PM Dahal returns home from NAM summit

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today returned home after leading the Nepali delegation to the 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held on January 19 and 20 in Kampala, Uganda.

During the summit, the Prime Minister addressed the plenary session on the theme ‘Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence’ on January 19.

In the margins of the Summit, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with heads of state, heads of government and other high dignitaries attending the Summit.

PM Dahal had left Kathmandu for Kampala on January 18. He was accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal. The Nepali delegation included Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and senior officials of the Government of Nepal.

NAM's importance further realised in changing world: PM Dahal

Earlier, during his visit to Uganda, PM Dahal expressed his pleasure for Nepal to participate in the 19th NAM Summit hosted in Kampala of Uganda as a founding country. He emphasised its importance as the conference was organised when several problems have seriously come to the fore globally.

PM Dahal said the NAM summit was organised in the context of geopolitical complexity, Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine wars, Covid 19 pandemic impacts on the global economy, climate change-induced challenges and problems being faced by the least developed countries.

To address these challenges, NAM should take initiative and leadership. The importance and essence of NAM have further increased than before.

Western countries have made several pledges but have not yet adhered to the commitments. Their commitments to ensure welfare of LDCs or address the climate change-induced problems have yet to be executed into action. Rather several problems have emerged instead. Against this backdrop, NAM should increase its lead role and voice its concerns strongly. The United Nations should be enabled to move ahead accordingly.

Nepal is a founding member of NAM. The organisation was founded at the conference held in Bandung in 1955. Since then, Nepal has been playing an active role in NAM. Nepal's commitment to the movement is intact. With this in context, Nepal can further its pivotal role in NAM.

The NAM came into existence in the special circumstances of the cold war. Even more serious and complicated issues have surfaced in the world now than in the cold war time.

The essence of NAM has further increased in the changed context. It has been realised to make it further effective and empowered. The non-alignment movement should not be viewed in connection with the cold war. Raising voices and struggling against the hegemony of colonialism, neo-colonialism and powerful countries is equally important at the moment as well. In this context, the essence of NAM has further increased.

In the NAM Summit, majority of the heads of the governments and states collectively expressed the increasing essence of NAM. It has been realised that voice should be raised in favour of the people, equality and social justice through NAM. 

Some of the founding members of the NAM have also progressed well. They have achieved remarkable success in technology and economy. We also have to deepen mutual cooperation among them. The spirit that existed during the NAM's establishment should be maintained even now. No country should exhibit their dual policy but should make its position clear. The organisation having more than 120 countries also comprises some developed ones from the third world. If all these countries raise their voices in an integrated and organised approach, they can do a lot for peace, stability and bright future for humankind, as expressed in the thoughts and commitments in the Summit.

War and peace have always been a challenging issue in the history of human civilisation. When the call for peace vibrates worldwide, those calling for war should revert in one way or another. The threat of war could have been prevented if the NAM raised its voice for peace from all over the world.

PM Dahal said, "During my speech at the NAM Summit, I stated that I have come from the country of Lord Buddha, the champion for peace, to appeal for peace. Wherever wars have occurred, they should be transformed into peace through talks and dialogue. Being the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, Nepal has a significant responsibility to take initiative and appeal for global peace."

The President of the United Nations General Assembly also made a crucial appeal and commitment at the NAM Summit. This shows its direct influence on the United Nations. 

As a member of the NAM, Nepal had a special responsibility. We have discharged our responsibility to advance NAM in a strong, integrated and centralised way. Nepal and Nepalis can take pride in this. The entire world has listened to our appeal well. Our appeals made at the 19th NAM Summit, UNGA, COP19 and UN Foods System Summit have had highly positive impacts. We have realised that Nepal is known, understood and heard, which is a matter of pride for Nepal and Nepalis.   

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