It is a matter of happiness for Nepal to participate in the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit hosted in Kampala of Uganda as a founder country.
It is immensely important as the conference was organized when several problems have seriously come to the fore in the globe.
The NAM conference has been organized in the context of geo-political complexity, Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine wars, COVID pandemic impacts on the global economy, climate change-induced challenges and problems facing the Least Developed Countries.
In order to address these challenges, Nam should take initiative and leadership. The importance and essence of NAM has further increased than before.
The western countries have made several pledges but not yet adhered to the commitments. Their commitments to ensure welfare of LDCs or address the climate changed induced problems have yet to be translated into actions. Rather several problems have emerged instead. Against the backdrop, NAM should increase its lead role and blow its voice stronger. The United Nations should be enabled to move ahead accordingly.
Nepal is the founder member of NAM. The organization was founded in the conference held in Bandung in 1955 AD. Since then, Nepal has been playing active role in NAM. Nepal’s commitment to the movement is intact. With this in context, Nepal can further its pivotal role in NAM. NAM should be further empowered. The NAM came to an existence in the special circumstance of the cold blood war. Even more serious and complicated issues have surfaced in the world now than that were in the cold ward time.
The essence of NAM has further increased in the changed context. It has been realized to make it further effective and empowered. The non-alignment movement should not be viewed in connection with cold war. Raising voice and struggle against the hegemony of colonialism, neo-colonialism and powerful countries is equally important at the moment as well. In this context, the essence of NAM has further increased.
In the NAM Summit, majority of the head of the governments and states have collectively expressed increasing essence of NAM. It has been realized that voice should be raised in favour of the people, equality and social justice through NAM.
Some of the founding members of the NAM have also progressed well. They have achieved remarkable success in technology and economy. We also have to deepen mutual cooperation among them. The spirit which existed during the establishment of the NAM should be maintained even at present. No country should exhibit their dual policy but should make their position clear. The organization having more than 120 countries also comprises some developed ones from the third world. If all these countries raise their voices in an integrated and organized approach, they can do a lot for peace, stability and bright future of humankind, as expressed in the thoughts and commitments in this NAM Summit.
War and peace has always been a challenging issue in the history of human civilization. When the call for peace vibrates worldwide, those calling for war should revert in one or the other way. The threat of war could be prevented if the NAM raised the voice for peace from all over the world. During my speech in the NAM Summit I said that I have come from the country of Lord Buddha, the champion for peace, to appeal for peace. Wherever wars have happened should be transformed into peace through talks and dialogue. Being the land of birth place of Gautam Buddha, Nepal has a huge responsibility to take initiative and make appeal for global peace.
The President of the United Nations General Assembly also made a crucial appeal and commitment in the NAM Summit. This shows its direct influence in the United Nations. A great contribution could be made to create environment conducive for the world peace by making appeal by the NAM member countries and United Nations in a collective manner.
As a member of the NAM, Nepal had a special responsibility. We have discharged our responsibility to again advance NAM in a strong, integrated and centralized way. Nepal and Nepalis can take pride for this. The entire world has listened to our appeal well. Our appeals made in the 19th NAM Summit, UNGA, COP-19 and UN Foods System Summit have given highly positive impacts. We have realized that Nepal is known, understood and heard, which is a matter of pride for Nepal and Nepalis.
(Based on the conversation with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ who is in Kampala of Uganda to take part in the 19th NAM Summit).
