Report on the AAPSO delegations' participation in the XIIIth NAM Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 23rd and 25th February 2003.
As agreed by the Permanent Secretariat, the AAPSO delegation was composed of nine members as follows.
1. Nouri Abdul Razzak Hussain- Secretary-General and Leader of the delegation.
2. E.A.Vidyasekera, Secretary-Coordinator. (Sri Lanka)
3. K.M.Khan M.P. Secretary- General, All India Peace and Solidarity Organization.
4. Chitta Biswas, Deputy Secretary-General. (India).
5. Dr. Pramila Srivastava, Director-General, International Institute of Non-Aligned Studies. (India).
6. Dr. Shri Prakash, Member, International Institute of Non-Aligned Studies. (India).
7. A.A.M.Marleen, Secretary-General, Sri Lanka Afro-Asian Solidarity Association.
8. Toshio Akiniwa, President Japan Afro-Asian Latin America Organizations.
9. Takashi Kono, Vice-President Japan Afro-Asian Latin American Organization.
NAM Summit was held on 24th and 25th Feb. But the actual proceedings started on 20th February with High Official meetings and the meetings of the Foreign Ministers. According to the new rules of NAM as adopted in Carthegena, Columbia, Non-governmental Organizations were allowed to attend on the Summit meetings. Accordingly the AAPSO delegation participated on 24th and 25th February.
The statement of the Leader of the delegation Nouri Abdul Razzak Hussain was given to the NAM Secretariat for distribution. The statement highlighted the new challenges and the importance of revitalization of the movement to overcome the weaknesses. Special reference was made on the situation in Palestine and Iraq which the NAM countries should tackle as a priority. It also emphasized the important role of the people's movement and the civil society as priority to building confidence between the rulers and the ruled. The statement also pointed out that countries of Non-aligned movement need to embark on a democratic posture so that peoples voice world be heard with more transparency in order to avoid rampant corruption in the body politics of NAM countries.
On the initiative of International Institute of Non-Aligned Studies a one day international seminar was held on 23rd at President Hotel and Residency in Kuala Lumpur as part of NGO input to the NAM Summit.
Among the issues discussed at the NGO Forum were- Iraq-U.S.A. stand off; Palestine, Myanmar, International Terrorism, Global Disarmament; Globalization and poverty, impact of Foreign Direct Investment, Debt, Privatization, poverty alleviation, Environment issues such as Global warming Deforestation, pollution of water system, etc.
A number of NGOs' both from East and West participated including local NGOs'. A final statement was issued and distributed.