Summit in Havana, Landmark for NAM
The 14th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Havana, September 11-16, is expected to be a turning point for a forum seeking its reactivation after overcoming complex international situations.

Preceding the NAM Summit of Heads of States or Government, Cuba presented a final declaration targeting the most urgent challenges the movement faces as a united entity that has learned from changes in the international policy during the last two decades.

Experts told Prensa Latina that neither the break-up of the Soviet Union and the socialist bloc, nor the one-sided world of today have undermined the spirit upon which the movement was built in Belgrade, former Yugoslavia, in1961.

Officials of the Cuban Foreign Ministry said the nonalignment of then-conflicting blocs (NATO and Warsaw Pact) are valid today, irrespective of the end of the Cold War.

The defense of multilateralism and principles of international law, and relations among nations are NAM imperatives to fight the US economic and military hegemony, and efforts for a one-sided world.

It also seeks to keep world peace and security, growth, economic cooperation and democratization of organizations such as the UN, which is yet to attain its original goals.

An element in favor of NAM is its numerous representatives in world forums, with a 116-state composition expected to increase to 118 with the accession of Haiti and Saint Kitts and Nevis in Havana.

In agreement with the performance of presidencies of South Africa (1998-2003) and Malaysia (2003-2006) to reenergize the movement, Cuba seeks to foster an Action Plan to jump from rhetoric to concrete actions.

From now on, NAM, chaired by Cuba between 1979 and 1983, must possess unity to support the work of the presidency and protect its historic and institutional memory.

Many people say it is the current heterogeneity of NAM, made up by 53 states of Africa, 38 of Asia, 24 of Latin America and the Caribbean, and one of Europe (Belarus) that constitutes the major force for its great strength.