NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT WILL BE KEY PARTNER IN FORMULATING GLOBAL RESPONSE TO URGENT, INTERCONNECTED CRISES, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN MESSAGE TO HAVANA MEETING
Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau, delivered by Haile Menkerios, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in Havana, 30 April:
It is a pleasure to send greetings to this Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau. I thank Cuba for the dynamic leadership it has provided over the past three years in your Movement’s collective efforts to meet global challenges.
Our world faces a set of urgent, interconnected crises. Food insecurity, extreme poverty and climate change are now being exacerbated by global financial and economic turmoil of unprecedented proportions. Just as these crises are related, and their effects globalized, our responses must also be closely coordinated and based on a shared vision.
NAM [Non-Aligned Movement] will be a key partner in realizing these aspirations. I have called on G-20 [Group of Twenty] leaders to implement the London Summit’s Global Plan for Recovery and Reform. I also call on NAM members to play a strong, constructive role in forging consensus among developing countries, and to continue to deepen global cooperation in the difficult times ahead. Our responses should be built on the basis of inclusive global governance that reflects today’s realities.
Although poorer countries have had no part in creating the crisis, they are likely to feel some of the worst of the consequences, including declining growth, credit, development assistance, remittances and trade. Indeed, the crisis raises the risk of social unrest and political instability. Weakened Governments are unlikely to be able to deliver on their responsibilities and to meet popular expectations. It will be particularly critical to lend strong support to countries emerging from conflict, which must be able to deliver peace dividends.
We must make the most of upcoming opportunities to strengthen collective action, including the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development to be held at the United Nations in early June. As we respond to the crisis, we must never lose sight of our undertakings in the Millennium Development Goals. We must also move more resolutely towards a green economy, which can stimulate growth and create jobs while addressing climate change at the same time. I urge NAM to contribute to this effort, including to seal a deal at climate change talks later this year in Copenhagen.
As we work together to address the financial and economic crisis, we should also continue our shared efforts to build a world of peace and security.
On Darfur, the parties must demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and resume dialogue in Doha. The AU-UN [African Union-Union Nations] hybrid peacekeeping force must be deployed at full strength, and given the assets it needs to carry out its mandate.
We also face challenges in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I welcome the pledges made in the Somalia Donor Conference in Brussels last week.
In the Middle East, we remain gravely concerned about the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Greater efforts are needed to implement Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition, resolve prisoner issues and forge Palestinian unity. Moreover, we must not lose sight of the broader objective of advancing peace in the Middle East. The international community must continue to promote the two-State solution and the achievement of a just and comprehensive regional peace.
The evolving situation in north-eastern Sri Lanka is also of great concern. The United Nations has been strongly urging both the Government and LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] to safeguard the civilians still trapped in the conflict zone.
In Haiti, the United Nations Stabilization Mission has contributed to the creation of a relatively stable and secure environment. It is necessary now to provide economic security. The plan designed by the Haitian Government to lift the country out of the cycle of poverty offers a vision, which we must all support.
I am grateful for your continued support across this broad, shared agenda, including on efforts to reform the United Nations and strengthen the Secretariat’s capacity. I look forward to strengthening our partnership and continuing our vital work together. Please accept my best wishes for a successful meeting.
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