South Center Dir. Lauds Importance Of NAM Summit

Tehran, Aug 30, IRNA – Director of South Center based in Geneva, Martin Khor, said the current NAM summit is of crucial importance given ongoing global economic conditions. Khor, speaking to IRNA on the sidelines of the meeting of foreign ministers of NAM, said, “We are having economic slowdown and it is very serious.” He said the NAM states are searching for their political and economic independence in the future, adding that the summit is taking place at a very critical moment. He went on to say the summit is important because every three years the leaders come and meet. “These countries have a common history. These countries are colonized. So when they get out of colonialism, they coordinate their policies and get more independent in the future.” The South Centre (the Centre) is an intergovernmental organization of developing countries established by an Intergovernmental Agreement (Treaty) which came into force on 31 July 1995 with its headquarters in Geneva. The South Centre has grown out of the work and experience of the South Commission and its follow-up mechanism, and from recognition of the need for enhanced South-South cooperation. The South Centre is intended to meet the need for analysis of development problems and experience, as well as to provide intellectual and policy support required by developing countries for collective and individual action, particularly in the international arena. Iran is a member of South Center./end