Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin’s remarks at the 18th meeting of heads of state and government of the Non-Aligned Movement, Baku, October 25-26, 2019
Mr Chairperson,
President Aliyev,
Heads of state and government,
Colleagues,
First of all, I would like to express gratitude to Venezuela, the outgoing chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). For the past three years, Caracas has been working steadfastly to coordinate the movement’s operations and to ensure close interaction between the NAM countries in New York. We firmly believe that Azerbaijan will do its duties as the NAM chair very efficiently. We know Baku as a reliable partner with a balanced foreign policy that meets the NAM goals and principles. I do not doubt that the coordinating role of our Azerbaijani friends will help to strengthen the influence of NAM as a key foreign policy forum.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have the honour to read out a message of greetings from President of Russia Vladimir Putin:
“Ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to be able to greet you on the occasion of the 18th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Your meeting is taking place against the backdrop of a troubled international environment. In some regions we are witnessing an escalation of armed conflicts, as well as interethnic and interreligious tensions. All of this hampers the resolution of many social and economic problems, including such vital ones as fighting poverty and hunger.
The provisions that were outlined over six decades ago at the first Asia-Africa conference in Bandung are still relevant. The key ones include the adherence to the goals and principles of the UN Charter, the acknowledgement of the unconditional equality of all countries and non-interference in their domestic affairs.
Russia has consistently supported the efforts of the Non-Aligned Movement aimed at building a just multipolar world order, development of equitable international dialogue and cooperation based on generally accepted legal norms and consideration of the legitimate interests of all partners.
I am sure that the further expansion of constructive interaction between Russia and the Non-Aligned Movement will strengthen security and stability at the regional and global level.
I wish you every success and all the best.
Vladimir Putin.”
Colleagues,
This message from the President of Russia confirms the similarity of views of Russia and NAM virtually on all global problems, from the fight against terrorism and radical movements to the promotion of cultural and inter-civilisational dialogue. It is obvious that we should join forces in the search for answers to these challenges.
In the new realities of the 21st century, the Non-Aligned Movement is at the forefront of the efforts to promote the highly relevant principles of multipolarity. However, the justified demand of the majority of countries for a fair and all-embracing world order has run aground on the striving to preserve the world order in the framework of which only a small group of countries and transnational corporations have access to the fruits of globalisation. Seeking to preserve their domination, these countries and corporations unceremoniously resort to double standards and are using the noble ideals of democracy as well as liberalism to cover up their policies based on inequality and egoism.
To justify their actions, they are forcing the international community to accept the concept of a “rules-based order,” which actually amounts to non-consensual methods invented by a narrow circle to settle international problems outside the legitimate multilateral framework. These “rules” actually come into conflict with international legal norms set out in the UN Charter and open the door leading back into the age of bloc confrontation and dividing lines.
The principle of non-interference in others’ domestic affairs is being violated everywhere. Some NAM countries that opted for their own model of socioeconomic development have been hit back with an aggressive policy of foreign intervention. The world is still reeling from the effect of the illegal military invasion of Iraq, Libya and Syria by the United States and its allies. Today we see deliberate and barefaced efforts to undermine and overthrow the legitimate government of Venezuela.
The US policy towards Venezuela must be resolutely condemned by all the NAM countries. It is notable that the joint statement in defence of the UN Charter adopted by NAM countries on the sidelines of their ministerial meeting held in Caracas in July of this year reaffirmed the inviolability of the principle of non-interference. We hope that the number of signatories of this vital initiative will increase.
It is absolutely unacceptable when external forces attempt to change the governments in sovereign states, including by means of military blackmail and illegal [economic] blockades, as is happening to Cuba in violation of numerous UN resolutions.
The Palestinian problem needs our attention as well. A fair solution to it is vital for improving the environment in the Middle East as a whole. The attempts to monopolise the settlement process will come to nothing. Today we need to consolidate the efforts of the international community more than ever in order to relaunch the talks on the basis of UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. We will continue to facilitate this, including in coordination with NAM, the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. We believe that our goal should be an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital city.
Neither should we turn a blind eye to decolonisation, which would have long been finished if not for that narrow group of western countries’ distorted interpretation of the principles of territorial integrity and the right of nations to self-determination. The former European colonial empires continue to control a number of overseas territories and islands and often treat independent countries as parent states that are only interested in their natural and human resources. Russia rejects this conduct and is developing its relations with NAM countries on the solid basis of respect for their sovereignty and ability to independently decide their future. We have reaffirmed this convincingly at the Russia-Africa Summit, which ended in Sochi just the other day.
The principles of the Bandung Conference of the NAM countries remain unchallenged. They are fully in line with Russia’s views on the optimal form of development of international relations.
We are ready to continue to strengthen our cooperation with the Non-Aligned Movement in the interests of stronger international stability and for the good of our nations and the international community as a whole.
Thank you.
