(MENAFN- AzerNews) A final session of the Summit-level Meeting of the Non-Aligned
Movement Contact Group in response to Covid-19, chaired by
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, ended in Baku,
Azernews reports.
The head of the New Caledonia delegation in Baku, Mickael
Forrest, addressed the session and lashed out at France's colonial
position. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, France pressured New
Caledonia to hold a third referendum on the status of the island in
December 2021, Forrest said.
He underscored 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.
The consequences of the pandemic were brought to attention, and
it was stated that a third of the world's population still hasn't
received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
In addition, it was pointed out 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 highly appreciated Azerbaijan's chairmanship and
underscored that numerous initiatives were put forward during
Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the movement
The minister, expressing his gratitude to the participants,
stressed that the member states of the movement, regardless of
history, politics, and culture, consolidated around common
principles.
Jeyhun Bayramov said that the summit became a real example of
solidarity, cooperation, and multilateralism.
He mentioned that productive meetings and discussions on
important issues on the agenda were held within the framework of
the summit. Moreover, the minister noted that Azerbaijan
demonstrated leadership in solving a number of urgent tasks during
the period of chairmanship in the NAM.
He emphasized that despite the term of Azerbaijan's chairmanship
in the organization ending this year, Azerbaijan will continue to
assist the NAM and cooperate with it.
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 came to an end.
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