The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Virtual Summit “United against COVID-19″ is being held this Monday, May 4, via videoconference, chaired by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The meeting is taking place in the format of the Contact Group, which includes regional representatives.

The Republic of Azerbaijan convoked the meeting as president of the Movement for the period 2019-2022, given the need for concerted and effective responses to current global challenges.

According to AzerNews, the head of the Presidency’s Foreign Policy Affairs Department, Hikmat Hajiyev, emphasized the importance of strengthening international solidarity, and mobilizing efforts of both states and international organizations in the COVID-19 battle.

“We hope the NAM Contact Group Summit will make a significant contribution to the mobilization of efforts, strengthening solidarity and multilateralism among member countries in the fight against the new coronavirus,” stated Hikmat Hajiyev, as reported by the source.

A communiqué issued by the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, March 25, 2020, in New York, expressed “concern over the rapid spread of COVID-19, which poses a major challenge to humanity” and noted “in the face of this type of global emergency, a spirit of solidarity must be at the heart of our efforts.”

The statement continued, “At this juncture, the enactment and application of unilateral coercive measures against member states of the Movement has an impact on the capacity of states to respond efficiently to procure medical equipment and supplies to adequately treat the population of entire peoples in the face of this pandemic” and expressed the long-standing NAM principle – reaffirmed by the heads of state and government, as well as by the foreign ministers at numerous Summits and Ministerial Meetings – of “strong condemnation of the promulgation and application of unilateral coercive measures against member states of the Movement, which violates the United Nations Charter and international law.”

Another NAM communiqué released April 9, 2020, extends the organization’s full support to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the leadership of its Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“It is time to avoid the politicization of the virus and to set aside all political ideologies and discrimination for the good of humanity; it is time for global unity and the redoubling of international solidarity and multilateral cooperation to ensure that that our common enemy, COVID-19, with serious health and socio-economic consequences, is defeated sooner rather than later,” the document states.

The President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, will participate in the videoconference this morning, May 4, accompanied by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and José Ángel Portal Miranda, minister of Public Health.

 (Source: Granma)

Esteemed comrade Delsy Rodríguez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;

Esteemed Ministers and Heads of Delegations;

Delegates and guests:

I would like to express my gratitude to the authorities and the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to us upon our arrival.

We welcome the presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose work as President of the Non-Aligned Movement, in the midst of a complex international situation, deserves recognition and respect.

The countries of the South needed a profoundly anti-colonialist, anti-imperialist and anti-racist organization, advocating for the sovereignty and self-determination of peoples, justice and International Law, in favor of the peaceful settlement of conflicts and general and complete disarmament.

The Movement that started to take shape in Bandung and was further consolidated in Belgrade, which led to the creation of , appeared at a historical juncture marked by a process of decolonization and the subsequent emergence of new Independent States, as well as by the upsurge of the East-West conflict.

Thus, the definition of how relations should be between the powerful and the least developed nations, with full respect for the principles enshrined in the UN Charter; the preservation of equal rights for all States and the non-interference in the internal or external affairs of other States, became a priority.

While the principles adopted in Bandung and Belgrade continue to be very much valid, we live in a world which is radically different.

Therefore, in our Fourteenth Summit held in Havana in 2006, we adopted the Declaration on the Purposes and Principles and the Role of the Non-Aligned Movement in the present international juncture.

Ten years later, we have noted with concern that most of the Principles and purposes defined in Havana are not systematically observed.

Respect for peoples’ sovereignty, self-determination and equal sovereign rights not only remain unachieved; the events that violate those fundamental precepts are increasing day after day.

The peace, international security and cooperation we aspired to have not been achieved. War, aggressions, “soft coups” and regime-change attempts continue to be a regular feature.

The attempts to destabilize the constitutional government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela may serve as an example. We reiterate Cuba’s full solidarity with the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution that has kept up its struggle; with its legitimate president, Nicolás Maduro Moros and the civic and military unity of its people.

Likewise, in a different region of our planet, a cruel war is being waged against the Syrian people, taking a toll on hundreds of thousands of human lives, something that calls for a strong condemnation and overwhelming action of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Equally unfulfilled in our times remains our purpose to promote the respect, enjoyment and protection of all human rights of all human beings, while the attempts to manipulate their very nature through politicization, selectivity and double standards have continued and are on the increase.

Our full solidarity should go to the Palestinian people, whose human rights are violated with absolute impunity day after day.

We would like to express also our solidarity with the waves of refugees which are arriving in Europe, compelled by underdevelopment and the wars encouraged from abroad.

The promotion of sustainable development, which in Havana was defined as an essential precept, continues to be a pending subject. Hunger, poverty, economic backwardness and social exclusion are still gripping one third of humanity.

Nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament, are still far from being achieved, since the modernization of nuclear weapons continues unabated and military expenditures are increasing exponentially.

Full decolonization continues to be beyond our reach, since the Puerto Rican people have not been able to achieve its well-deserved independence and the right of the Saharan people to self-determination is denied.

The democratization of the United Nations, as was stated in the Declaration of Havana, has not been achieved either. The General Assembly powers have not been restored and the Security Council has not been reformed, neither in terms of its membership nor in terms of its working methods.

In Havana the Movement stated the need to abstain from exerting pressures or coercion on other countries, including the application and/or promotion of any unilateral coercive measure contrary to International Law. The economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, still persists, harms the Cuban people and is the very negation of said principle.

We have managed to preserve the Movement despite the voices that augured its disappearance; but it is our duty now to work harder to fulfill the principle of promoting solidarity as a fundamental component of relations and actions among all its members, in all circumstances, in defense of sovereignty and International Law, even if this results in an open confrontation with the hegemonic interests and desires of the big powers.

Comrade Minister:

Cubais committed to support the presidency of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. We reiterate our full confidence that, under your leadership, the role of the Movement in the international arena will continue to strengthen, based on the principles of Bandung and the Declaration of Havana.

From Latin America and the Caribbean, which at the Second CELAC Summit proclaimed itself as a Zone of Peace, we emphasize the need to have a world of peace, free from nuclear weapons, where every person has access to food, health and education; a wholesome and sustainable world ensuring the future generations the possibility to live in harmony with the environment and their neighbors. That world is possible if we all work together to achieve it.

Thank you, very much.

(Cubaminrex)

Distinguished participants in this ministerial meeting:

It is an honor for our people and government to again host a high level meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement. Two years and seven months have passed since the celebration in this same hall of the 14th Summit of Heads of State or Government in September 2006. On that occasion I said:

“On the sound foundations of our historic victories in the struggle for decolonization and the removal of apartheid and with the rich experience of our efforts in favor of a New International Economic Order and of peace, disarmament and the true exercise of the right to development, the Non-Aligned Movement shall now wage heroic battles against unilateralism, double standards and the impunity of the powerful; for a more just and equitable international order to tackle neoliberalism, plundering and pillage; for the survival of the human species instead of the irrational consumerism of the wealthy nations.”

The challenges identified then are not only still standing but they are now more dangerous and pressing. Therefore, the necessity for NAM to act in a coordinated fashion is today more imperative and crucial.

We are currently afflicted by a deep economic, social, food, energy and environmental crisis that have become global. The international debates are multiplied but they do not engage every country. There is a growing awareness that solutions must be found shortly; however, just and lasting solutions seem elusive.

If we fail to act firmly and expeditiously our peoples stand to suffer again the worst consequences of this crisis, and for a longer period of time.

It is impossible to sustain the unfair and irrational consumption patterns that served as the basis to the current international order imposed by a few that we have been forced to respect. A global order inspired in hegemonic pretenses and the selfishness of privileged minorities is neither legitimate nor ethically acceptable. A system that destroys the environment and promotes unequal access to riches cannot last. Underdevelopment is an unavoidable result of the current world order.

Neoliberalism has failed as an economic policy. Today, any objective analysis raises serious questions about the myth of the goodness of the market and its deregulation; the alleged benefits of privatizations and the reduction of the states’ economic and redistribution capacity; and the credibility of the financial institutions.

In 1979, thirty years ago, when Cuba first assumed the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, the leader of the Cuban Revolution comrade Fidel Castro alerted on the negative consequences of spending over 300 billion dollars in weapons and on the existence of a foreign debt of the underdeveloped countries that amounted to almost as much.

On that occasion comrade Fidel estimated that, at the time, that figure would have allowed: “…to build in one year 600 thousand schools to teach 400 million children; or 60 million comfortable houses for 300 million people; or 30 thousand hospitals with 18 million beds; or 20 thousand factories providing jobs to over 20 million workers; or placing 150 million hectares of land under irrigation which with an adequate technical level could feed one billion people.”

Of course, nothing was done and the situation has aggravated dramatically. Suffice it to say that currently the annual military expenses exceed the figure of one trillion dollars; the number of unemployed in the world could rise to 230 million during 2009; and in hardly a year –during 2008—the number of people starving in the world mounted from 854 million to 963 million.

The UN has estimated that 80 billion dollars a year for a decade would be enough to eradicate poverty, hunger and the lack of health and education services and houses all over the world. That figure is three times lower than what the South countries spend every year to pay their foreign debt.

The international system of economic relations requires fundamental changes. This was demanded almost 35 years ago by the member countries of our Movement in the Declaration and Plan of Action for the Establishment of a New International Economic Order adopted in the 6th Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in May 1974.

The solution to the global economic crisis demands a coordinated action with the universal, democratic and equitable participation of all countries. The response cannot be a solution negotiated by the leaders of the most powerful nations without the participation of the United Nations.

The G-20 solution calling for the strengthening of the role and functions of the International Monetary Fund, whose nefarious policies had a decisive effect on the emergence, aggravation and magnitude of the current crisis cannot solve inequality, injustice or the unsustainability of the present system.

The UN High Level Conference on the Economic and Financial Crisis and its Impact on Development scheduled for June 1 to 3, 2009, is the indispensable context to debate and try to find solutions by consensus to this grave situation, and the Non-Aligned Movement should support it.

From its inception, this Movement has shown its willingness to work for peace and security for the community of nations and for defense of International Law. The removal of the weapons of mass destruction, and foremost nuclear disarmament, is still a priority.

The practice of multilateralism requires absolute respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states and for the self-determination of the peoples. It also demands to dispense with threats and the use of force in international relations, and to do without hegemonic aspirations and imperial behavior. It requires to put an end to foreign occupation and to deny impunity to such criminal aggressions as those of Israel against the Palestinian people.

The Movement should engage in every major debate of the international agenda, in the different venues and multilateral forum and with the broadest participation of its member countries, not to compete with other groups of South countries but to strengthen and complement them.

We need to continue permanently improving the Movement’s working methods. The fulfillment of the Plan of Action we have adopted shall be an indispensable tool to determine our priorities and our tasks.

We should all start working right away to ensure a successful 15th Summit of Heads of State or Government in Egypt next July. We should make a critical analysis of everything done until today and set ourselves new goals and objectives in compliance with current and future problems and challenges.

Finally, on behalf of Cuba I wish to express the appreciation of our government and our entire people for the steadfast and unwavering solidarity of the Non-Aligned Movement with the Cuban Revolution, and particularly for its permanent call for the lifting of the unfair U.S. economic, financial and commercial blockade.

Although the measures recently announced by President Obama are positive they are of limited scope. The blockade remains intact. There is no political or moral pretext that justifies the continuation of that policy.

Cuba has not imposed any sanction on the United States or its citizens. It is not Cuba that prevents that country’s entrepreneurs from doing business with ours. It is not Cuba that chases the financial transactions of the American banks. It is not Cuba that has a military base in the U.S. territory against that people’s will, and so on and so forth, –to avoid making an endless list– therefore, it is not Cuba that should make gestures.

And if they want to discuss everything, as we recently said at an ALBA summit in Venezuela, that is, to discuss everything, everything, everything, we can discuss everything related to us but also everything related to them, on equal footing.

We have insisted that we are willing to discuss everything with the United States government, on equal footing; but we are not willing to negotiate our sovereignty or our political and social system, our right to self-determination or our domestic affairs.

The greatest strength of our Movement lies in its unity within our characteristic diversity. Such has been the major premise of the Cuban presidency in the almost three years of its mandate.

I have no doubt that the Non-Aligned Movement will continue to play a fundamental and constructive role in the international debates. Cuba will keep up its efforts to contribute to that objective.

I wish this Ministerial Meeting every success.

Thank you very much.