15 July 2009
The engagement of the international grouping of over 100 countries known as the Non-Aligned Movement is vital to solving today's common problems, from climate change and the economic crisis to ensuring a world free of nuclear weapons, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
"It is abundantly clear that no country - regardless of size or resources - can solve problems alone," Mr. Ban said in his address to the high-level segment of the 15th NAM Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
"That raises the stakes and the space for the Non-Aligned Movement to shape a better world," he added. "Now more than ever, your engagement is very vital to achieving global solutions to our common problems."
The Secretary-General noted that the Movement's commitment to peace naturally led it to place high value on a world free of weapons of mass destruction. "All countries should recognize that disarmament contributes to development - and that both are critical to peace," he said.
Among recent progress, he said that, with the support of many Non-Aligned countries, the Conference on Disarmament broke its 12-year impasse and preparations for the review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) are gaining momentum.
In addition, he welcomed the recently announced pledge by the leaders of the United States and Russia to reducing their nuclear arsenals.
"But the challenges remain immense if we are ever to achieve a world without nuclear weapons," Mr. Ban stated, adding that it is not only weapons of mass destruction that demand a concerted international response. Conventional arms continue to destabilize the world, and small arms and light weapons are overwhelmingly the weapon of choice in violent conflicts, he noted.
The Secretary-General added that NAM's longstanding commitment to development and social justice also resonates today as the world faces a severe economic and financial crisis.
"All countries are feeling the effects, but some developing countries are suffering most, including millions of people living in the NAM States, particularly those emerging from conflict. The impact will likely be even graver in the future," he said.
The UN chief also pointed out that efforts to move the global economy in a greener, more sustainable direction and improve food security and energy access for the poor can also contribute to creating the more equitable world that NAM has always envisioned.
In addition, he highlighted the effort to "seal the deal" at Copenhagen later this year on an ambitious new climate change pact aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
"We need to mobilize the political momentum for an equitable and effective deal," said Mr. Ban. "Your participation is vital - I count on you to attend."
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I wonder if it even occurred to Mugabe that if he is genuinely serious about reforming the IMF and WB, it would have been far better had he left it to another country to raise the matter. After all, Zimababwe owes $4 billion to these organisations and is the only country in the history of these organisations to remain long term in arrears. The message would be far more creditable coming from almost any other country but Zimbabwe. I think that Mugabe simply cannot resist the limelight and that the message is in fact secondary to this.
Nowadays Mugabe talks but only his fools listen to him. The man rules his country without equity and yet talks of " a more equitable global order." Is he blind to his own madness as senility is stepping in or is he just barking nonsense to be heard and reported upon for the benefit of the stupid Herald?
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what a moron Mugape is? Does he want to reform these institutions so that he can steal and plunder from them too? That will be the day. Doesnt he understand economics, obviously not. Must have got his degrees from the zanupf lucky packet, or the fact that he so senile or his brain riddled with syph that he cant see his own demise just over the horizon. Senile dementia comes to mind, what a withered foolish tick he is. He should be squashed underfoot.! Wake up zimbos our country needs to remove this fool once and forever!
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