No:611/23, Press release on the conclusion of the 4 years of chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement of the Republic of Azerbaijan
October 25, 2023 marks the 4th year of chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Over the past 4 years, Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the NAM, the second largest political institution after the UN, has been praised as quite successful and, by the majority of the member states, as exemplary.
It is no coincidence that the accomplishments made during Azerbaijan's chairmanship were esteemed by all member states and Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Movement was unanimously extended for an additional 1 year.
During its chairmanship, the Republic of Azerbaijan pursued a policy aimed at restoring the movement's former influence in the system of international relations and promoting the “Bandung principles” without conflicting with any international actor.
Despite the fact that a large part of Azerbaijan's chairmanship overlapped with the intensive period of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges have turned into new opportunities for cooperation by virtue of the globally important initiatives put forward by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev as the chairman of the NAM.
In this regard, the critical resolutions that have been proposed by Azerbaijan and were adopted in the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council to end the "policy of vaccine nationalism" of developed countries, as well as their unjust and uncaring stance toward the developing countries must be particularly noted.
Over the past 4 years of its chairmanship, Azerbaijan also took important steps towards the institutionalization of the Movement and established the NAM Parliamentary Network and Youth Organization in accordance with the initiatives of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Currently, pertinent measures are being taken toward the establishment of Women's and Media Platforms of the Movement.
During the Azerbaijani chairmanship, the first meeting of the think tanks of the member states of the NAM was held, and the very first step towards their networking was taken.
Azerbaijan's chairmanship has also made a valuable contribution to the sectoral cooperation within the Movement.
Over the past 4 years, meetings were held of the Movement member states’ Ministers responsible for labor, health, education, information and communication fields.
In September of this year, for the first time after 9 years, the meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee of the NAM and the "Group of 77" was held within the framework of the high-level week of the UN General Assembly, co-chaired by Azerbaijan and Cuba, in order to expand the cooperation in the realm of sustainable economic development within the framework of the NAM, the majority of the members of which are developing countries.
The Non-Aligned Movement — which is one of the strongest advocates of justice in the system of international relations — throughout the presidency of Azerbaijan and especially during the Patriotic War, did not remain indifferent to the injustices committed against its member states including Azerbaijan, condemned the aggression against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, and, in this regard, has prevented the provocative steps taken within the framework of the UN.
On January 15-20, 2024, at the 19th Summit of the NAM to be held in Kampala, Uganda, the chairmanship of the Movement will pass from Azerbaijan to Uganda, and our country will take part in the "chairmanship troika" of the Movement for the next 3 years. As a member of the Troika, Azerbaijan will spare no effort in strengthening the international influence and positions of the Movement.