Non-aligned meeting rejects imperialist threats

The 14th Summit Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was held in Havana, Cuba, from Sept. 11 to 16 in a climate of ominous threats from the U.S. imperialist colossus—particularly against the movement’s member states of Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Venezuela.

Nevertheless, the gathering of 118 nations reaffirmed its solidarity with the Palestinian people, supported Iran's contention that all countries have the right to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and urged solidarity among member countries to better respond to global threats and challenges.

While the U.S. government was sending its officials around the world trying to rally allies in order to give a veneer of legitimacy to its threats and interventionist actions, 57 heads of state and 90 foreign ministers were in Havana for the meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Revolutionary socialist Cuba had been selected to host the meeting. According to NAM rules, the host nation is also the chair of the NAM for the next three years, putting President Fidel Castro in that position of honor for the second time.

In a speech to the NAM Summit on Sept. 15, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez eloquently put in perspective the path that NAM has taken during the last two decades.

He brought to memory the earlier role of NAM in the creation of an important South Commission in 1986 that would analyze the common problems of the countries of the South and draw conclusions and lessons in the interest of the organization’s members. But after the completion of the report based on the work of that commission, nothing was put into effect.

Chávez explained: “The Third World experienced what we could call the illusion of economic growth, the illusion that economic growth would bring development.” But then came “the disorder of the economic model, the crisis of the 1980s, foreign debt and recession.

“At the same time the report was presented, the Soviet Union fell, contributing to a greater world destabilization. The U.S., its allies and world capitalism then rose up to sing of victory.”

Chávez concluded, “This is when they unleashed, against the people not only of Latin America but also of Africa, Asia and Oceania, the neoliberal proposal. The so-called Washington Consensus, structural adjustment packages, privatization, the reduction of state, the elimination of planning.”

‘New NAM’—
Cuba’s moral leadership

This situation is precisely what Cuba intends to rectify. Cuba has a wealth of experience in dealing with the most adverse situations—including a criminal blockade imposed by the U.S. for over 45 years. Cuba’s role in the international community in providing health care, medicines, education and technical expertise makes this revolutionary nation a bastion of dignity. Generally, it takes nothing in return and is respected worldwide.

Cuba, as small as it is and as poor as it is, is a real world power of morality and generosity.

In the summit’s opening, Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage summed up Cuba’s expectations for this summit: “Our movement is essential to the quest for a new system of international relations. We do not align ourselves to wars, to terrorism, to injustice, to inequality, to double standards. We align ourselves to peace and to justice. We must fight for a world in which aggression and occupation by any country in search of material or geopolitical gains is unthinkable, in which acts of aggression of the kind the Lebanese people endure today or the atrocities committed by Israel in Palestine are not permitted.”

These ideas were behind the 90-page final document adopted by the NAM heads of state.

In the closing ceremony, underscoring the success of the conference in such a trying period and with so many diverse countries, Cuban Acting-President Raul Castro said, “The fact that an atmosphere of understanding prevailed during this Summit and that we were able to reach solid consensuses, even in the most complex issues, clearly shows that we have decided to give priority to that which unites us, in order to face, together, the effects of the economic and political order imposed upon us by the powerful, an order which is not only profoundly unfair but also unsustainable.”

Cuban Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, due to his recent abdominal surgery, had to remain in his convalescent room. But he was not left out of the Summit. He was the most “absentee-present” figure there, following the debates closely and meeting sepa rately with many people, including United Nations Secre tary General Kofi Annan, Bolivian President Evo Morales and Chávez.

Argentinean writer and government repre sentative Miguel Bonasso also met with and interviewed Castro twice, at the Cuban leader’s request. Argentina had left NAM in 1991 under the presidency of Carlos Menem due to his U.S. ties. But current President Nestor Kirchner requested that Argentina participate in the Cuban Sum mit. Bonasso was part of that delegation.

Underscoring the interest in Fidel Castro by international media, foreign dignitaries and the Cuban people, Bonasso writes: “I’ve spent the last two days giving interviews about the interview [with Castro] and receiving greetings and inquiries from hundreds of delegates at the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.

“Princes with turbans, presidents from three continents, ministers, ambassadors of the Third and First World have all asked me about Fidel’s health. Also many humble and anonymous Cubans—like those who open a door or bring you a mojito—have asked me with watery eyes and emotion: ‘Did the commander really look well? Does he stand up without help? Does he walk? Has he regained some weight?’”

NAM’s background

The NAM is composed of 118 developing nations. Haiti and Saint Kitts-Nevis just joined during this summit.

It was founded in 1961, with 25 countries represented, at the height of the Cold War. At its first Summit Conference in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the central principle was to be independence and neutrality from the military blocs of NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Cuba, showing even in its earliest revolutionary days its commitment to international solidarity, was the only nation present from Latin America and the Caribbean at the Belgrade Summit.

At a preparatory meeting held in Cairo three months earlier, the criteria for membership were adopted. The main points were for a principle of independent policy and non-alignment; support for Move ments of National Independence; and non-membership in any military alliance. (nam.gov.za)

However, the history of the NAM dates back to post-war 1955 when the famous Asia-Africa Conference was held in Ban dung, Indonesia. “The meeting was convened upon the invitation of the Prime Ministers of Burma, Ceylon, India, Indo nesia and Pakistan, and brought together leaders of 29 states, mostly former colon ies, from the two continents of Africa and Asia, to discuss common concerns and to develop joint policies in international relations.” (nam.gov.za)

That conference was led by Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indonesian President Sukarno and Egyp tian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

In spite of its neutrality from both military blocs, one thing is very clear: Since its inception this entity had as its most crucial purpose an anti-imperialist pursuit. As the NAM website reads, “At the meeting, Third World leaders shared their similar problems of resisting the pressures of the major powers, maintaining their independence and opposing colonialism and neocolonialism, especially Western domination.”

Now the NAM, according to an article in Gambia’s Daily Observer on Sept. 13 entitled “Cuba Summit: Crucial for Non-Aligned Movement,” is comprised of 53 African countries, 38 from Asia, 24 from Latin America and the Caribbean, and one from Europe, which is Belarus.

According to official data, these countries together possess 51 percent of the world’s population, 53 percent of its coasts, 44 percent of its forests, 45 percent of its arable land and 86 percent of its reserves.