(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 3. Final session of the
Summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group on fighting
against COVID-19 has been held in Baku, trend reports.
Speaking at the session chaired by Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister
Jeyhun Bayramov, Head of the New Caledonia Delegation Mickael
Forrest condemned the colonial position of France.
Forrest noted that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, in December
2021, New Caledonia, under pressure from France, was forced to hold
a third referendum on the island.
He stressed the importance of creating, within the framework of
the decolonization committee, the conditions for dialogue with a
view to restoring the full sovereignty of the local population.
'As you know, the Pacific region is also a geostrategic zone for
the major states of the world. The Non-Aligned Movement is an
important platform for us in terms of continuing to inform the
countries of the world about the situation in our country. We hope
that the day will come when New Caledonia regains sovereignty and
independence,' Forrest said, highly appreciating the successful
chairmanship of Azerbaijan in the NAM.
Ambassador of Mexico to Azerbaijan Maria Victoria Romero
Caballero, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for
Europe Olga Algayerova, Director General of the International
Organization for Migration António Vitorino, Director
General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi,
Secretary General of the Meeting on Interaction and Confidence
Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Kairat Sarybay, Secretary General
of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev,
Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization Khusrav
Noziri, and Chairman of the NAM Youth Network Ordukhan Gahramanzade
noted that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of
multilateral cooperation.
All states are called upon to ensure the sustainability of such
cooperation, therefore the Non-Aligned Movement is a favorable
platform for discussing global issues.
It was emphasized that the pandemic has further exacerbated
inequalities in relation to migrants and displaced persons,
creating serious problems for them. What's more, a third of the
world's population still hasn't received their first dose of the
COVID-19 vaccine.
Besides, it was said that the world is not immune from new
pandemics in the future, so humanity must be prepared for potential
pandemics and their possible consequences.
The speakers noted that numerous initiatives were put forward
during Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the Movement, and highly
appreciated the chairmanship.
Bayramov, expressing deep gratitude to the participants,
stressed that the member states of the Movement, regardless of
history, politics and culture, consolidated around common
principles.
The minister noted that the latest summit has become a real
example of solidarity, cooperation and multilateralism.
According to him, productive meetings and discussions on
important issues on the agenda were held within the framework of
the summit.
Bayramov also said that during the period of chairmanship in the
NAM, Azerbaijan demonstrated leadership in solving a number of
urgent tasks.
According to the minister, although the term of Azerbaijan's
chairmanship in the organization ends this year, the country's
assistance to the NAM and cooperation with it will continue
actively.
In conclusion of the Baku summit, a final document was adopted.
With this, the Summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group
on fighting against COVID-19 ended.
