Media Statement
17 July 2019
Deputy Minister Botes leads South Africa’s delegation to the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM in Venezuela
The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, will lead the South African delegation to the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Coordinating Bureau (CoB) to be held in Caracas, Venezuela, on 20-21 July 2019 under the theme: “Promotion and Consolidation of Peace through Respect for International Law.”
It is expected that the meeting will consider preparations for the upcoming 18th Summit Conference of NAM Heads of State and Government to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 25-26 October 2019. The meeting will also review the Movement’s principled positions on global issues pertaining to development, human rights, peace and security, and the promotion and preservation of multilateralism, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and the Bandung Founding Principles of the NAM.
A Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Committee on Palestine, as well as a NAM Seminar on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, will also take place during the NAM Ministerial Meeting. South Africa is a member of the NAM Committee on Palestine, which has the mandate to coordinate the NAM's activities in support of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.
The Ministerial Meeting will conclude with the adoption of the outcome documents of the meeting, including the “Caracas Political Declaration” and the “Political Declaration of the NAM Ministerial Committee on Palestine”.
Deputy Minister Botes said: “South Africa will utilise the meeting to engage the NAM Member States on issues that include the strengthening of the principles of multilateralism and consolidating the rule of law, as well as finding sustainable solutions to bring lasting peace to current situations around the world.”
With its 120 Member States, the NAM is the largest grouping of countries outside of the UN, making it an important role-player in global and multilateral affairs. Since its inception in 1961, the Movement has played a crucial and highly visible political role in representing the interests of developing countries, particularly in the eradication of colonialism, supporting struggles for liberation and self-determination, the pursuit of world peace and the search for a more equitable and just global order.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
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