Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Non-Aligned Movement 15th Ministerial Conference Opens in Tehran

NAM ministerial conference opens in Tehran

TEHRAN, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The 15th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) opened here on Tuesday with an inaugural speech of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"The world is on the verge of change," Ahmadinejad said in his speech. "It is facing frustrating challenges."

Big powers are root of many problems, said Ahmadinejad, adding that poverty is a result of wrong policy of big powers.

He accused big powers of trying to keep a monopoly on technology, saying that nuclear powers are blocking peaceful nuclear work of other states.

He said that the NAM which has the capacity for peace and justice can establish an arbitration council and can defend countries against invasion and discrimination.

The NAM potentials can be tapped to serve global development, Ahmadinejad added.

Representatives from 118 members, 15 observer members and 8 international and regional organizations including 60 foreign ministers attended the conference at the Conference Hall of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

The conference is expected to review the developments and implementation of decisions made in the 14th NAM Summit in Havana in 2006, evaluate the latest international developments, particularly those related to the issues of interests for NAM member states, and also assess the achievements made so far in the process of revitalization and strengthening of the NAM since the holding of the last summit.

The NAM, founded in 1961 with 118 members as of 2007, is an international organization of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. China became an observer to the NAM in 1992 which is made up of mostly developing countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.


Iranian FM urges change of world order

TEHRAN, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here on Tuesday that the current world order is no longer valid and should undergo dramatic change, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"The current world order is unfair and therefore should be corrected," Mottaki was quoted as saying in his address to the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) opened Tuesday morning at the Conference Hall of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Tehran.

Solving world challenges and problems needs "global partnership", he said, adding that grounds have been prepared for accepting a dramatic change in the world order.

"Access to peace and justice is only possible through partnership of all nations," he said.

Mottaki further called for "refraining from unilateralism in order to help settle global crises."

Representatives from 118 members, 15 observer members and 8 international and regional organizations including 60 foreign ministers attended the two-day conference.

The conference is expected to review the developments and implementation of decisions made in the 14th NAM Summit in Havana in 2006, evaluate the latest international developments, particularly those related to the issues of interests for NAM member states, and also assess achievements made so far in the process of revitalization and strengthening of the NAM since the holding of the last Summit.

The NAM, founded in 1961 with 118 members as of 2007, is an international organization of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. China became an observer to the NAM in 1992 which is made up of mostly developing countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.


Middle East News: Iran's Ahmadinejad says Non-Aligned Movement could rival UN

By DPA
Jul 29, 2008, 6:57 GMT

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that the world was entering a 'new phase' in which the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) could turn into an alternative to the United Nations Security Council.

Speaking at the 15th NAM foreign ministers' meeting in Tehran, Ahmadinejad once again criticized the UN Security Council for serving the interests of world powers rather than all of its member states.

He cited the council's shortcomings with regards to 'crimes committed by the Zionist regime (Israel)' in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon and charged that the world body has so far acted in favour of Israel.

Ahmadinejad also referred to the United States military invasions in Iraq and Vietnam and said that the UN would never condemn the US or issue a resolution against it.

'The Vietnam war was not ended by the UN but through heroic resistance by the Vietnamese themselves,' said the Iranian president, indicating that the Middle East crisis should also eventually be settled through resistance.

'The US even wants a security pact for Iraq which would definitely undermine the rights of the Iraqi nation,' he added, reiterating Iran's opposition to any US-initiated plan to settle the Iraqi crisis.

Despite his anti-US rhetoric at home, Ahmadinejad has several times voiced Iran's readiness to resume contact with its political arch-foe, the US, after more than 28 years of diplomatic estrangement, most recently in an interview with NBC television.

The president, whose country is involved in a nuclear dispute with the West, said that the UN has also failed to implement its own efforts at nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament.

'We are, however, entering a new phase where the rights of the people could be reserved through love and brotherhood,' he said.

'NAM could now, more than ever, play a significant role in this new phase and settle global differences, block discrimination, create justice and eventually become flag-holder of world peace,' Ahmadinejad added.

Following his presidency in August 2005, Ahmadinejad has adopted an uncompromising policy not only in the dispute over Iran's nuclear projects but also in the Middle East.

His anti-Israeli tirades especially have caused worldwide protests and gradually isolated Iran from the international scene.

Ahmadinejad has since then focused his hope on NAM and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which unlike the UN, are said to approve Iran's civil nuclear programmes and also show a more favourable approach toward Iran's Middle East policies.

'Iran is your home,' he told the more than 100 officials of the NAM member states at the end of his speech while declaring Iran's readiness for the expansion of NAM's role in world affairs.

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