Non-Aligned Movement assembles in Baku for Mid-Term Ministerial Conference

Ameeting of Senior Officials of member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) kicked off in Baku on April 3.

Azerbaijan is represented by the country’s permanent representative to the UN Yashar Aliyev at the meeting.

The meeting was held as part of the preparation process for the NAM Mid-Term Ministerial Conference to be held in Baku on April 5-6.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Venezuela Ruben Dario Molina, who is chairing the conference, noted that the intentions and principles of the Non-Aligned Movement contribute to the stable development of the organization’s member countries.

“Together we are developing and moving towards peace,” he added.

The deputy minister of Venezuela also stressed that the organization is against the supremacy of any country over others and attacks on the stability of other countries.

Molina said that the Movement respects human rights and also supports the social development of the countries of the world. He added that NAM is a platform for the promotion of peace and security.

Yashar Aliyev, for his part, said that the Movement plays an important role in solving regional and social issues.

He noted that the republic highly appreciates the values and principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and supports any constructive documents.

Aliyev also said that the final documents of the ministerial conference scheduled for April 5-6 presuppose the principles of equality, mutual understanding and solidarity. He went on to say that they will help solve a number of problems that worry many countries.

The Non-Aligned Movement Mid-Term Ministerial Conference will be held under the theme of “Promoting international peace and security for sustainable development”.

NAM participating states, representatives of observer states and international organizations, countries and institutions invited as special guests will take part in the Mid-Term Ministerial Conference.

The Non-Aligned Movement was formed during the Cold War, as an organization of States that did not seek to formally align themselves with or against any major power blocs, but sought to remain independent or neutral. NAM includes 120 states. Seventeen states and 10 international organizations have an observer status in NAM.

NAM Mid-Term Ministerial Conference, to be held in Baku, is expected to be attended by 800 participants. More than 150 representatives of local and foreign media have been registered to cover the event.

The conference will be a key opportunity for NAM member states, observer states, organizations and guests countries to get together and to address the changing international security environment and to exchange views on how to respond effectively to challenges standing in front of us.

In 2011, on the 50th anniversary of NAM at the 16 th Ministerial of the Non-Aligned Movement in Bali, Azerbaijan became a full-fledged member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the largest group of states within the United Nations system, and has ever since started playing an active role in maintaining the international peace and security.

Azerbaijan will host the 18th summit of the Movement in 2019, while the country will chair the NonAligned Movement in 2019-2022.

In this period Azerbaijan is expected to make significant contribution to the promotion of the goals and intentions of the NAM, strengthening of international peace, security and cooperation.