After 60 years, the leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) have returned to the organization’s birthplace in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. During the two-day meeting hosted by the Government of Serbia, the 60th anniversary was marked with inspirational speeches, leaders reaffirmed their collective commitment to strengthen the principles and multiple tasks defined 60 years ago.

As the pandemic spread, developing countries seized the opportunity and strongly demanded a more equitable global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and more funding from rich countries to help the poorest adapt. to a warmer world.

Speakers particularly criticized world powers for not fairly sharing vaccines, suggesting poor countries were at the mercy of powerful states piling up supplies.

“We are observers of a global power game and are subject to the benevolence of powerful countries which distribute their accumulated (vaccine) reserves at their own pace,” Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said at the meeting in Belgrade. .

Akufo-Addo told the rally that “60 years later, the great powers have not disarmed, and the threat of nuclear war has not receded either. They are still as powerful as they were then, and this has been evidenced by the Covid pandemic and the unsavory policy of vaccine nationalism we are witnessing today. “

He lamented the fact that NAM member states have become a global power play and are subject to the benevolence of powerful countries, which distribute their accumulated reserves at their own pace, not necessarily in accordance with realities.

“The need for self-sufficiency today in the countries of the South is as important as positive neutralism was in the days of the Cold War. The impact of the pandemic on our populations has been severe. We need to stand side by side and be determined to make sure we are better prepared for future pandemics, ”Akufo-Addo said.

He continued: “We must not miss this opportunity to take far-reaching decisions for a more equitable and balanced world, based on the principle of the equality of sovereign states. We must continue to work for the global goals of peace, development and interdependence.

While stressing the importance of protecting the interests of the developing world, Akufo-Addo further recalled “that there will be challenges, but by working hand in hand, we can move forward together, through cooperation and solidarity. , and achieve the restructuring of the global financial system to facilitate the rapid development of our economies. The next sixty (60) years of the movement must mark its emancipation to meet the wishes and aspirations of development, dignity and diversity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged rich countries to allocate half of the funds they provide to developing countries to tackle climate change to help those countries adapt and survive in a warming world.

“Fifty percent of all climate finance provided by developed countries and multilateral development banks should go to adaptation, to resilience,” Guterres said in a video message at the opening of a two-part meeting. days.

Rich countries are under increasing pressure to keep their broken pledge, made in 2009, to send $ 100 billion a year to help fund an adequate response by developing countries to rising global temperatures as the world braces for for COP26.

Of the funding channeled by rich countries to help poorer countries cope with climate change, adaptation has normally only accounted for around 20%, or an average of around $ 30 billion per year in 2017- 18. Most of the rest has been devoted to reducing emissions from global warming, for example by switching to renewable energies.

Guterres warned rich economies to step up efforts to help developing countries tackle “biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change” and further called on the Group of 20 rich countries to do more to help vaccinate the planet against the new coronavirus.

The observer status in the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) that Russia has obtained opens up new opportunities for interaction to ensure global security and sustainable development, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his message to participants at the MNA jubilee meeting posted on the Kremlin website.

The Non-Alignment Movement plays a fairly important role as an international organization on the world stage, the Russian leader said.

“This [the Non-Alignment Movement] systematically protects the principles of unconditional equality of all States, respect for their sovereignty and legitimate interests and promotes constructive multilateral dialogue in strict compliance with the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter ”, Mr. Putin stressed.

The non-alignment movement‘This positive potential is especially needed now that “the situation in the world is becoming increasingly turbulent and humanity is facing an increasing number of threats and challenges,” the post read.

“It is important to note that this reputable and representative structure is actively engaged in the resolution of crises and makes a considerable contribution to collective efforts aimed at building a more democratic and stable world order, and at strengthening trust and mutual understanding between members of the international community, “said the Russian leader. noted.

“Our country recently obtained observer status within the Non-Alignment Movement. This certainly opens up new opportunities for interaction to resolve key regional and global issues and ensure security and sustainable development in the world, ”Putin said.

Although many members of the Non-Aligned Movement are actually quite close to China or the Soviet Union, the movement persisted throughout the Cold War, despite several conflicts between members that also threatened the movement.

In the years following the end of the Cold War in 1991, he focused on developing multilateral ties and connections as well as unity among the developing countries of the world, especially those in the Global South. .

The Non-Alignment Movement is an international organization of member states that oppose participation in military-political blocs and promote the peaceful coexistence of peoples. Her 60th birthday brought together mothers of 100 countries, with 43 delegations led by foreign ministers. After the United Nations, it is the largest group of states in the world.

Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was one of the Movement’s five historic founding fathers. Indian Jawaharlal Nehru, Indonesian Ahmed Sukarno, Egyptian Gamel Abdel Nasser and ex-Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito started the Movement in Belgrade in 1961.

Related