CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Summary of the Chair of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement

NAM/MM/COB/03/2007
28 September 2007

On 28 September 2007 the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement’s Coordinating Bureau was held in the context of the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, chaired by H.E. Mr. Felipe Perez Roque, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba. There was broad participation of NAM member and observer countries in the Ministerial Meeting.

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations and H.E. Mr. Srgjan Kerim, from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and President of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, addressed the opening session.

The Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement presented the Report on the activities carried out during the year elapsed since the 14th Summit of NAM, held in Havana in September 2006. The Report is contained in document NAM/MM/COB/02/2007.

The Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement briefed the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau on other meetings of interest for the Movement, which took place during the High-Level Segment of the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, as follows:

• On 24 September 2007, the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Troika was held, which provided a suitable framework to exchange views and prepare other high-level meetings to be held by the Movement during the High-Level Segment of the 62nd session of the UNGA.
• On 25 September 2007, the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Committee on Palestine was held, which adopted a Declaration on Palestine contained in document NAM/MCP/02/2007.
• On 26 September 2007, the Ministerial Meeting between the NAM Troika and the European Union Troika was held. Views were addressed and exchanged on issues of interest for both parties, particularly those directly linked with some of the debates and negotiations to be carried out during the 62nd session of the UNGA. The issues addressed were: the situation in the Middle-East, including the Palestinian question; Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and International Security; the UN Reform Process, specifically System-wide Coherence; the Human Rights Council; the Alliance of Civilizations; and the International Criminal Court.
• On 27 September 2007, a ministerial-level meeting was held between the Chair of NAM –assisted by the Troika – and the Russian Federation, represented by H.E. Mr. Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs. It was a useful meeting to exchange views on the positions of both parties on issues of particular relevance directly linked to the works of the UNGA during its 62nd session. The issues addressed were: the Situation in the Middle-East, including the Palestinian question; Disarmament and International Security; the Human Rights Council; and the UN Reform Process, specifically System-wide Coherence.

In the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement’s Coordinating Bureau in the context of the 62nd session of the UNGA, an interactive dialogue was held on the theme “Concrete measures to reinforce the action capacity of the Non-Aligned Movement”.

During the interactive dialogue, the following main points were presented:

• The agreements reached and the transcendental documents adopted in the 14th NAM Summit, held in Havana in September 2006 were reaffirmed. Such agreements and documents make up the main framework for the Movement’s work in the different multilateral forums, particularly in the UN.
• There was wide-ranging agreement on the need to continue working towards the full implementation of the Plan of Action adopted at the 14th Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Havana, Cuba, in September 2006.
• Progress in the Movement’s strengthening and revitalization, with the sustained effort and support of all was acknowledged, following up on the work carried out by the South African and Malaysian chairmanships. The Coordinating Bureau’s decisions have increasingly more scope and significance, and cooperation and coordination of positions among non-aligned countries is proving effective in key processes within the UN.
• Likewise, it was recognized that continuous progress has been made in the effective use of the NAM mechanisms in the different multilateral headquarters. In addition to the functioning of the Coordinating Bureau in New York, the Movement is active in Geneva, Vienna, The Hague and Paris, which has allowed increasing the presence and leverage of the non-aligned countries at the debates on important and current issues.
• The importance to further strengthen coordination among all NAM chapters in the various multilateral fora was underscored.
• The Movement’s long-standing support and solidarity with the cause of the Palestinian people was reiterated.
• NAM’s decisive contribution to the first phase of the institutional building of the Human Rights Council was recognized, as well as the importance of keeping the Movement’s activism, both within the new Council and the UNGA, to guarantee the establishment of a true international system of protection of human rights, based on the universality of all human rights and on the cooperation among the States, and not on selectivity and double standards, nor on attempts to use human rights as a pretext to pursue political purposes that characterized the former Commission on Human Rights.
• The importance of consolidating the unity of action with the G-77 and China through the Joint Coordinating Committee was reiterated. It was also highlighted the need to preserve the coordinated positions achieved to face in better conditions the negotiations on System-wide Coherence, as well as other issues of interest to both groupings.
• An appeal was made to further develop South-South cooperation and emphasize the Movement’s support for the full implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.
• The need to consolidate the defense of the Movement’s positions within the Security Council was mentioned, taking advantage of the space for action that exists to enhance the role of the NAM Caucus in the Council and to promote its coordinated action favoring the interest of the non-aligned countries.
• The importance of having reactivated NAM’s coordination in the context of UNESCO was acknowledged, and the need to promote an active role of the Movement in the issues competing to that specialized UN body was stressed.
• The Cuban Chair of NAM express the possibility that the Movement undertakes actions that contribute to complete the international legal framework against intolerance and discrimination, which have increased at an alarming rate in the last few years. In this regard, it is currently preparing a draft International Convention on Religious Intolerance that systematizes the provisions and recognized rights in several instruments adopted in the past.
• Mention was made to two successful high-level meetings held in 2007 and included in NAM’s Action Plan for 2006-2009, adopted in the 14th Summit: the Meeting of Ministers of Labor of NAM, held in Geneva in June 2007, in which two important declarations on issues of interest for the Movement within the International Labor Organization (ILO) were adopted; and the NAM Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, held in Tehran, Iran, on September 3 and 4, in which the Declaration and Programme of Action of the Movement on such important issues was adopted.
• Interaction among NAM ministers of various portfolios was encouraged.
• At the same time, mention was made to the commitment to work jointly to guarantee the success of the NAM meetings scheduled for the rest of the year 2007 and through 2008, namely: the Second Business Forum of NAM, Havana, Cuba, November 2007; the Seventh Meeting of Ministers of Information of NAM (COMINAC VII), Caracas, Venezuela, first quarterly of 2008; the 15th Ministerial Conference of NAM (Inter-summits), in May 2008; the Meeting of Ministers of Health of NAM within the framework of the World Health Assembly, Geneva, May 2008; the Meeting of Ministers of Labor of NAM within the framework of the International Labor Conference, Geneva, June 2008; and the Ministerial Meeting of NAM on terrorism, to be held in Havana, in September 2008.
• The need for the non-aligned countries to form a united front that allows to resist together the pressures, threats and blackmail which some of our members have had to endure at times, as part of the attempts to weaken our positions, undermine our unity and prevent us from advancing together in the defense of our common interests was highlighted.
• The importance to continue working to make our movement increasingly more inclusive and representative was underscored, and that our decisions come as a consequence of comprehensive discussions and the necessary adjustments of the different viewpoints stemming from specific ideologies, religions, cultures, levels of development, historical experiences and national interests. We must turn this diversity into a driving force for creativity, solidarity and cohesion in defense of our common interests.
• It was recognized that the current international juncture calls, as never before, for the joint and coordinated action of the South that allows us renew NAM’s influence in the world state of affairs and the struggle for the democratization of international relations, peace and development.