8/4/2019 The Hindu NAM Sherm-El-sheikh

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Sharm-el-Sheikh: Calling the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) a moral force for the

equitable transformation of a world going through the worst economic crisis in living

memory, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the 118-nation grouping must ensure

the steps planned to revive the global economy take into account the developing

worlds concerns.

He was speaking at the NAM summit which got under way here on Wednesday.

Dr. Singh said the developing countries had been the hardest hit by the crisis which

emanated from the advanced industrial economies and had strengthened

protectionism and choked credit and capital flows to the third world. If the aftermath

of the crisis is not carefully managed, and if the abundance of liquidity leads to a

revival of speculative activities, we may well see a period of prolonged stagflation,

the Prime Minister warned.

On climate change too, he blamed the over two centuries of industrial activity and

unsustainable lifestyles in the developed world for the threat posed to the planet bythe accumulation of greenhouse gases.

The weight of NAM should be used to achieve a comprehensive, balanced and above

all, equitable outcome in the ongoing multilateral negotiations leading up to the

Copenhagen conference in December this year.

The Prime Minister criticised the fact that decision-making processes at the United

Nations and in international financial institutions continue to be based on charters

written more than 60 years ago, though the world has changed greatly since then.

He said NAM should work to prioritise Africas problems in the global developmentagenda. On its part, India was committed to developing a comprehensive partnership

with the continent.

Palestinian issue

Echoing the strong sentiment within NAM in support of Palestinian aspirations, the

Prime Minister began his remarks by saying his thoughts turn to the people of

Palestine, who have endured great suffering and hardship. The movement, he said,must do more to facilitate a comprehensive, just, lasting and peaceful settlement of

the Palestinian issue.

On terrorism, he stressed the long-standing Indian demand for speedy agreement on

a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. Terrorists and those who aid

and abet them must be brought to justice, he said. The infrastructure of terrorism

must be dismantled and there should be no safe havens for terrorists because they do

not represent any cause, group of religion.

the Hindu