Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

The purpose and principles of the Movement:

1. Respect for fundamental human rights, and for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations;
2. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations;
3. Recognition of the equality of all races and of the equality of all nations, large and small;
4. Abstention from intervention or interference into the internal affairs of another country;
5. Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself, singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations;
6. Abstention from the use of arrangement of collective defense to serve the particular interests of any of the big powers, and abstention by any country from exerting pressures on other countries;
7. Refraining from acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country;
8. Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration, or judicial settlement as well as other peaceful means of the parties’ own choice, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations;
9. Promotion of mutual interests and cooperation;
10. Respect for justice and international obligations.

History of the movement:

The Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 was the first important step towards the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement. Six years after the Bandung Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement was institutionalized at the Summit in Belgrade, former Yugoslavia, on September 1-6, 1961, attended by 25 heads of state and government from Asia and Africa.

 Headquarters:

The Non-Aligned Movement does not have a permanent headquarters. The Coordinating Bureau is the main body of the NAM that operates on a permanent basis and regulates internal coordination. Through the Bureau, the NAM coordinates the unanimity of its members in UN bodies. The Bureau is headed by the Permanent Representative of the Chairman-in-Office to the United Nations.

 Member States:

The Non-Aligned Movement currently has 120 members, 18 observer states and 10 international observer organizations.

Meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement:

The Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement is the supreme level meeting of the NAM. Prior to the Summit, the Coordinating Bureau determines the composition of the Bureau that will chair the Conference. Along with the president, 20 vice presidents are elected on a regional basis (8 Africa, 7 Asia, 4 Latin America and the Caribbean, 1 Eastern Europe). Meetings of high-level officials and foreign ministers take place few days before the summit. Decisions and documents adopted at a meeting of senior officials are considered at a meeting of foreign ministers and, after approval, are submitted to the summit for adoption.

The Mid-term Ministerial Conference is held 18 months after the summit and reviews the decisions of the previous summit and prepares for the next summit.

As part of the general debates of the UN General Assembly, ministerial meetings are held in New York in September.

Membership procedure of NAM:

A state wishing to become a member of the NAM must express its commitment to the fundamental principles of the Movement and apply in writing to the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement. The decision on membership is made by consensus.

Membership of Azerbaijan to NAM:

On May 26, 2011, the Republic of Azerbaijan became a full member of the NAM on the Indonesian island of Bali with the unanimous support of the member states of the Movement.

Chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Movement (2019-2023):

The Republic of Azerbaijan hosted the 18^th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement on October 25-26, 2019 in Baku. The event was attended by high-level representatives of 120 UN member states and 42 international organizations. With the Baku Summit, the chairmanship of the Movement passed to the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2022.

Detailed information on the activities carried out under the chairmanship can be found at www.namazerbaijan.org  

After stating that Uganda, which will be the next chairman of the Movement, will take over the chairmanship of the Movement a year later, the member states appealed to Azerbaijan to chair the Movement for an additional year, considering its successful chairmanship. Our country responded positively to this appeal, taking into account the valuable experience it had gained in the difficult period of effective chairmanship of the Movement. Thus, the current chairmanship of Azerbaijan in the NAM has been extended until 2023.

Online Summit level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group in response to COVID-19 - On 4 May 2020, upon the initiative of H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, Online Summit level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group in response to COVID-19 under the theme of “United against COVID-19 pandemic” was held.

In the complex international environment created by the pandemic and at a time when the world community is testing the effectiveness of international organizations and the future of multilateral diplomacy, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as the current chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement has initiated the establishment of a Contact Group of the NAM Member States at the highest decision-making level with a view to assessing the impact of the global pandemic on NAM Member States and identifying their needs and requirements for possible remedies and action-oriented follow-up measures.

The meeting was attended by 25 heads of state and government, 1 vice president, 1 deputy prime minister and 11 ministers of NAM Member States.

The event was attended by the President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly Tijani Mohammad-Bande, the Director-General of the World Health Organization Mr. Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus and the Chairman of the African Union Commission Musa Faki Mahamat.

The event also featured video addresses by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and EU High Representative, Vice President of the European Commission Joseph Borel.

As a result of the meeting, the Declaration was adopted by the member states and the Task Force on Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic was established. The group was instructed to develop a single database that would reflect the basic medical, social and humanitarian needs of member states in the fight against the pandemic.

UN General Assembly Special Session in response to COVID-19 initiated by NAM –Special session of the UN General Assembly on the fight against COVID-19 initiated by the Non-Aligned Movement. Following the Summit-level Meeting of NAM Contact Group on 4 May 2020, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, initiated the convening of a special session of the UN General Assembly in response to COVID-19 with the support of the majority of UN member states. The UN Secretary General announced the convening of the session on July 10, 2020. As a result, a high-level segment of the UN General Assembly's special session in response to COVID-19 pandemic was organized on December 3-4, 2020. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev, in his capacity as a Chair of NAM and an initiator of the Special Session, delivered a statement in the opening part of the event. 37 heads of state and 40 heads of government, as well as 67 ministers delivered speech at the general discussions of the special session and thanked Azerbaijan and the country's leadership for initiating the session.

During Azerbaijan's chairmanship in the Security Council, a number of events were held at the ministerial level. Due to the limitations of the pandemic, these events took place in a virtual format. Thus, the meetings of the Ministers of Health of the member states on May 20, 2020 and May 24, 2021, the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the NAM within the UN next session of the UN General Assembly, October 9, 2020 and June 4, 2021 Meeting of the Ministers of Labor of the Member States of the Movement were held on.

During the presidency of the National Assembly of our country, special attention was paid to the field of work with youth. Thus, on the initiative and by organization of the chairmanship of Azerbaijan, the NAM Model Simulation Workshop was held on April 16-18, 2020 at the national level and on March 1-5, 2021 at the international level. The events were organized for the first time in the history of the Movement and took place in a virtual format due to the restrictions caused by the pandemic. 60 young people from 39 countries representing 4 continents participated in the International Simulation Workshop.

Adoption of a resolution entitled "Ensuring equal, affordable, timely and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines" at the UN Human Rights Council. On March 23, 2021, within the framework of the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, at the initiative of Azerbaijan, as the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, a resolution was adopted entitled "Ensuring equal, affordable, timely and universal access to vaccines against COVID-19." The resolution draws attention to the negative impact of the unfair and unequal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines among developed and developing countries on human rights, and emphasizes that it is one of the main obstacles to the complete elimination of the pandemic, as well as to the achievement of the goas set in the UN Sustainable Development Agenda. Emphasizing the importance of global solidarity and multilateral cooperation in overcoming the pandemic, the resolution emphasizes the importance of the special session of the UN General Assembly on the COVID-19 pandemic held on December 3-4, 2020 at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement.

A total of 133 states co-authored the resolution, which is a very high figure for the resolutions adopted by the UN Human Rights Council. Co-authors include countries located in different regions of the world, with sharply different economic indicators and belonging to different political groups.

Adoption of a resolution entitled "Ensuring equal, timely and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines" by the UN General Assembly. On November 18, 2021, within the framework of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, the UN member states adopted a resolution "Ensuring equal, timely and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines", put forward on behalf of the members of the Non-Aligned Movement on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan as the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Third Committee of the Assembly. The resolution was co-authored by 126 UN member states. The draft resolution put to a vote in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly was adopted by 171 votes for, 0 votes against and with 7 abstentions.

The resolution welcomes a number of important global initiatives in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including the special session of the UN General Assembly on the fight against COVID-19, held on December 3-4, 2020 at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The adoption of this resolution was another indication that the Non-Aligned Movement, chaired by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, continues to be at the center of global efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Establishment of the Youth Network of the Non-Aligned Movement. On October 4-5, 2021, on the initiative of the Azerbaijani chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, a virtual founding meeting of the NAM Youth Network was held with the participation of more than 100 young people representing the Non-Aligned Movement member states. The establishment of the youth network was decided by the heads of state and government of the Non-Aligned Movement during the Baku Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement. Through the network, the Movement has the opportunity to exchange views on the challenges faced by young people in member states in ensuring their sustainable development and the opportunities for joint solutions by the governments of their countries. The network will be managed by a representative of Azerbaijan until the end of its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement.

As a result of the two-day founding meeting, a letter of recommendation was prepared by the members of the Youth Network and presented to high-ranking government officials of the Movement member states participating in the high-level anniversary event dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade on October 11-12, 2021.

Establishment of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement. On November 26, 2021, the founding meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement's Parliamentary Network was held on the initiative of the Azerbaijani chairmanship of the Non-Aligned. During the XVIII Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Baku, the heads of state and government of the member states decided to deepen relations between the parliaments of the member states, taking into account the constructive role of parliamentarians in implementing the principles, ideas and goals of the Movement. The meetings of the network will be held mainly within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The establishment of the Parliamentarians' Network is important in terms of being a historic contribution to the Movement, as well as an initiative that contributes to the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation between Azerbaijan and other countries.

High-Level Commemorative Meeting dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement. On October 11-12, 2021, a High-Level Commemorative Meeting dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement was held in Belgrade. The event was attended by more than 100 delegations, including 6 heads of state or government, more than 50 foreign ministers of member, observer and specially invited states. Leaders of international organizations, including the President of the UN General Assembly and Secretary General of the Council of Turkic States attended and UN Secretary General addressed a video message to the event. 

The opening speech by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan emphasized the important role of the Movement in the system of international relations since its establishment and draw attention to the importance of the Bandung principles that constitute the base for the Non-Aligned Movement and especially emphasized the relevance and importance of the principles of respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity, refraining from acts of aggression, non-interference into the internal affairs of another country.

Informing about Azerbaijan's accession to the Non-Aligned Movement in 2011 to contribute to the strengthening of peace, security, international law and justice, and election as the Chairman of the Movement by the unanimous support of the election Movement's leaders within a short time, the President spoke about the priorities of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship and their implementation status. He also briefed the participants on the global initiatives launched in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Non-Aligned Movement and the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict:

At the next ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on May 9-10, 2012, a paragraph on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was included in the adoption of the Final Document. expressed support for the settlement of the conflict based on the principles of respect for the territorial integrity of states, non-use of force against the territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders.

On August 30-31, 2012, the 16^th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the NAM was held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. In Article 391 of the Final Document adopted during the summit, all NAM member states expressed their support for the settlement of the conflict "within the territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan."

On May 28-29, 2014, the 17th Ministerial Meeting of the NAM was held in Algeria. In Article 421 of the final document of the Ministerial Meeting, the member states expressed their regret that the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan remained unresolved despite the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and supported the settlement of the conflict within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The final document of the Mid-term Ministerial Conference of NAM held in Baku on April 4-6, 2018 expressed regret over the unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan despite the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and support for resolving the conflict within the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The next meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordination Bureau at the Ministerial level was held on July 18-21, 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela. The Caracas Final Document adopted at the end of the meeting reiterated the position of support reflected in previous documents on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict.

During the Baku Summit held on October 25-26, 2019, the Heads of State and Government expressed their regret that, despite the relevant UN Security Council resolutions (S/RES/822, S/RES/853, S/RES/874, S/RES/884) the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains unresolved and continues to endanger international and regional peace and security. They called on the parties to continue negotiations to resolve the conflict on the basis of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of international borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In this regard, the heads of state and government stressed the inadmissibility of the occupation of territories by force and reaffirmed that no state shall recognize the legitimacy of the situation resulting from the occupation of the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and not render aid or assistance in maintaining that situation, including through economic activities in these territories.

On April 4, 2020, the Coordinating Bureau of the Non- Aligned Movement adopted a Communiqué on the so-called "elections" held in the occupied territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Emphasizing that the seizure of territories by force is unacceptable, the document reaffirms that no state considers the situation created as a result of the occupation of the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan as legitimate. The communiqué states that the member states of the Movement do not recognize the so-called "presidential and parliamentary elections" held on March 31, 2020 in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan and consider this act illegal. Referring to Article 662 of the Final Document of the Baku Summit, The Coordinating Bureau once again expressed its support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders, as well as the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict on the basis of UN Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884.

On 9 October 2020, the next Ministerial Meeting of NAM were held in a virtual format on the sidelines of the UN GA 75^th session. The Ministerial Meeting coincided with the ongoing aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and therefore, an additional item “Discussion on recent armed attack by the Republic of Armenia against the positions of the armed forces and civilian settlements of the Republic of Azerbaijan, along the entire frontline” were included to the agenda of the meeting and a Special Declaration was adopted under that item. The Special Declaration expressed regret over the loss of life and the toll on the civilian population resulting from the resumption of hostilities in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, reaffirmed its support to the settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, extended their firm support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan and expressed their solidarity with the Republic of Azerbaijan in accordance with the principled position of NAM.

On 19 October 2020, closed consultations were held within the UN Security Council with the purpose to discuss the situation in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, where a draft statement of the President of the Security Council on the issue were discussed. As a result of solidarity spirit shown by the NAM Member States represented in the Security Council, the draft statement of the Security Council President that wasn’t referring to the 1993 Security Council resolutions on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict were not adopted.