumed the rotating presidency of the movement for three years. Egypt's Ambassador to the United Nations Mootaz Khalil formally handed over the presidency to Iran.
The two-day foreign ministerial meeting of the NAM summit has begun and is currently underway in the Iranian capital.
Interview with Marty Natalegawa, Indonesian Foreign Minister, to further discuss the issue. The following is a rough transcription of the interview.
Q: Could you please tell us about the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) summit, and the goals and principles behind it? How successful do you think the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement will be?
Natalegawa: We certainly have a huge challenge in front of us. As we’re well aware, the international conditions are full of difficulties whether it be in international peace and security, whether it be in development issues. We have a number of issues that the NAM must continue to contribute towards.
But at the same time, there’s plenty of opportunities as well. The Non-Aligned Movement brings together countries that are emerging, that are becoming stronger and thus we have many potentials that we can develop between NAM countries.
Q: Certain powers like the United States tried very hard to pressure member states or certain countries in order to prevent the success of the summit. Do you think this has been successful?
Natalegawa: I’m not sure about the categorization that you have presented. But I think on the whole the international community wishes for NAM to succeed because a successful NAM, a NAM that is able to contribute to international peace, security and development is a NAM that is also enhancing global conditions.
It’s not an ‘either or, a zero-sum’ relations. On the whole, the international community wishes to see the success of this summit.
Q: How about Iran? Iran is a long-time member state of the Non-Aligned Movement now hosting such an international conference at such a high ranking level, well signifies that Iran is not isolated as certain powers are trying to propagate.
Natalegawa: Iran has made considerable contributions to various multilateral issues at the United Nations, at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and, of course, within NAM. It is what it is.
But much of the hard work is ahead of us. Organizing an event and then subsequently leading it and chairing it for the next three years requires all of us to work closely together in partnership and in concert - the chair and members of NAM.
Q: Do you think member states can come up with an economic alliance?
Natalegawa: Well, as I said before, among NAM members there’s plenty of potential. Our economies are getting stronger.
There’s plenty of potential and opportunities to establish links in cooperation, in collaboration, in a constructive way, in a way that is problem solving, prosperity inducing and promoting the idea of equitable development as well.
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