![]() |
Index 1.1 History 2. NAM Structure and Organisation 2.1 Coordination 3. Format and Frequency of Meetings 3.1 Conference of Heads of State
or Government 4. Member States and Other Participants 4.1 Member States The first Conference of Non-Aligned Heads of State, at which 25 countries were represented, was convened at Belgrade in September 1961, largely through the initiative of Yugoslavian President Tito. He had expressed concern that an accelerating arms race might result in war between the Soviet Union and the USA. Subsequent conferences involved ever-increasing participation by developing countries. The 1964 Conference in Cairo, with 47 countries represented, featured widespread condemnation of Western colonialism and the retention of foreign military installations. Thereafter, the focus shifted away from essentially political issues, to the advocacy of solutions to global economic and other problems.
<<Back to Top>> 2. NAM Structure and Organisation The founders of the Non-Aligned Movement and their successors recognised that the Movement would probably be destroyed if they created such formal structures for the Movement as a constitution and internal secretariat. A multilateral trans-national organisation made up of states with differing ideologies and purposes could never create a rational administrative structure to implement its policies that all could accept. The Non-Aligned Movement has created a unique form of administrative style. Non-Aligned administration is non-hierarchical, rotational and inclusive, providing all member states, regardless of size and importance, with an opportunity to participate in global decision-making and world politics. The Summit is the occasion when the Movement formally rotates its Chair to the Head of State of the host country of the Summit, who then holds office until the next Summit. The Chair is at the same time also delegated certain responsibilities for promoting the principles and activities of the Movement. By creating the practice of a rotating chair, Non-Aligned countries therefore place the onus of an administrative structure on the country assuming the Chair. When a country assumes the Chair of the Movement, it creates or designates an entire section of the Foreign Ministry to deal specifically with Non-Aligned issues. Secondly, since Non-Aligned countries meet regularly at the UN and conduct much of their work there, the Chairs' Ambassador at the United Nations essentially functions as the "Minister of Non-Aligned Affairs". The work of the non-aligned often consumes the activities of the Chairs' Permanent Mission in New York. To facilitate the Chairs' responsibilities a number of structures aimed at improving the coordination and functioning of the existing Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees of NAM were created. The structures also exist in order to promote the process of achieving a commonality of positions and interests and to see to it that Non-Aligned countries speak with one voice in international meetings and negotiations. <<Back to Top>> The Coordinating Bureau is the vocal point for coordination. The Bureau reviews and facilitates the harmonisation of the work of the NAM Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees. The Heads of State or Government entrusted the Coordinating Bureau with the task of intensifying its actions to further strengthen coordination and mutual cooperation among Non-Aligned countries, including unified action in the United Nations and other international fora on issues of common concern. 2.3 Coordination by the Coordinating Bureau and role of the Chair The Chair has the responsibility of leading and
coordinating the activities of NAM within the United Nations and, as appropriate, in other
international fora. 2.4 Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees All NAM Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees meet as often as necessary. In the fulfilment of their mandates due regard is paid to coordination, efficiency and preparedness. 2.5 Non-Aligned Security Council Caucus It is necessary that the NAM countries elected to the Security Council, and who form the NAM Caucus in the Security Council, constantly strive to adopt unified positions, and that the decisions and the positions of NAM as adopted at its Summits and Ministerial Conferences and by the Coordinating Bureau be properly reflected by them in the Security Council, without prejudice to their sovereign rights. At the Cartagena Summit the Heads of State or Government called for the need to continue to enhance this coordination, including the possibility of holding consultations on a regular basis, between members of the NAM Caucus and other members of the Coordinating Bureau. The Chair of the Coordinating Bureau in New York should attend and address the Security Council on matters of particular importance to members of the Movement. To enlarge the scope of coordination, the Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau may at the invitation of the Non-Aligned Security Council Caucus attend the meetings of the Caucus. The Chair of the Coordinating Bureau should hold regular meetings with each coordinator of the Non-Aligned Security Council Caucus with a view to being briefed on the work of the Council and in turn, to convey to the Caucus coordinator the positions of the Movement. Similarly, the Caucus coordinator should keep the Chair apprised of upcoming discussions and issues of general importance to the Movement. The Coordinator of the Non-Aligned Security Council Caucus should also periodically brief the Movement through the Coordinating Bureau. <<Back to Top>> 2.6 Joint Coordinating Committee In order to promote coordination and cooperation between the NAM and the Group of 77 in promoting the interests of developing countries in international fora, a Joint Coordinating Committee of the two groups was established in 1994, which meets regularly in New York. 2.7 Coordination of Non-Aligned countries in other UN centres The Chair of the Movement is also responsible to give expeditious consideration to the establishment of arrangements for coordination of Non-Aligned countries in all United Nations centres and international organisation headquarters. The establishment of these arrangements facilitates coordination and cooperation with the Coordinating Bureau and enhances the role of the Movement in international fora. At a meeting of Foreign Ministers of NAM, representing past, present and future Chairs, in New Delhi on 6 April 1997, the concept of a Troika (of the past, present and future Chairs) started to emerge. The Chair, the Colombian Foreign Minister, at the meeting announced that the first meeting of the Troika would take place at the 52nd UN General Assembly. The Troika subsequently formally met for the first time in New York in September 1997. 2.9 Group of past, present and future Chairs (Group of Ten) During the aforesaid meeting Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the format of the meeting of past, present and future Chairs and suggested that the Group meet more frequently as a discussion forum. It was also suggested that the Group would meet at other levels, e.g. on the level of officials to discuss issues that arise and require direction or a stance by the NAM. The Foreign Ministers decided in New Delhi to set up an ad-hoc Panel of Economists from Non-Aligned countries to assess the current international economic situation from the perspective of developing countries and to identify and analyse major issues of concern to them. The Chair of the Movement (Colombia), in association with the host country (India), had to consult with member States on the establishment of the panel and on its work programme and report to the XIIth Summit in South Africa in 1998. <<Back to Top>> The preparation of all documents is the responsibility of the host country and should be the object of the widest possible consultations. Host countries should aim at circulating the First Draft as early as possible but not later than one month before the meeting. Documents should be concise, non-repetitive and succinct, highlighting issues of particular importance or urgency. Emphasis should be placed on practical, action-orientated measures that could be implemented. The Cartagena Document on Methodology, which was issued in May 1996, emphasises that the documents of Summit Conferences, which are the supreme organ of the Movement, should, while remaining comprehensive, be condensed. Every effort should also be made to avoid repetition. Separate appeals or declarations and resolutions on important issues can also be issued. 2.12 Decision making by consensus The practice of the Movement is to make all decisions by consensus. Consensus has enhanced the solidarity and unity of the Movement. This concept presupposes understanding of and respect for different points of view, including disagreement and implies mutual accommodation on the basis of which agreement can emerge by a sincere process of adjustment among member nations in the true spirit of Non-Alignment. The Cartagena Document on Methodology states that consensus, while signifying substantial agreement, does not require implying unanimity. On sensitive issues, the NAM tradition is to pay attention to openness and the holding of extensive consultations with the broadest possible participation. The Bureau of the Meeting, with its representative capacity, should render its assistance. <<Back to Top>> 3. Format and Frequency of Meetings The high level meetings of the Movement are: Summit Conferences, Ministerial Conferences, Ministerial Meetings in New York during the regular Session of the UN General Assembly, Extraordinary Ministerial Meetings, Ministerial Meetings of the Coordinating Bureau, meetings of the Ministerial Committee on Methodology, meetings of the Standing Ministerial Committee on Economic Cooperation and Ministerial Meetings in various fields of International Cooperation. There are other meetings of NAM such as the meetings of the Coordinating Bureau in New York and the meetings of the Working Groups, Task Forces, Contact Groups and Committees that are held at different levels. 3.1 Conference of Heads of State or Government The Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government is the highest decision-making authority of the Movement. The existing practice is to hold the Summit Conference every three years. The Summit should be held at least one month before the regular Session of the UN General Assembly. The programme of the Summit includes a formal ceremony for the handing over of the Chair. The decisions of a Summit should be action-orientated. Senior Officials and Ministerial meetings, which are preparatory to the Summit Conference, precede the Summit of the Heads of State or Government. The Summit has two committees, one for political issues and another for economic and social issues. In order to facilitate finalising the Drafts of the main documents, the committees begin their work informally during the Senior Officials meeting. The Ministerial Conference is held with the purpose of reviewing the developments and implementation of decisions of the preceding Summit, to prepare for the following Summit, and to discuss matters of urgency. These conferences are convened eighteen months after the Summit Conference, with the latest being the Ministerial Conference in New Delhi held from April 4 - 8, 1997. The final document of the New Delhi conference therefore focussed on reviewing the implementation of recommendations, decisions and Action Programmes from Cartagena which are of continuing relevance. <<Back to Top>> 3.3 Ministerial Meetings in New York during Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly It is the practice that Ministers of Foreign Affairs annually meet in New York at the beginning of the regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The purpose of this annual meeting is to focus on the items of the Agenda of the General Assembly that are of major importance to the Movement. 3.4 Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau These meetings are restricted to preparations for Summits and, if deemed necessary, to consider issues of major importance to the Movement. 3.5 Meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Methodology All NAM members are to be members of the Ministerial Committee on Methodology. Bearing in mind that the examination of the structure and modalities of the Non-Aligned Movement is an ongoing process, meetings of the Committee on Methodology at Ministerial level should be held as necessary upon a decision by the Summit or the Ministerial Conference. The meetings of the Ministerial Committee will be chaired by the Chairman of the Movement. 3.6 Standing Ministerial Committee on Economic Cooperation It is necessary to revitalize the Standing Ministerial Committee on Economic Cooperation in order to strengthen south-south cooperation, reactivate the dialogue between developed and developing countries, and enhance the role of the United Nations, particularly the General Assembly, in international cooperation for development. The Standing Ministerial Committee should meet as frequently as necessary upon the recommendation of the Coordinating Bureau. <<Back to Top>> 3.7 Ministerial Meetings in various fields of International Cooperation Consistent with the mandates given by the Conference of Heads of State or Government, the meetings at the ministerial level shall be held on such issues as information, culture, agriculture and external debt. 3.8 Extraordinary Meetings of the Coordinating Bureau The extraordinary meetings of the Coordinating Bureau will take place in exceptional cases which call for urgent consideration. 3.9 Meetings of the working groups, tasks forces, contact groups and committees All the existing working groups, task forces, contact groups and committees as included in the Annex make considerable contributions to the Movement. The working groups and above mentioned mechanisms should meet as often as necessary. Due consideration should be given to avoid overlapping of meetings. <<Back to Top>> 4. Member States and Other Participants
*Suspended <<Back to Top>> Within the framework of the need to promote the opening of the Movement to the contributions of other actors in the international arena, the current practice is to admit states as observers to the NAM meetings. States, which fulfil criteria for admission as members, will have the option of applying for observer status. Observers may attend and, with the Bureau's permission, address the Plenary of a Summit Conference or Ministerial meeting. They shall not participate in Committees nor in the meetings of NAM working groups, contact groups or task forces. The procedure for admission of members will apply for admission of observers. The following countries are observers of the Movement :
At the Ministerial Meeting on Methodology held in May 1996, in Cartagena it was concluded that only States could participate as observers. <<Back to Top>> Interested States, Non-governmental organisations and relevant Non-governmental organisations are invited as guests to the Summit and Ministerial Conferences. There is no permanent guest status. Guests are invited on an ad hoc basis to each Summit and Ministerial Meeting. The invitation is issued by the host country after due consideration by the Coordinating Bureau. The current guests of the Movement will be included in the list provided by the Coordinating Bureau. Guests only attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the Conference and do not have the right to attend and participate in the deliberations. The following countries were invited as guests to the XIth Cartagena Summit:
<<Back to Top>> Current NAM Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees: 1. NAM High-Level Working Group for the Restructuring of the United Nations (Chaired by Chairman of NAM).
2. NAM Working Group on Human Rights (Chaired by Malaysia). 3. NAM Working Group on Peace-Keeping Operations (Chaired by Thailand). 4. Ministerial Committee on Methodology (Chaired by Chairman of NAM). 5. NAM Working Group of the Coordinating Bureau on Methodology (Chaired by Colombia). 6. NAM Working Group on Disarmament (Chaired by Indonesia). 7. Committee of Palestine (Chaired by Chairman of NAM). 8. Contact Group on Cyprus (Chaired by Algeria). 9. Task Force on Somalia (Chaired by Chairman of NAM). 10. Task Force on Bosnia and Herzegovina. 11. Non-Aligned Security Council Caucus. 12. Coordinator Countries of the Action Programme for Economic Cooperation (APEC). 13. Standing Ministerial Committee for Economic Cooperation (Chaired by Chairman of NAM). 14. Joint Coordinating Committee - JCC - (Chaired by Chairman of G-77 and Chairman of NAM). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developed,
maintained and hosted by GCIS |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||