The meeting of the foreign ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member countries, which will last until October 24, is taking place in Baku in anticipation of the 18th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the NAM member countries.
Representatives of 158 countries and international organizations confirmed their participation in the summit. The event will be attended by foreign ministers, heads of state and government and other senior representatives.
The chairmanship in the organization was handed over by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Alberto Arreaza Montserrat to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Azerbaijan will chair this structure in 2019-2022.
Expressing gratitude, Mammadyarov said that during the chairmanship in the structure, Azerbaijan will carry out the necessary work to develop the organization and strengthen ties among the member countries.
Bringing the activity of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in line with the new realities is one of the important tasks, he noted.
"The NAM plays an important role in strengthening peace and security. Today, one of the important tasks is to bring the activity of this structure in line with new realities," the Azerbaijani FM pointed out,
Azerbaijan became a member of this organization in May 2011 and "for that time was able to gain confidence and become the chairing country of this structure," he said.
"Azerbaijan pursues an independent policy, it doesn’t enter into military organizations and military blocs. During the chairmanship, Azerbaijan’s priority will be the expansion of opportunities for youth, ensuring active participation of the youth in state administration, solving their social problems," Mammadyarov said.
"Azerbaijan initiated the first youth summit in Baku. More than 40 youth representatives from the countries of NAM will participate in this summit," the diplomat stressed.
NAM, uniting the countries which did not join any military-political blocs during the Cold War, was transformed into one of the important multilateral mechanisms. Today, the NAM is the second political platform after the UN, uniting in its ranks the biggest number of countries.
