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Communiqué:
Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Movement of
Non-Aligned Countries on 1. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Non-Aligned countries met on 25 September 1997, to coordinate their efforts and establish guidelines to enable the members of the Movement to work in a collective manner on matters of common interest and concern. 2. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation received with appreciation the report of the Chairman on the activities of the Movement since the XII Ministerial Conference held in New Delhi on 7 and 8 April, 1997, which contributed to the strengthening and to the promotion of the unity and solidarity among the members of the Movement. 3. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation commended the outcome of the meeting of Ministers in charge of Culture of the Movement of Non Aligned Countries held in Medellin, Colombia on 4 and 5 of September, 1997. They commended also the Chairmanship of the Movement for the establishment of the Ad Hoc Panel of Economists of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, in accordance with the mandate given by the Ministerial Meeting held in New Delhi on 7 and 8 April, 1997. 4. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed their satisfaction with regards to the meetings of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs from the former Chair-Countries of Non Aligned Movement (NAM), as well as the tasks performed by the representatives from Colombia, as current NAM Chair-country, Indonesia, as former NAM Chairman, and South Africa, as future NAM Chair-Country, to enhance the role of the Movement and promote the dialogue with the developed countries. They agreed upon the importance of giving continuity to those support mechanisms. In this regard, they underlined the importance of the participation of all members of the Movement through the NAM Coordinating Bureau, in shaping the agenda of these meetings. They also agreed that the outcome of the meetings be timely reported to the Coordinating Bureau. 5. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation took note of the Russian-Chinese joint statement issued in Moscow on April 22, 1997 and the Chinese-French joint statement issued in Beijing on May 15, 1997. They welcomed the ideas contained in the statements, of not accepting a unipolar world order and they called for the establishment of a multipolar world order. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation called on the Movement to consolidate this trend with a view to create a just international system based on the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and democratization of relations among the member states of the international community. 6. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed their satisfaction regarding the message conveyed by H.E. Ernesto Samper Pizano, Chairman of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, to H.E. William J. Clinton, Chairman of the Summit of the G-8 held in Denver, in keeping with the mandate contained in "The Call from Colombia", adopted by the Heads of State or Government at the Eleventh Summit and as elaborated in the final document of the XII Ministerial meeting held in New Delhi. They emphasized the importance for the Movement to continue its consultations with the G-8 with a view to promote a meaningful and productive dialogue so as to reach better understanding and to respond more positively to the development aspirations of the developing countries. 7. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation acknowledged the importance of the initiatives as contained in the report of the Secretary-General entitled: "Renewing the United Nations: A Programme for Reform" which contains proposals that cover diverse aspects of the functioning of the organization. They pointed out that there are certain measures and proposals in the Report of the Secretary-General that deserve the support of the Movement and others that require further elaboration, refinement and discussion. The relevant issues will be the subject of pronouncements in the General Assembly. 8. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation agreed to thoroughly consider and review all elements of the reform proposal through agreed inter-governmental mechanism(s). They reiterated the readiness of the Movement to actively and constructively contribute to this process. 9. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation underscored that the reform process should preserve and promote the centrality and sanctity of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and General Assembly mandates. It should also enable the Organization to fulfil its promise and meet the challenges of contemporary times. <<Back to Top>>10. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation noted the adoption of Resolution A/51/241 by the General Assembly as recommended in the Final Report of the High Level Open-Ended Working Group on the Strengthening of the United Nations System, and called upon the relevant intergovernmental bodies to implement fully the measures specified in the text to strengthen the work of the United Nations System, in particular of the General Assembly and the Secretariat. 11. In this regard, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation welcomed with appreciation the decisions adopted to strengthen and revitalize the role of the General Assembly, as the highest deliberative and decision-making organ of the United Nations in which all Member States equally participate, specially those related to the consideration by the General Assembly of the reports of other main organs, in particular the report of the Security Council and the Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization as an important step towards a meaningful and sustained interaction between the General Assembly and the Security Council. 12. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation also expressed their satisfaction for the numerous decisions adopted by the General Assembly in regard to the Secretariat, including the selection process of the Secretary-General, in which the General Assembly will now be able to recommend to the Security Council a list of possible candidates. Nevertheless, they deplored that fact that the Working Group could not achieve consensus regarding the recommendation to the Permanent Members of the Security Council not to use the veto in the selection process of the Secretary-General. 13. As agreed at the XII Ministerial Conference held in New Delhi on 7-8 April, 1997, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation comprehensively reviewed discussions on the reform and restructuring of the Security Council, in the light of the position papers adopted by the Movement on 13 February 1995, 20 May 1996, the NAM negotiating paper dated 11 March, 1997, the decisions of the Cartegena Summit and those adopted on this matter at the above mentioned Ministerial Conference. 14. In conformity with the New Delhi Declaration regarding the necessity to attain general agreement, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed their determination to faithfully comply with the provisions of Article 108 of the Charter with respect to any resolution with Charter amendment implications. 15. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of
Delegation recalled that discussions in the Open-Ended Working Group on the Question of
Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and
other matters related to the Security Council have shown that while a convergence of views
has emerged on a number of issues, important differences still exist on many others. They
noted that the Open-Ended Working Group has resumed its discussions and underlined the
necessity of the Movement maintaining its unity and solidarity on this critical issue.
They reaffirmed that the Movement should, in the ensuing negotiations, continue to pursue
directives given by the Cartagena Summit and contained in the Movement's position papers.
The Movement would be guided by the following considerations in approaching the issue of
Security Council reform in discussions at the UN: 16. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed that efforts at restructuring the Security Council shall not be subject to any imposed time-frame. While recognizing the importance of treating this issue as a matter of urgent attention, no effort should be made to decide this issue before general agreement is reached. <<Back to Top>>17. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the NAM proposal that if there is no agreement on other categories of membership, expansion should take place only, for the time being, in the non-permanent category. 18. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the NAM proposal that the veto should be curtailed with a view to its elimination and that the Charter should be amended so that, as a first step, the veto power should only apply to actions taken under Chapter VII of the Charter. 19. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation underlined the need for a coherent and coordinated approach by the Movement in the ensuing discussions in the Open-ended Working Group. They, mindful of the importance of reaching general agreement, as reflected, inter alia, in UNGA resolution 48/26, called for fuller discussions of various proposals submitted to the Working Group. 20. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation stressed the importance of enhancing the transparency of the Security Council through the improvement of its working methods and its decision-making process. They called on the Open-Ended Working Group to agree on and the General Assembly to recommend specific and substantive measures to be implemented by the Security Council based on the measures proposed in the NAM negotiating paper on Cluster II issues. They also urged the Security Council to institutionalise such measures, and stressed that a commitment to institutionalize them should be an element of a package agreement on the reform of the Security Council. 21. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed their satisfaction for the fact that the General Assembly had exercised its role and responsibility more effectively in maintaining international peace and security in accordance with resolution 377 of the General Assembly of 3 November 1950, titled: "Uniting for Peace", which led to the convening of the Tenth Emergency Special Session on "Illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory as called for by the XII Ministerial Conference of the Movement. 22. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reiterated the need to strengthen the role of the General Assembly in the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter. 23. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation welcomed the adoption of Resolution A/51/242 by the General Assembly as recommended by the Open-Ended Working Group on An Agenda for Peace. They agreed on the need of the UN to implement immediately the decisions as contained in the annexes of the said resolution particularly in the area of United Nations imposed Sanctions. They also noted the request made to the President of the General Assembly to consult on the possibility of continuing the activities of the informal Open-Ended Working Group on An Agenda for Peace in the areas of Post-conflict Peace-building and Preventive diplomacy and Peacemaking on the basis of the work already accomplished in these areas and with a view to concluding its work. 24. They also recognized that, without any prejudice to the competence of the other main organs of the United Nations and their respective roles in the promotion of post-conflict peace-building, the General Assembly plays the key role in activities related to post conflict peace building. In this regard, they recognized as well, the importance of the concerted actions of international agencies to support actively national programmes for reconstruction and rehabilitation, including the promotion of a culture of peace which paved the way for the achievement of economic and social development. 25. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and the Heads of Delegation reiterated that the UN has a primary responsibility for the maintenance of the international peace and security, and there should be no derogation from this primary responsibility. Regional arrangements and agencies can make important contributions in this regard in accordance with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, including where appropriate to peacekeeping. 26. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and the Heads of Delegation observed that efforts should continue to be made, taking into account the interests of all members of the Movement, to evolve a common position on the remaining elements of "An Agenda for Peace" and its Supplement. 27. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed concern over the increasing occurrence of the term "preventive action" in a number of UN publications without an agreed definition of this term nor the clarification of its implications. <<Back to Top>>28. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed their satisfaction that the United Nations had finally adopted a uniform compensation scale for the cases of death and disability for troops in the service of peacekeeping operations. 29. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed concern at the continued borrowing of money from the peacekeeping fund for the regular budget resulting in the delay of payment to the troop-contributing countries, specially the developing countries. They emphasized the urgent need to find a solution to the delays in reimbursement to troop and contingent-owned-equipment-providing countries for peacekeeping operations, in particular the non-aligned and other developing countries. 30. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the need for the UN to differentiate between peacekeeping operations and humanitarian assistance. 31. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed their concern over the deteriorating financial situation of the Organization, mainly due to the non-compliance with provisions of the Charter by some developed countries by not paying their full assessed contributions to the regular budget and to peacekeeping operations. They called upon all countries in arrears to settle their outstanding dues without further delay and to pay their future assessments on time, in full and without imposing preconditions. In awarding procurement contracts, preference should be given to Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Organization. 32. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation regretted that after more than two years of deliberations, the High Level Open-ended Working Group on the financial situation of the United Nations, created under Resolution 49/143, did not accomplish its assigned task of recommending concrete measures that could guarantee a solid and viable financial foundation to the Organization. 33. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the principle of capacity to pay as a fundamental criteria in the apportionment of the expenses of the Organization. They urged that the scale of assessments for the period 1998-2000 take into consideration the economic conditions of the developing countries. They considered unacceptable any unilateral attempt to modify the scale of assessment through conditionalities which are contrary to the United Nations Charter. They considered that reduction in the ceiling for the scale of assessments in the regular budget will further distort the principle of capacity to pay and is not acceptable. 34. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegations stressed on the need to adopt, on a permanent basis, the principles approved by the General Assembly in its resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963 and 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 for the apportionment of the expenses for peacekeeping operations. They also emphasized the special responsibility of the States Members of the Security Council in the financing of such operations. 35. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reiterated the continued validity of the fundamental right of all peoples to self-determination the exercise of which, in the case of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation, is essential to ensure the eradication of all these situations and to guarantee universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They strongly condemned ongoing brutal suppression of the legitimate aspirations for self-determination of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation in various regions of the world. 36. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of observed with satisfaction the emergence into sovereign statehood and independence of peoples once under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation. They reaffirmed the inalienable right of peoples of non-self-governing territories to self-determination and independence in accordance with UNGA resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 regardless of the territory's size, geographical location, population and limited natural resources. They renewed their commitment to hasten the complete elimination of colonialism and supported the effective implementation of the Plan of Action of the Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. In this respect, the principle of self-determination with respect to the remaining territories within the framework of the Programme of Action should be implemented in accordance with the wishes of the people consistent with UNGA resolutions and the Charter of the United Nations. 37. In the context of the implementation of UNGA resolution 1514 (XV), the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reiterated that any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. <<Back to Top>>38. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed once again their support for the convening of the Fourth Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament. In that connection, they instructed the Coordinating Bureau to entrust the Working Group on Disarmament with the task of pursuing the holding of the fourth Special Session at an appropriate time and the related coordination during the preparatory process. 39. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the importance of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral negotiating body in disarmament. 40. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation called on the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on priority, an ad hoc committee to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified framework of time, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention. They also insisted on the need to conclude a universal and legally binding multilateral agreement committing all States to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In this context they regretted that some nuclear weapons states had adopted inflexible postures which prevented the Conference on Disarmament from commencing these negotiations. 41. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation urged Nuclear Weapons States to agree to commence the negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a legally binding international instrument to provide unconditional assurances to all non-nuclear weapons states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. 42. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation urged Nuclear Weapon States to agree to commence negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a legally binding international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances, pending the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. 43. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the States Parties welcomed the increasing number of ratifications of the Chemical Weapons Convention and invited once again the declared possessor of chemical weapons who has still not ratified it to do it as soon as possible with the view to its universality. They also underlined the urgency of satisfactorily resolving the unresolved issues in the framework of OPCW with a view to paving the ground for the effective, full and indiscriminate implementation of the Convention. 44. In the context of ongoing deliberations to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention (BCW), the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation emphasized that, given the importance of biotechnology for economic development, any verification regime of the Biological Weapons Convention should contain specific provisions to safeguard the security and economic interests of developing countries, parties to the BCW. The strengthening of the BCW should provide for ensured access for peaceful purposes to the relevant material, equipment and technologies for their economic growth. While asserting that the Biological Weapons Convention inherently precludes the use of biological weapons, they emphasized their support for the explicit prohibition of the use of these weapons in the Convention. In this connection they noted that the Islamic republic of Iran has formally presented a proposal to amend article 1 of the title of the Convention to include the prohibition of use of biological weapons and urged an early reply from the states signatories to the inquiries by the depositories on this proposal. 45. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of States Parties to the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) called upon all States, particularly the nuclear weapon states, to fulfil their commitments, particularly those related to Article VI of the Treaty. They called upon the Preparatory Commissions up to and including the 2000 Review Conference of the NPT to engage immediately in substantive work for the meaningful implementation of the obligations under the Treaty and the commitments in the 1995 Principles and Objectives document. 46. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed particular concern over the illicit transfer and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and their accumulation in many countries, which constituted a threat to the population and to national and regional security and were a factor contributing to destabilization of States. They urged States to take steps to deal effectively, through administrative and legislative means, with the increasing problem of illicit transfers of weapons, particularly small arms, which exacerbate tensions leading to strife, conflict and terrorism and impact negatively on the socio-economic development of affected countries. In this regard, they welcomed the adoption of guidelines in 1996 for international arms transfers in the context of General Assembly resolution 46/36H of 6 September 1991 by the United Nations Disarmament Commission. <<Back to Top>>47. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation stressed the importance of transparency in armaments in view of the dangerous consequences to the international peace and security of the development, production and stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and the excessive production of conventional arms. 48. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation welcomed the various bans, moratoria and other restrictions already declared by States on anti-personnel landmines and the growing consensus against the indiscriminate use and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. They also took note of the efforts to eliminate them as early as possible. In this regard, they welcomed the decision taken by the Central American countries to constitute the region as an anti-personnel landmines free zone. They underlined that any negotiations and/or agreements to ban landmines should take into account the legitimate national security concerns of States as well as their legitimate rights to use appropriate measures for self-defense. They called for urgent and specific measures to ensure that affected countries had full access to material, equipment, technology and financial resources for mine clearance. Access to non-lethal technologies being developed to perform the legitimate defensive role of landmines would help generate support for their elimination. They also called for continued humanitarian assistance for victims of landmines. 49. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation took note of the adoption of the text of the Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel landmines and their destruction, in Oslo on September 19, 1997. 50. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation commended the work carried out by the NAM Working Group on Disarmament and entrusted it with the task of favourably considering the presentation of draft resolutions on the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, on the relationship between disarmament and development, on the observance of environmental norms in the context of disarmament, and on the revitalization of work and reform of the agenda of the First Committee. 51. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed that global and regional approaches to disarmament are complementary and could be pursued simultaneously. They urged States in various regions of the world to negotiate agreements to promote greater balance in conventional armaments and restraint in the production and acquisition of conventional arms and, where necessary, for their progressive and balanced reduction, with the view to enhancing international and regional peace and security. They stressed that the peaceful resolution of regional and inter-state disputes is essential for the creation of conditions which would enable States to divert their resources from armaments to economic growth and development. Regional disarmament initiatives to be practical, needed to take into account the special characteristics of each region and enhance the security of every State of the region concerned. The question of accumulation of conventional weapons beyond the legitimate requirements of States for self-defense should also be addressed, taking into account the special characteristics of each region. 52. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation considered the establishment of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) as a positive step towards attaining the objective of global Nuclear Disarmament. They urged States to conclude agreements with a view to creating nuclear-weapon-free zones in regions where they do not exist, in accordance with the provisions of the Final Document of SSOD-1. In this context, they welcomed the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones established by the Treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba. The Ministers considered the question of the establishment of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones in other parts of the world and agreed that this should be on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned and in conformity with the provisions of the Final Document of SSOD-1. The Ministers welcomed the effort of Mongolia to institutionalize its status as a single State nuclear-weapon-free zone. 53. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reiterated their support for the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction. To this end, they reaffirmed the need for the speedy establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions adopted by consensus. They called upon all parties concerned to take urgent and practical steps towards the establishment of such a zone and, pending its establishment, they called on Israel, the only country in the region that has not joined the NPT nor declared its intention to do so, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) without delay, and to place promptly all its nuclear facilities under full-scope IAEA safeguards. They expressed great concern over the acquisition of nuclear capability by Israel which poses a serious and continuing threat to the security of neighbouring and other States and they condemned Israel for continuing to develop and stockpile nuclear arsenals. Stability cannot be achieved in a region where massive imbalances in military capabilities are maintained particularly through the possession of nuclear weapons which allow one party to threaten its neighbours and the region. They further welcomed the initiative by H.E. Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, on the establishment of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. They stressed that necessary steps should be taken in different international fora for the establishment of this zone. They also called for the total and complete prohibition of the transfer of all nuclear-related equipment, information, material and facilities, resources or devices and the extension of assistance in the nuclear-related scientific or technological fields to Israel. <<Back to Top>>54. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation stated that in order to enhance international security and stability, all States Parties to non-proliferation, arms limitations and disarmament treaties should comply with and implement all provisions of such treaties. They emphasized that questions of non-compliance by States Parties should be resolved in a manner consistent with such treaties and international law. They further emphasized that any deviation from the role envisaged for the Security Council under the UN Charter or in certain circumstances under multilateral treaties on non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament would undermine the provisions of these treaties and conventions, including the inherent mechanisms for securing redress of violations of their provisions. Such deviations would also call into question the value of painstaking multilateral negotiations on disarmament and arms control treaties in the Conference on Disarmament. They underlined that circumventing or undermining the provisions of existing treaties will seriously prejudice the role of the Conference. 55. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation noted with concern that undue restrictions on export to developing countries of material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes persist. They emphasized that proliferation concerns are best addressed through multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive and non-discriminatory agreements. Non-proliferation control arrangements should be transparent and open to participation by all States and should ensure that they do not impose restrictions on access to material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes required by developing countries for their continued development. 56. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed their great concern at the acts of terrorism and subversion which, under various pretexts and disguises, result in the most flagrant violation of human rights and seek to destabilize the prevailing constitutional order and political unity of sovereign States. 57. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation welcomed with satisfaction the adoption by the General Assembly of the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism (UNGA Resolution 49/60) and urged that it be implemented. They reiterated their condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, as they have adverse consequences, inter alia on the economy and social development of States. They declared that terrorism also affects the stability of nations and the very basis of societies, especially pluralistic societies. They also called for the urgent conclusion and the effective implementation of a comprehensive international convention for combating terrorism. 58. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation further urged all States to cooperate to enhance international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, wherever by whoever against whomever it occurs, at the national, regional and international levels, and to observe and implement the relevant international and bilateral instruments, taking into account the Final Document of the UN Conference on the Prevention of Crime held in Cairo in 1995. 59. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation affirmed that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for whatever purposes are in any circumstance unjustifiable, whatever the considerations or factors that may be invoked to justify them. 60. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed that all States are under the obligation pursuant to the purposes and principles and other provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and other relevant international instruments codes of conduct and other rules of international law to refrain from organizing, assisting or participating in terrorist acts in the territories of other States or acquiescing in or encouraging activities within the territories directed towards the commission of such acts, including allowing the use of national territories and territories under their jurisdiction for planning and training for that purpose. They solemnly reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of any political, diplomatic, moral or material support to terrorism. 61. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the Movement's principled position under the international law on the legitimacy of struggle of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation for national liberation and self-determination which did not constitute terrorism. 62. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation called once again for the endorsement in principle of the call for the definition of terrorism to differentiate it from the legitimate struggle of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation, for self-determination and national liberation. <<Back to Top>>63. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation stressed the need to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations regardless of race, religion or nationality of the victims or perpetrators of terrorism. 64. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation also emphasized that the taking of hostages, wherever and by whomever committed, constitutes a serious obstacle to the full enjoyment of all human rights and is, under any circumstances, unjustifiable. They therefore called upon States to take all necessary measures to prevent, combat and punish acts of hostage taking, including strengthening international cooperation in this field. 65. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the positions taken by the Eleventh Summit in Cartagena as well as the Twelfth Ministerial Conference in New Delhi on the Question of Palestine and Situation in the Middle East. They expressed their deep concern over the serious deterioration of the Middle East peace process and the increased tension in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and in the region as a whole as a result of the policies and actions of the current Israeli government. They reaffirmed their position with regard to the illegal Israeli settlements and other projects in the occupied territories. They supported the recommendation contained in resolution ES-10/3 (15 July 1997) to convene a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and to ensure its respect. They agreed that the Israeli participation in the work of the General Assembly must be in conformity with international law and that Palestinian participation should reflect recent important developments on the Palestinian scene. 66. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reiterated their support for the rights of the Palestinian People, including the right to have their own state, and they reiterated their demand for the withdrawal of Israel from all Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967. They also reiterated their support for the Middle East peace process started in Madrid, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 425 and the principle of land for peace. They called for the implementation of the agreements reached between the Palestinian and Israel sides. They also called for the respect of all commitments and pledges made during the peace talks between Syria and Israel and for the resumption of these talks from the point at which they stopped. While expressing their deep concern over the repeated Israeli aggression against Lebanon, they called for Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon and the West Bekaa in accordance with Security Council resolution 425, and to fully respect the independence, sovereignty and integrity of Lebanon. 67. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed all previous positions and declarations of the Non-Aligned Movement on the question of Cyprus and proceeding from the position that the present status quo in Cyprus, established through the use of force and sustained by military strength, is unacceptable, expressed their grave concern at the latest threats of the use of force against Cyprus and attempts to integrate the occupied areas with Turkey. They expressed their deep regret and disappointment of the positions taken by the Turkish side at the recent UN talks and commended President Clerides Glafcos in his efforts to achieve successful results at the talks, as expressed on 20 August 1997 by the President of the Security Council. They called for the intensification of efforts towards finding a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem based on the implementation of all United Nations resolutions on Cyprus and NAM's decisions in accordance with the principles and positions of the United Nations Charter and the rules of international law. To that end, they stressed the need that the Security Council should take resolute action and the necessary measures including steps for the demilitarization of Cyprus as proposed by the President of Cyprus. 68. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reviewed the developments that occurred in the Mediterranean region since the Cartagena Summit. They reaffirmed their determination to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations in the promotion of comprehensive and equitable cooperation in the region in resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region, in the elimination of the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and security. They stressed that respect for the right to self-determination, elimination of foreign occupation and foreign bases, non-interference in the internal affairs and respect for the sovereignty of States are prerequisites for the establishment of peace and stability in the Mediterranean region. <<Back to Top>>69. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation welcomed the various initiatives advanced to promote Mediterranean cooperation and security as reflected in the relevant paragraphs of the Final Document of Cartagena. In welcoming the decision taken by the IPU Second Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean to set up an association of Mediterranean States, they stressed the conviction that parliaments should be actively involved in bringing the peoples of the Mediterranean region closer together. 70. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation took note of the ongoing Euro-Mediterranean process and welcomed the holding of the Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers Meeting in Malta on 15 and 16 April 1997 and the Mediterranean Forum in Algiers on 16 July 1997. In this regard, they recognized that prospects for a closer Euro-Mediterranean partnership in all its fields would enhance such process and would benefit from the participation of all Mediterranean States in strengthening cooperation in the region. 71. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation commended the efforts of the Non-Aligned Mediterranean countries in meeting the emerging multiple challenges heightened by terrorist activities and organized criminal activity, including drug trafficking, money laundering and illegal migration, which are posing a serious threat to security and stability in the region. In this context, they committed themselves to strengthen further their cooperation with the view to eliminating these threats and thus enhancing the current political, economic and social situation in the Mediterranean region. 72. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed deep concern over the lack of a lasting solution to the political crisis in Somalia. They welcomed the recent developments in particular the conclusion of the Sodere (Ethiopia) Agreement of 3 January 1997 and the establishment of a national salvation council as an encouraging step towards peace and national reconciliation in the country. They emphasized the importance of achieving an all-inclusive political settlement of the conflict in Somalia. They called on all Somali movements to join the ongoing peace process and to find a lasting solution to the conflict in their country. They expressed full support for the proposed National Reconciliation Conference to be held in Bossasso, Somalia. They appealed to the international community to provide political, material and financial assistance to ensure the success of the Bossasso Conference, including by establishing a UN Trust Fund on Somalia as recommended by the Secretary General of the United Nations. They noted with appreciation the efforts of the Organization of African Unity, in particular the countries of IGAD (Inter-governmental Authority for Development), in the search for peace and stability in Somalia. They also noted with appreciation the efforts of the League of Arab States towards Somali national reconciliation. 73. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reconfirmed the position of the Movement as contained in paragraph 163 of the Final Document of the Eleventh Summit in Cartagena. They expressed concern at the non-acceptance by the three Western countries of the appeals of regional and international organizations and their efforts to reach a peaceful settlement based on the principles of international law. They also affirmed that the measures imposed on Libya are no longer justifiable, and urged the Security Council to expeditiously review the air embargo and the other measures imposed on Libya with a view to lifting them. They further underlined that the escalation of the crisis, the threat to impose additional sanctions and the use of force as a means of conducting relations among States are a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement. They reiterated their support for the proposals submitted jointly by the Organization of African Unity and the League of Arab States, as contained in the declaration of the 65th regular session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity held in Tripoli from 24-28 February 1997. These proposals are as follows: Option 1: To hold the trial of the two suspects in a third and neutral country to be determined by the Security Council. Option 2: To have the two suspects tried by Scottish judges at the International Court of Justice ICJ at the Hague, in accordance with Scottish law. Option 3: To establish a special criminal tribunal at the ICJ headquarters in the Hague to try the two suspects. They called for refraining from resorting to the imposition of sanctions unless a real threat to international peace and security exists and only after all other peaceful means for settling the dispute have been exhausted. They also called for the refraining from adopting measures in the economic, financial, transportation and communication fields, due to their serious and inhumane effects on the people and should reflect the views of the General Assembly. The General Assembly is the only forum that reflects the position of all Member states. Where the imposition of sanctions is inevitable, they should be limited in their duration. After which, a decision should be made whether a consensus for their renewal exists and also serious consideration should be given to lift similar sanctions that are in place. <<Back to Top>>74. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed its serious concern with the pace of the peace process in Angola due to the failure by UNITA to meet its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol and strongly urged this organization to do so expeditiously. They fully supported the Security Council decision contained in its resolution 1127/97 to apply further sanctions against UNITA unless the latter takes concrete and irreversible steps to comply with all its obligations. 75. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the positions in the New Delhi Final Document concerning the analysis of the international situation, including the situation in South-East Asia. In this regard, they emphasized the need to resolve all sovereignty and jurisdictional disputes concerning the South China Sea by peaceful means and without resort to force. 76. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed their rejection of evaluations, certifications and other coercive unilateral measures as a means of exerting pressure on Non-Aligned Countries and other developing countries. In this context they reiterated their view that coercive unilateral measures and legislation are contrary to international law, the United Nations Charter and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among states and furthermore, they also rejected the present trend geared at their strengthening and expansion. They expressed, once again, their concern over the extraterritorial nature of those measures which, in addition, threatens the sovereignty of States. They called upon States applying unilateral coercive measures to put an immediate end to those measures. 77. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reiterated their deep concern about new legislation aimed at intensifying the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba and widening its extraterritorial nature. They further reiterated the views expressed on Cuba at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference held in New Delhi. 78. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation stressed that current trends of globalization and liberalization have had a variable impact on economies of developing countries. While there has been some progress in some countries, a large number of NAM Member States continue to suffer from economic stagnation and marginalization. They also reiterated their deep concern over the fact that developing countries are shouldering a disproportionate share of the adjustment burden, taking into consideration the rapid changes and transformations of the world economy. They noted with concern that the gap between rich and poor countries continued to widen. They also noted the need for a new global human order aimed at reversing the growing disparities between rich and poor, both among and within countries through the alleviation of poverty, expansion of productive employment and enhancement of social integration. 79. Developed countries have had long periods for harmonizing social welfare with economic competition. Developing countries, however, have been driven to accommodate the adjustment process. Globalization and the increasing liberalization have made the external environment for development crucial, particularly since developing countries have become more vulnerable to fluctuations in international trade, financial and monetary flows as well as to technology changes and information distortion. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation stressed that the international community should adopt appropriate measures to address this situation, thereby ensuring that the benefits of globalization are shared by all countries. 80. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation noted the completion of the work of the special open-ended ad hoc Working Group on an Agenda for Development and for its report which contains basic guidelines to meet the challenges of development. They urged that the role of the United Nations in promoting international cooperation for economic development be strengthened. They reiterated their support to UN bodies, programmes, funds and specialized agencies which serve the developmental objectives of developing countries. The reactivation and strengthening of international cooperation for development is necessary in order to facilitate the larger participation of developing countries in the world economy. They stressed the need for more effective and enhanced participation in the world economy by developing countries, notably in international and economic decision and rule making. They emphasized the need for facilitating the accession of developing countries applying for the membership of the WTO and for eliminating all political considerations in this regard. 81. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation underlined the need for strong political commitment by the international community for the successful implementation of the Agenda for Development. They also stressed the importance of mobilizing adequate resources for the implementation so that it can contribute effectively to diminish existing imbalances and guarantee accelerated and sustained economic growth in the developing countries. To ensure the effective implementation of the Agenda, the Ministers urged that the follow-up and assessment mechanism of the Agenda be seriously undertaken by the General Assembly. They also stressed the importance of dialogue on strengthening international cooperation for development through partnership based on the mutuality of interests and benefits, shared responsibilities and genuine interdependence. <<Back to Top>>82. Recognizing that trade, investment and technology continue to be the key elements for economic development, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation also called for further liberalization and increased access for the products and services where developing countries have a comparative advantage, and access to transfer of technology on concessional terms and for regimes on investment and technology taking into account the special circumstances and needs for development. 83. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation stressed that the eradication of poverty through sustained and accelerated economic growth continue to remain the overriding priority for developing countries. They stressed the need for a supportive international economic and financial environment to address long-term problems of poverty and underdevelopment. 84. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed their concern for the evident lack of political will by the developed countries to revitalize international cooperation for development. They recognized that ODA continues to constitute an important source of financial flow for many developing countries, particularly LDCs. In this context, they expressed their deep concern on the reduction in official development assistance and called on the developed countries to ensure the fulfilment of their commitment to meet the United Nations target of 0.7% of their GNP as official development assistance for the developing countries. 85. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed the need to establish an open, rule based, accountable, predictable, just, equitable, comprehensive and non-discriminatory global system of economic relations, specially at a time when developing countries are actively engaged in the process of liberalization and integration into the global economy. They urged the developed countries to undertake necessary structural adjustments and refrain from protectionist tendencies against competitive imports from developing countries and against FDI outflows to them, in the interest of new growth opportunities. 86. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation urged the developed countries to : a) Urgently implement the Uruguay Round Agreements,
specially in areas of export interest to developing countries. 87. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation, while recognizing the advancements made on measures towards the relief of external debt of developing countries, underscored the need to strengthen these measures. They urged developed countries to provide the necessary financial contributions for the debt relief, including the necessary resources to finance the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility. They also urged creditor countries to facilitate the implementation of the initiative for debt reduction, by widening the number of eligible countries and making more flexible the established conditions, particularly in relation to the adjustment period necessary for the debtor countries to become eligible. They also underlined the need to take decisive steps aimed at substantially reducing official bilateral debts through their cancellation or writing off. They also urged certain developed countries to immediately eliminate all political measures prohibiting the access of some developing countries to the resources of the international financial institutions. 88. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed their deep concern at the declining rate of growth of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as a group in 1996 compared to 1995 with no sign of change in this trend, in spite of the broad structural and economic reforms measures undertaken by them. During this period the debt burden for the LDCs increased considerably while the flow of Foreign Direct Investment remained insignificant. 89. In view of negative impact on the economic growth of the LDCs resulting from the fall in ODA, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation called upon all donor countries to live up to their commitments to achieve the internationally agreed target of 0.15% of the GNP as ODA to the LDCs as soon as possible. They noted that given the overwhelming dependence of the LDCs on the external assistance for their capacity building, establishment of basic institutional infrastructure and strengthening of potential to attract foreign direct investment, the uninterrupted and promised level of flow of ODA was essential to economic growth. <<Back to Top>>90. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation noted that the LDCs have been marginalized in world trade with their share being only 0.04% of the volume of the international trade and emphasized the need for urgently removing all tariff barriers to products from LDCs to the industrialized markets to rectify this imbalance. 91. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation noted that in a number of crucial areas the negotiated results of the Uruguay Round fell short of the expectations of the developing countries and that they had yet to realize the expected benefits, welfare increases and better market access. They regretted that the implementation of the Uruguay Round results in areas of export interest to developing countries has been inadequate and tardy. Trading opportunities of developing countries were sought to be neutralized by the use of protectionist measures, including those taken unilaterally and in the guise of technical standards, environmental, social, or human-rights-related concerns. They agreed that developing countries should consult closely while formulating their positions on the issues being addressed by the WTO. In this regard, they urged developing countries to work together to elaborate a forward looking agenda for future trade negotiations which would incorporate issues of concern to the developing countries, and would thereby enable them to take the initiative in any future rounds of negotiations. 92. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation evaluated the outcome of the Special Session of the United Nations for the purpose of an overall review and appraisal of the Implementation of Agenda 21 and, in this regard, they expressed their disappointment at the lack of progress made in achieving the goals set at the Earth Summit, due particularly to the fact that the developed countries have not yet met their obligations of providing new and additional financial resources along with transferring technology on concessional and preferential terms to the developing countries. 93. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation recognized the importance of the Barbados Programme of Action in identifying and addressing the problems and vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States SIDS, and reiterated the call for the support of the international community in the implementation of this programme of action. In this regard, they welcomed the comprehensive review of the SIDS Programme of Action scheduled for 1999 and the decision of the 19th Special Session of the General Assembly to hold a two day special session in 1999. 94. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation called for the second replenishment of the Global Environmental Facility's (GEF) resources to result in a substantial increase of the GEF's total resources in order to guarantee the full realization of the GEF's objectives. They underscored the importance of simplifying the GEF's procedures in terms of project cycle and approval in order to facilitate access by developing countries to the GEF's resources. 95. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation welcomed the convening of the first Conference of the Parties to the International Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, to be held from 29 September to 10 October, 1997. They called upon the international community to take measures towards the complete and effective implementation of this agreement, including through the establishment of an independent financial mechanism for the Convention which benefits from its own resources. 96. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation observed with special interest the convening of the third period of sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held between 1 and 12 December, 1997, and expressed their confidence that the outcome of the Conference will contribute effectively to the provision of technical and financial assistance to developing countries. 97. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed concern over the lack of implementation of the outcomes of the recent United Nations conferences and summits, due mainly to the failure of the international community/developed countries to fulfil their commitments for new and additional resources, the transfer of technology to developing countries as well as those related to enhanced access to the markets of the developed countries. 98. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen south-south cooperation. They reiterated that south-south cooperation is an essential mechanism for promoting accelerated economic growth and development and self-reliance, giving a greater dynamism to the world economy, and promoting the restructuring of the international economic relations. While recognizing the importance of the Uruguay Round and other regional agreements as well as their implementation they expressed their conviction that south-south cooperation is an important means for developing countries to benefit from them. <<Back to Top>>99. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed paragraph 259 of the New Delhi Final Document and in this regard, reiterated the need for a holistic approach through the entire life cycle of women in promoting the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls, including the empowerment of women and economic interdependence of women. They pledged themselves to combat all forms of discrimination against women, and to support measures to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against girls and women. They stressed the need to promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective at national and multilateral levels, including in the design, monitoring and evaluation of all policies, as appropriate, in order to ensure effective implementation of the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women. 100. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed section E of Chapter IV of the New Delhi Final Document on the Situation of Children, in particular their concern at the intolerable social and economic conditions faced by children and the continued exploitation of children for pornography and prostitution and drug trafficking as well as at the suffering of the refugee and displaced children. They reiterated their call for urgent steps, in particular international cooperation, to address these problems. They also urged all the remaining members who had not done so to ratify or accede to the Convention on the Rights of the Child without further delay. 101. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation welcomed the convening of a Special Session of the UN General Assembly in 1998 dedicated to the fight against the illicit production, sale, demand, trafficking, and distribution of drugs and psychotropic substances and drug related offenses. In this regard, they reaffirmed their determination to achieving concrete results on all the objectives set out in resolutions 51/64 for the Special Session, on the basis of the principle of shared responsibility for addressing the demand and supply aspects of drug trafficking. They also reiterated the commitment undertaken at the Eleventh Summit to strengthen international cooperation to eradicate the growing and dangerous links between terrorist groups, which have resorted to all types of violence, thus undermining the democratic institutions of States and violating basic human rights. They called for the adoption of effective measures to restrict the smuggling of guns which is linked to the drug trade and which is generating unacceptable levels of crime and violence affecting the national security and the economies of many States. 102. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation underscored the importance of activities to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which coincides with the five year evaluation of the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. They were of the view that this was an excellent opportunity to assess progress achieved and obstacles to the full implementation of both documents. 103. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation stressed that the human rights issues must be addressed within the global context through a constructive dialogue based approach, with objectivity, respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, impartiality and non-selectivity as the guiding principles, taking into account the political, historical, social, religious and cultural characteristics of each country. Exploitation of human rights for political purposes including selective targeting of individual countries for extraneous considerations, should be excluded. They emphasized that the coordination of human rights activities must be carried out by United Nations organs, bodies and specialized agencies, whose activities deal with human rights. 104. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation expressed their deep concern at the lack of progress in the negotiations in the Third Committee Working Group on the adaptation of the UN human rights machinery mandated by paragraph 17 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action which they attributed to a lack of political will on the part of developed countries. They also expressed concern at the tendency of imposing a particular agenda and monitoring approaches at the expense of the role of development and international cooperation in the overall promotion and protection of human rights. 105. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed their determination to promote and protect all human rights including the right to development. 106. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation reaffirmed that all forms of racism and xenophobia constitute a serious violation of human rights, which should be rejected through all political and legal means. In this context, they expressed their unequivocal support to the convening, before the year 2001, of a world conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other related forms of intolerance. 107. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation took note of the important and positive coordination of work of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 in the promotion and defence of the common interests of the developing countries. They agreed that the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries should jointly sponsor draft resolutions as appropriate to be presented by the Group of 77, based on past practice at the fifty-second session of the General Assembly. 108. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Non-Aligned Countries welcomed the admission of Belarus and Kazakstan as Observers of the Movement.
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