Mahama urges Non-Aligned Movement to turn declarations into action

President John Dramani Mahama has urged the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to move beyond declarations and use its collective influence to deliver concrete results on global challenges.

Speaking at a high-level commemorative meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, to mark the 65th anniversary of the first Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, President Mahama said the Movement’s relevance should be demonstrated through coordinated action rather than its numbers.

“We must move from declarations to actions,” he said.

President Mahama recalled the words of former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito at the inaugural NAM conference in Belgrade on September 1, 1961, when he argued that non-aligned countries could no longer remain mere observers and voters in matters affecting global peace.

Sixty-five years later, President Mahama said that principle remains relevant as the world faces growing tensions and uncertainty.

He said NAM’s collective strength should be measured by its ability to translate its influence into coordinated diplomacy and practical outcomes.

“This profound assertion remains very relevant. The movement’s strength should be measured not only by our numbers but also by our ability to translate its collective weight into coordinated diplomacy and practical outcomes,” he said.

President Mahama called for stronger consultation among member states, particularly within the United Nations and other multilateral institutions where their interests overlap.

He said greater coordination would allow NAM countries to exercise their collective influence more effectively in international affairs.

“We must strengthen consultation and coordination among member states, particularly within the United Nations and other multilateral institutions where our interests converge,” he said.

The President also called for stronger follow-up to decisions taken at NAM summits and ministerial conferences.

He urged member states to identify strategic priorities on which the Movement could have the greatest impact instead of allowing declarations and resolutions to remain without concrete action.

“We should therefore strengthen follow-up decisions of our summits and ministerial conferences and focus on strategic priorities where the movement can have meaningful impact,” he said.

The meeting marked 65 years since the first Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries was held in Belgrade.

Host President Aleksandar Vučić said Serbia was committed to building stronger partnerships with NAM member states.

He also announced plans to create opportunities for more students from NAM countries to study in Serbia.

 

Source: AssaseRadio