IMPORTANT FOR NAM TO HOLD TRUE TO INDEPENDENT VOICE, SAYS S' PORE FM

SINGAPORE, May 27 (Bernama) -- Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has stressed that it is important for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to hold true to its core principles of an independent voice and unity in diversity, while remaining lean and flexible.

He was reported by local television Channel NewsAsia as saying this at the 16th Ministerial Conference and Commemorative Meeting of the 50th Anniversary of NAM in Bali, Indonesia.

Shanmugam also made separate introductory calls on his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman and his Bruneian counterpart Prince Mohamed Bolkiah on the sidelines of the conference on Wednesday.

He noted the warm relationship and good progress made in bilateral cooperation with both countries.

In his speech, he noted that Indonesia was the right venue to hold the meeting.

The country was where the foundation for the establishment of NAM was laid at the Bandung Conference 56 years ago.
-- BERNAMA