(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Details added (first version posted at 19:35 on March
2)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 2. The Summit of the
Contact Group of the Non-Aligned Movement in response to COVID-19,
held on March 2 in Baku, continued with plenary sessions, trend reports.
Among speakers at the session chaired by Azerbaijani Minister of
Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov were Vice-President of the Republic
of Cuba Salvador Antonio Valdés Mesa, Vice President of Gabon Rose
Christiane Ossouka Raponda, Vice President of the United Republic
of Tanzania Philip Isdor Mpango, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Demeke Mekonnen Hassen. They stressed the significance of joining
efforts to solve the issues the world faces.
Speaking of the importance of the Non-Aligned Movement, Algerian
Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane emphasized his country's
readiness to cooperate with all states and take steps for new
things.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dačić expressed his country's support
for the initiatives of Azerbaijan and hailed the steps taken by the
country regarding the developing island states of Africa.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Igor
Petrishenko expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan and President Ilham
Aliyev for the successful chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic
Bakyt Torobaev called on all countries to peace and prosperity. He
stressed that peace and stability should be ensured and
international security established.
The session continued with speeches of Malian Prime Minister
Abdoulaye Maiga, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Sheikh Salem
Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda
Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs
Lemogang Kwape, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of
the Republic of the Gambia Mamadou Tangara, Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi
and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of
Palestine Riyad al-Maliki.
Furthermore, Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs of
Yemen Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament
Sahiba Gafarova, Minister of Health of Bahrain Jalila bint Al-Sayed
Jawad Hassan, Minister of Public Health of Chad Abdelmajid
Abdelrahim Mahamat, Pakistani Federal Minister for Economic Affairs
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Senior Advisor to the Royal Government of
Cambodia Dr. Sok Siphana, Minister of Health of Tunisia Ali Mrabet,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic
Republic of Timor-Leste Dionísio Babo Soares.
The speakers noted that the economic downturn, which is among
the major global crises, indicates the need for joint action. In
this regard, strengthening cooperation within the Non-Aligned
Movement and establishing mutually beneficial ties are of utmost
importance. In the meantime, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to
numerous human casualties, during which, the World Health
Organization and the Non-Aligned Movement laid the foundation for
long-term cooperation.
Moreover, it was brought to the attention that Azerbaijan
allocated $1 million in support of African countries during its
chairmanship of the Movement. Azerbaijan was thanked for its
efforts and international solidarity in the fight against COVID-19.
It was noted that Azerbaijan is committed to the promotion of
multilateral cooperation between countries to ease the implications
of international economic crises.
The session speakers underscored that this Summit is a symbol of
solidarity of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as shows the
importance of fighting together against inequality. It was also
stated that the Movement could play a crucial role in the
post-COVID pandemic period. Lots of initiatives were put forward in
the name of the future of the Movement under the leadership of
President Ilham Aliyev.
Azerbaijan will transfer the chairmanship in the Non-Aligned
Movement to Uganda at the end of 2023.