“I congratulate His Excellency Dr.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on assuming the
Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. Chairman, India will extend its
full cooperation to Iran as it leads the Movement over the next three years.
I also express my appreciation to
Egypt for its stewardship of the Movement since the last Summit, even though
Egypt has been in the midst of profound domestic change.
Mr. Chairman, the Non-Aligned
Movement, representing the large majority of humankind, has been a powerful
force for the promotion of global peace, security and
development. Our
shared objectives of working together to preserve our strategic space, ensure
our social and economic development and strive for a more just and equitable
world order remain as true and relevant today as they were in the past.
Mr. Chairman, Your chosen theme for
our Summit – Lasting Peace through Joint Global Governance - is timely. Today’s structures for
global governance remain driven by the power equations of the past. It is not
surprising that they have proved inadequate in dealing with the economic and
political crises of our present.
The deficit in Global Governance is
perhaps most stark in the Sphere of International Peace and
Security and
in Restoring Just and Fair Economic and Financial Mechanisms.
The West Asian and North African
region is undergoing profound change. As the world’s largest democracy, India
supports popular aspirations for a democratic and pluralistic order.
Nevertheless, such transformations cannot be prompted by external intervention,
which exacerbate the suffering of ordinary citizens. The deteriorating
situation in Syria is a matter of particular concern. Our Movement should take
a stand on the issue in keeping with universally accepted principles. We should
urge all parties to recommit themselves to resolving the crisis peacefully
through a Syrian-led inclusive political process that can meet the legitimate
aspirations of all Syrian citizens.
The Non-Aligned Movement has always
championed the cause of the Palestinian people. Today, we should renew our
pledge to support an early resolution of the Palestinian question, so that the
long suffering people of Palestine can live in peace and dignity in a state of
their own.
Mr. Chairman, in the past,
individually we may have had little economic and military clout but the
collective voice and reasoned interventions of our Movement commanded respect
and credibility. That voice should again find true expression on a variety of
issues.
We need new instruments of global
governance to confront cross-cutting and trans-national challenges through
coordinated global action. These include international terrorism, proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction, the menace of maritime piracy, the growing
threat to cyber security and the growing challenge of pursuing ecologically
sustainable development while ensuring energy, water and food security.
Our Movement should take the lead in
building global governance structures that are representative, credible and
effective. It is my sincere hope that the Movement can agree on action to
reform institutions such as the United Nations Security Council, the World Bank
and the IMF. Existing problems cannot be solved effectively without a greater
voice for developing countries on issues such as global trade, finance and
investment.
Developing countries can be drivers
of global growth. International financial institutions should therefore be
encouraged to fund infrastructure development in the developing world in
innovative ways. We should also urge that the current economic crisis should
not lead to a dilution of development assistance flows from the developed
world.
While we come together on the
international stage, it is equally important for us to collaborate among
ourselves in tackling problems and developing solutions that are best suited to
our own circumstances.
For example, the developing world is
rich in renewable sources of energy like solar power We should use our
financial and intellectual resources to develop renewable energy technologies that
get less attention in the industrialized world where the resource base is
different. Adoption of these technologies will also enable us to contribute to
preservation of the environment. We can learn from each other in this effort.
Similarly, food security is a basic
problem for many of our countries. Excessive speculation, structural
bottlenecks and lack of coordination are fuelling food inflation at the global
level. Our Movement should push for effective food policy coordination and
cooperation at the global level in areas such as agricultural productivity,
weather forecasting and research and development.
Perhaps most relevant for us is to
focus on investing in the knowledge economy and building our human resources.
When faced with our unique developmental challenges, our youth have the
creativity and energy to find solutions that are innovative, frugal and
affordable. However, we need to provide them skills and equip them to find
productive employment in a rapidly changing and inter-connected global economy.
India would be happy to contribute to a NAM initiative on skill development,
particularly focused on the knowledge economy.
Mr. Chairman, the African continent
provided the intellectual wellspring for many of the leaders of the Non Aligned
Movement. The growth of NAM and decolonization in Africa progressed almost hand
in hand. Africa therefore has a special place in NAM. India’s own strategic
partnership with Africa is premised on making the people of Africa its primary
beneficiaries. The India-Africa Forum Summit thus provides for an ambitious
Programme of Pan-African Institution-Building to enhance our multi-faceted
cooperation. I invite interested NAM members to work with us in areas of
priority to Africa.
Nearly two decades ago, India embarked
on a “Look East” policy in an Endeavour to learn and benefit from and
contribute to the evolution of a new Asian economic community to our East.
However, the progress, prosperity, well being, political stability and Plurality
of the Asia to our West has always been of equal historical and Civilisational
significance for us. A West Asian region that can realize its full potential,
live in peace and harmony and join the comity of democratic and plural
societies will contribute greatly to human progress and peace in the 21st
Century.
Mr. Chairman, let me conclude by
thanking you for this Opportunity to Renew Our Movement’s Collective
Endeavour for Peace and Prosperity which is needed in our troubled planet today. Even as our
members have differing views on different issues, our sense of common destiny
and solidarity unites us and gives us common purpose. I am certain that our
deliberations will be helpful in restoring this historic Movement to its
rightful place on the international stage.”
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