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NAM has “enduring”relevance: Pranab

United Nations: Affirming its commitment to the Non-Aligned Movement, India has said it has “enduring relevance” in the current international situation.

The strength of the movement has historically been its inclusiveness which enabled it to take into account the diverse interests in the 118-member group, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a closed door meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the NAM here.

Mr. Mukherjee, who is here to attend the annual session of the U.N. General Assembly, also participated in the ministerial meeting of the Asian Development Dialogue (ADD), where the countries discussed the regional situation and reviewed the ongoing cooperative endeavours within the group. The Ministers also discussed ideas to begin a cultural dialogue within the group, officials said.

Kazakhstan offered to host the next ministerial-level meeting in Astana in October 2008.

Mr. Mukherjee had bilateral discussions with Foreign Ministers of several countries, including Mohammed Benaissa of Morocco, Ahmed Aboul Gheith of Egypt, Bernard Kouchner of France and Miguel Angel de Morantinos of Spain.

He also called on Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius thanking him for support to the Indian candidature for a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council.

The support was extended earlier in the day during a statement to the General Assembly. — PTI

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