| NAM Summit opens in Tehran | |
| Monday, 27 August 2012 00:00 | ||
Representatives from more than 100 countries have gathered in Tehran to discuss new challenges that the world faces today. The NAM summit will be held in Tehran from August 26 to August 31, while heads of state and government will meet on August 30 and 31. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said yesterday that Iran had the honour to host and chair the 16th NonAligned Movement Summit of leaders in this historic and challenging circumstances. Salehi said in the opening ceremony that during the next years of Iran's presidency over the NAM, the Islamic republic is determined to strengthen unity among the member states of this organisation. He said that Iran was resolved to turn the 120member NAM into an efficient body. Assuming presidency of the Summit indicates that Iran has played a very active role in the past three decades in line with aspirations of the world body, he said. At this sensitive juncture, Iran spares no effort to uphold the lofty goals of the NAM by fostering solidarity among member states, Salehi said. He said that the hefty task of implementing goals of the world body sounds easier due to good performance of previous chairmen mainly Egypt, in the past three years. Salehi also thanked the Egyptian government and nation for their endeavors during their chairmanship over the body. We have gathered to review and study new global developments to maintain the interests of NAM member states,” he said. He called for utilisation of potentials and capabilities of NAM to thwart global challenges and help maintain peace and justice in the world. Salehi said that in the 16th NAM summit, Iran would reinforce the organisation to help revive it so that it would be able to shoulder its historic and grave responsibilities. “We should be vigilant in dealing with the blatant interference of illwishers in international relations,” he said. “To successfully overcome global challenges, we should do our best to enhance NAM capacity to help restore peace and justice in the international community.” He said that different values and beliefs should be respected to help restore peace and tranquility in the world. NAM plays a significant role in the promotion of dialogue among civilisations, religions and cultures, he said adding that all should help uphold peace in the world and remove all types of discrimination. Iran’s Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaei said yesterday that Iran’s proposal to solve Syria’s crisis will be reviewed during the ongoing NAM experts meeting in the Iranian capital. Meanwhile, foreign ministry spokes-man Ramin Mihman-parast said 118 foreign delegations would take part in Tehran NAM summit. Mihmanparast, in an interview with Iranian TV, said 2 kings, 27 presidents, 8 prime ministers, 9 vicepresidents, 6 special envoys, 23 to 25 foreign ministers will certainly attend the meeting. He added that three or five ministers, other than the participating foreign ministers and 50 delegations at the level of heads of state, 80 delegations at ministerial level and over were among the participants. He said that all of Iran’s neighbours were participating in the meeting and Saudi Arabia king Abdullah was sending his special envoy. He added that the draft document of the summit had been prepared with 688 articles and will be discussed in the twoday meeting of experts. The articles included world and international issues in the first chapter, regional crises such as Middle East and Latin America in the second chapter and issues like development, human rights, food and health security and treatment in the third chapter. A statement will be issued on Palestine and a comprehensive plan to solve the Syrian crisis will be presented to the meeting. The spokesman said that as Iran assumes the presidency of the NAM for the next three years, it would also lobby with participating delegations to change NAM into an organisation so its approvals could be binding. Mihmanparast concluded that the movement, since its foundation, had only issued statements to deal with international problems. — Xinhua/Irna/FNA. |
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