The 17th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit has concluded in Venezuela with Pakistan clearly opposing attempts to equate the right to self-determination’s legitimate struggle against terrorism.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz led the Pakistani delegation at the Summit held on September 17 18 at Venezuela’s Margarita Island, a Foreign Office statement said on Monday.
The Summit concluded with the adoption of the NAM Declaration on issues such as terrorism, self-determination, the situation in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq and a range of social and economic issues.
Adviser Sartaj Aziz in his statement called for a just settlement of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council Resolution, which he said was a pre requisite for peace in South Asia.
He also raised the issue of grave violation of human rights committed by Indian forces in the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Sartaj Aziz also condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
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Highlighting Pakistan’s sacrifices in the campaign against terrorism and its success in tackling this menace, he mentioned that Pakistan was ready to share its counter-terrorism experience with other NAM countries.
The Adviser proposed to setup a high-level panel to undertake a thorough review of the priorities of NAM, with a view to making it a Movement of Solidarity that safeguards the interests of developing countries.
The Summit was attended by a number of heads of State and Governments including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, President Raùl Castro of Cuba and President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine.
The leaders urged the revitalization of NAM and adherence to its core principles and condemned the unilateralist policies of intervention, regime change through the use of force and imposition of arbitrary sanctions.
Referring to Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan, the leaders called for building peace under national ownership and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of these countries. They also supported the cause of Palestinian people and condemned the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.
Venezuela will preside over the NAM process for the next three years, to be replaced by Azerbaijan in 2019.
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