Press Release
Minister for Foreign Affairs Honourable Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali today addressed the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the XVIII Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan. The Preparatory Ministerial Meeting is scheduled to make necessary substantive preparation for the XVIII NAM Summit to be held on 25-26 October 2019.
In his address, Hon. Foreign Minister stated that the NAM, as a group of 120 countries, has a special responsibility to use its numerical and moral strength to ensure adequate and predictable resources in preventing conflicts and helping its members achieve peace and stability. Minister Gyawali further added that a stronger and revitalized NAM is a sine qua non for achieving peace, development, and security. He also urged the NAM membership to support each other in building domestic capacity by sharing their experiences, best practices and provisioning of resources through the South-South Cooperation. He also underlined the importance of NAM for equal rights, equal opportunities, equal protection and equal respect for all countries.
Foreign Minister Gyawali also participated in the opening session of the Ministerial Meeting. The meeting elected H.E. Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as its Chair. The first plenary of the Ministerial Meeting elected Nepal, by acclamation, as a Vice-Chair of the Ministerial Conference representing the Asia-Pacific region.
The Ministerial Meeting received report of the Preparatory Senior Officials Meeting held on 21-22 October 2019. After the election of the Bureau, the plenary held an interactive debate.
In the evening, Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs is scheduled to attend the official welcome reception to be hosted by the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan in honour of the heads of the delegations to the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting.
The Honourable Minister arrived in Baku last evening. Upon arrival, he was received at the airport by Ambassador at Large, H.E. Mr. Farid Abdinbayov and members of Nepali delegation to the Senior Officials Meeting.
The Preparatory Ministerial Meeting was preceded by the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on 21-22 October 2019.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Singh Durbar
Kathmandu
23 October 2019