NAM strives for bigger role but challenges remain
As the 15th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) wrapped up in
Egypt on Thursday, NAM countries have demonstrated again their
determination to play a bigger role in the world arena.
During the two-day summit, the grouping of pan-developing countries
called for closer solidarity among member States to address global
threats and challenges and promote world peace and development.
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The 15th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) wrapped up
in Egypt on Thursday. AFP |
Some NAM member States appealed for the construction of a new
international political, economic and trade system, which is more
balanced and equitable.
The NAM, representing the majority of developing countries in the
world, was founded during the Cold War when developing nations were
impacted by the confrontation between socialism and capitalism camps.
Its foundation in September 1961 marked a fresh start for lightweight
countries to stand closer to protect their rights and interests and
voice their views in that hegemonic world society.
However, with the disaggregation of former Soviet Union in 1991 and
the end of the Cold War, NAM began to face questions to its existence.
Especially after the world entered a new millennium, great changes have
taken place in the world, and even within the NAM countries themselves.
As the world is engulfed by the economic crisis, developing
countries, with strengthening consolidation and cooperation, can finally
steal some limelight as they become one of the indispensable forces in
the multipolar world.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the summit, "It is
abundantly clear that no country - regardless of size or resources - can
solve problems alone. That raises the stakes and the space for the
Non-Aligned Movement to shape a better world."
"The Non-Aligned Movement can impose some kind of international
balance and reactivate the role of the movement on the international
level," said Saeed el-Mashat, director of Center for Political Research
at faculty of political and economic sciences in Cairo University.
To prove this, the group is endeavouring to exert influence on
resolving major international issues as the NAM summit provides a
platform for dialogues to narrow differences.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit has said NAM could be a
possible mechanism to improve Egyptian-Iranian relations which are
lukewarm as Egypt opposes what it considers Iran's interference in the
Arab affairs.
During a rare meeting on the sidelines of the summit, Prime Ministers
of India and Pakistan vowed to cooperate in the fight against terror in
the wake of the devastating Mumbai attacks.
In the final document adopted at the summit, NAM countries made clear
their unanimous positions on some hot-spot issues, including appealing
for ending economic embargo against Cuba, stopping Israeli settlement
activities on Palestinian territories and immediate restoration of the
ousted Honduran president.
"The Non-Aligned Movement is considered the biggest representative of
the developing world, so it can and should impose pressure on the
international society," said Dr. Gamal Abdel Gawad, Director of
International Relations Department of Al Ahram Center for Strategic and
Political Studies.
Challenges Remain
Although the NAM groups 118 countries, representing nearly two-thirds
of the United Nations' members, and comprises 55 percent of the world
population, the total amount of NAM members' gross domestic product
(GDP) is still comparatively small.
In the just-concluded G8 Summit in Italy, developed countries showed
increasing interests in North-South cooperation and in involving more
developing nations in global decision making.
However, what the developed nations have preferred are those
burgeoning economies, such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico.
Whereas, most NAM countries are still ravaged by poverty, including
some least developed countries which count on aid and assistance let
alone have final say on world issues.
Besides, NAM, a loose bloc of developing countries, has no
headquarters or standing secretariat, so the decisions of the group have
little binding power and their follow-up implementation cannot be well
guaranteed due to lack of effective supervision.
From this point, analysts believe that NAM still has a long way to go
before emerging as a real "big role" in the competitive world arena.
Xinhua |
