NAM remains relevant even today: PM

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 22: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that the relevancy of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has not diminished even in the present world order. 

"To make the world system just and equitable, and to guarantee freedom, independence and geographical integrity to all countries, the importance of the non-aligned movement remains the same as it was in the past for all communities across the world in order to achieve prosperity and live a happy life," he said while speaking with the media at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday upon his return from the 19th Summit of the NAM held in Kampala of Uganda. 

The NAM was developed as the third strand in favour of freedom, independence and economic development in the aftermath of the Second World War when the world was divided into two political camps, he noted. 

"Although there are some doubts about the relevance of the Movement, it has a major role in the current world with problems such as inequality, neo-colonialism, geopolitical conflicts, and poverty," said PM Prachanda. 

Meanwhile, speaking at the closing ceremony of the summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appreciated the non-aligned countries' great contribution to making the world order fair, inclusive and equitable, and said that its relevance has increased even more in the current world environment.

PM Prachanda's delegation to the NAM Summit included Foreign Minister NP Saud, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr. Rupak Sapkota, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nepal is one of the founding countries of the NAM and it has participated in the Bandung Conference in 1955 when the Asia-Africa Conference passed the 10-point principles that laid the foundation of the Movement. 

Since its inception, Nepal has been represented at the highest level in all the summits of the Movement and presented its independent point of view. "Non-alignment and its principles remain as the basic principles of Nepal's foreign policy. Based on this, despite the complex situations internationally, we have adopted an independent foreign policy with an organic approach in all cases," said PM Prachanda. 

In his address to the NAM Summit, he recalled that the leaders of Asia and Africa presented the basic values of conducting international relations through the Bandung Conference in the atmosphere of the uneasy Cold War between the two superpowers about seven decades ago, and emphasized that the NAM has played an important role in enhancing the political freedom of many countries, ending colonialism and protecting sovereignty.

"Likewise, the NAM is a platform for deepening mutual cooperation. Through this, I emphasized that efforts should be made to achieve global prosperity by enhancing mutual cooperation and understanding," he said. 

Noting that the principles of the Movement and its values and beliefs are important for Nepal, PM Prachanda clarified that its observance is a guide to achieving peace, harmony and a prosperous world, as well as being a basic principle of foreign policy. "I said that this Movement has contributed to increase the respect and reputation at the international level in order to enhance mutual harmony, cooperation and collaboration between us," he said.

Stating that the economic revival has not been able to pick up desired speed in the post-COVID scenario, the Prime Minister expressed his concern to the growing geo-political polarisation and fighting and climate change that are causing more damage to small and developing countries.

"Even though Nepal itself is in the process of being upgraded from a least developed country, it is faced with multifaceted challenges. From the perspective that least developed countries need strong support and cooperation from development partners, I have strongly raised the issue that the NAM should emphasize the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and other internationally agreed development goals in time to achieve the economic development and prosperity of the developing countries of the world," he said. 

According to the PM, he emphasized that the world economic and financial structure should be reformed in order to ensure the necessary financial resources for the economic progress of developing countries, and the NAM should play a leading role in reforming the international trade structure, and the United Nations, so as to secure the interests of developing countries.

"Developed countries must meet the financial needs of developing countries. By ensuring everyone's access to and participation in international trade, even less developed countries should be able to realize its benefits,"

said PM Prachanda and added that he had emphasized that the NAM, as the largest representative organization after the United Nations, should play an important role in paving the way to stability and prosperity.

PM Prachanda said that the Himalayas are home to 15 per cent of the world's population and 50 per cent of earth's biodiversity. He said, "Mountains are very important for the living creatures of the world. Nepal, a mountainous country, is in the grip of climate change."

He also reiterated the issue that Nepal has been advocating for the protection of the Himalayas and mountain ecosystems and the 

human communities living there, and also called on the international community to support the voice of the Himalayas.

While in Kampala, PM Prachanda interacted with the Nepali community there and discussed the existing opportunities and challenges for Nepalis in Uganda and the African continent. 

In the sidelines of the summit, he met President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and held a bilateral delegation-level discussion on the occasion. 

At the meeting, he emphasized on the need to make the South Asian Regional Cooperation Organisation (SAARC) active and dynamic, and noted that the two countries should play a common role for that. The two delegations also talked about conducting direct flight from Sri Lanka to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini.