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NAM XIII/Summit/KL
Declaration 25 February 2003 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Continuing the
Revitilisation of the Non-Aligned Movement
Date:25 February 2003
We, the Heads of State and
Government of the Non-Aligned Movement, gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
on 24 – 25 February 2003 for the XIII Summit Conference, reaffirmed our
abiding faith in, and strong commitment to, the ideals, principles and
purposes of the Movement, as laid out at the Bandung Conference of 1955,
and the Charter of the United Nations, in our common and continuing
pursuit of establishing a peaceful, prosperous, and a more just and
equitable world order.
The Movement had played an
active, even central role, over the years, on the issues of concern and
vital importance to its members, such as decolonisation, apartheid, the
situation in Palestine and the Middle East, disarmament, poverty
eradication and socio-economic development, among others.
After more than forty years of
its founding, and having undergone many challenges and vicissitudes, it is
timely and appropriate to comprehensively review the role, structure and
work methods of our Movement in keeping with the times and the new
realities, aimed at the further strengthening of our Movement.
With the end of the Cold War,
the emergence of unipolarity, the trend towards unilateralism and the rise
of new challenges and threats, such as international terrorism, it is
imperative for the Movement to promote multilateralism, better defend the
interests of developing countries and prevent their marginalisation.
With increased globalisation and the rapid advance of science and
technology, the world has changed dramatically. The rich and powerful
countries exercise an inordinate influence in determining the nature and
direction of international relations, including economic and trade
relations, as well as the rules governing these relations, many of which
are at the expense of the developing countries. It is imperative,
therefore, that the Movement respond in ways that will ensure its
continued relevance and usefulness to its members.
Globalisation presents many challenges and opportunities to the future and
viability of all states. In its present form, it perpetuates or even
increases the marginalisation of developing countries.
We must ensure that
globalisation will be a positive force for change for all peoples and will
benefit the largest number of countries and not just a few. Globalisation
should lead to the prospering and empowering of the developing countries,
not their continued impoverishment and dependence on the wealthy and
developed world.
The revolution in the Information and Communications Technology is
changing the world at a rapid speed and in a fundamental way, and is
already creating a vast and widening digital divide between the developed
and developing countries, which must be bridged if the latter are to
benefit from the globalisation process.
This new technological
innovation must be made more easily available to the developing countries
in their efforts to modernise and revitalise their economies in pursuit of
their developmental goals.
The achievement of these developmental goals requires an enabling
international environment and the honouring of commitments and pledges
made by states, including our partners in the developed world.
The future presents as many challenges and opportunities as the past and
the Movement must continue to remain strong, cohesive and resilient. The
continued relevance of the Movement will depend, in large measure, on the
unity and solidarity of its members as well as its ability to adapt to
these changes. In this regard, the process of the revitalisation of the
Movement, begun at its previous Summit Meetings, must be given further
impetus.
Consistent with our desire to translate our rhetoric into action, and in
rededicating ourselves to the fundamental principles, purposes and goals
of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, we resolve to make every effort
to:
Enhance our unity, based on our common interests and history of
shared struggles, and persevere with our efforts to ensure that these
interests are continuously promoted and our concerns are fully addressed.
Uphold and adhere to the fundamental principles of the Movement
and the Charter of the United Nations in the preservation and promotion of
world peace through dialogue and diplomacy among states and the avoidance
of the use of force to resolve conflicts.
Promote and strengthen the multilateral process as an
indispensable vehicle in safeguarding the interests of member states of
the Movement as well as those of the United Nations.
Promote the democratisation of the system of international
governance in order to increase the participation of developing countries
in international decision making.
Be pro-active, rather than reactive, to international
developments, especially those that impact on the members of the Movement,
so as to ensure that the Movement is not sidelined but be at the forefront
of the international decision making processes.
Strengthen our national capacities in order to enhance our
individual and collective resilience.
Enhance South-South Cooperation in all areas of our relations,
particularly in the political, social, cultural, economic and scientific
fields.
Promote a more dynamic and cooperative relationship with the
developed and industrialised countries, based on constructive engagement,
broad partnership and mutuality of benefits.
Promote closer interaction and cooperation with organisations of
our civil society, the private sector and parliamentarians on the
recognition that they can play a constructive role towards the attainment
of our common goals.
In pursuit of these goals, Member States of the Movement shall strive to
implement the following concrete measures:-
• Undertake a sound review and analysis of the positions of the Movement
on international issues, with a view to consolidating the common
denominators among member states by focusing on issues that unite rather
than divide us, thereby strengthening the unity and cohesion of the
Movement.
• Review and redefine the role of the Movement and improve its structure
and methodology, including the need for a more focused and concise
documentation, in order to make it more effective and efficient.
• Enhance our coordination and cooperation through regular meetings of
the Coordinating Bureau in New York, as well as in Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi
and other centres, if necessary, with a view to responding, on a timely
basis, to international developments affecting the Movement and its
members.
• Utilise fully and effectively all exisiting mechanisms and
institutions, such as the Troika, the Coordinating Bureau and all existing
working groups, committees, the Non-Aligned Caucus of the Security
Council, and establish new ones, as appropriate.
• Utilise more effectively the regular NAM Foreign Ministers Meetings
through more interactive sessions as well as encourage the interaction and
involvement of other relevant Ministers towards enhancing the
effectiveness and profile of the Movement.
• Strengthen the role of the Chair, as spokesman of the Movement,
through the establishment of appropriate mechanisms as part of the
necessary backup system.
• Strengthen coordination and cooperation, and formulate common
strategies on socio-economic and development-related issues, with the
Group of 77 through regular and more frequent meetings of the Joint
Coordinating Committee (JCC).
• Follow up on decisions made at the United Nations Millennium Assembly
and other international fora, such as the Doha Meeting on international
trade, the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development and the
Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development as imperatives in
addressing the urgent concerns of developing countries, such as poverty
eradication, debt relief, capacity building and HIV/AIDS.
• Expand, deepen and enrich South-South cooperation through enhanced
regional and inter-regional cooperation, undertaking concrete projects and
programmes, pooling of resources, and tapping the contributions of eminent
personalities and institutions of the South.
• Promote and develop mechanisms, including at relevant conferences, for
international cooperation and solidarity in efforts to bridge the digital
divide based on a partnership involving states, civil society and the
private sector.
• Continue to strongly support international programmes for Africa,
particularly through NEPAD, as well as the Least Developed Countries,
Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing Countries.
• Promote constructive dialogue and interaction with our development
partners, particularly the G-8, through existing and appropriate new
mechanisms, including institutionalised contacts, so as to bring about
greater understanding between the North and South and to ensure that the
views of the Movement are fully taken into account before important
decisions affecting developing countries are made.
In realising our goal of revitalising the Non-Aligned Movement, we must
exert every effort towards the promotion of a multipolar world through the
strengthening of the United Nations, as an indispensable international
organisation for the maintenance of international peace and security, the
promotion of human rights, social and economic development and respect for
international law, as enshrined in its Charter.
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