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Non-Aligned Movement must become strategic global partner: FM Retno
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Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi attended a working meeting with the House of Representatives' commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs at the House complex on Aug. 31. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
T
he Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) must play a strategic role in becoming a responsible global partner that is beneficial for its people, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has said ahead of the bloc's upcoming summit.
"This world needs a NAM of the 21st century, which is a [movement] that is broad-minded, pragmatic, innovative and efficient," Retno said in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Friday.
The minister is currently in Venezuela with an Indonesian delegation led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla for the 17th NAM summit to be held on the Caribbean island of Margarita on Sept. 17 to 18.
Venezuela, under its President Nicolas Maduro, is set to take over the chairmanship from Iran, which had held the position since 2012.
The theme of the summit this year, "Peace, Sovereignty and Solidarity for Development" was a reflection of the basic principles of the bloc, Retno said. However, she continued, since its establishment 55 years ago, the NAM was still being overshadowed by a lack of peace, sovereignty and solidarity, especially amid rising global challenges.
Retno emphasized three steps that needed to be taken by the organization's 120 members, which began from strengthening the spirit of multilateralism where every country had an equal voice.
The NAM, secondly, had to contribute to handling of global economic challenges through inclusive global partnership. Finally, the NAM also had to reform internally to improve the workings of the bloc to avoid being trapped as a "talk shop organization", she outlined.
The two-day high-level meeting is set to produce the Margarita Declaration, which would include assertions from member heads of state on the various principles and shared values of the NAM. (rin)
