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NAM okays India's proposal, calls for global meet on terrorism

The Non-Aligned Movement today called for an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate an organised response to the menace of terrorism.

The approval to this proposal was given by the preparatory meeting of senior officials, which concluded its discussion on the international situation during the marathon session. The meeting lasted till the wee hours on Monday morning.

There was consensus that the problem of terrorism should be tackled in all its forms and manifestations.

The draft adopted by the meeting is similar to the one proposed by Indian representatives at the summit, which suggested an international action plan to combat terrorism, NAM secretariat sources said.

Meanwhile, the preparatory meeting of the foreign ministers of the NAM countries began in Durban today with a call by host South Africa for a ''global offensive'' by the developing nations so that the process of globalisation favours the poor and protects the sovereignty of the weakest states.

Inaugurating the two-day meeting, attended by 110 foreign ministers, including Minister of State for External Affairs Vasudhara Raje, South African Vice-President Thabo Mbeki said the NAM should be an important voice to influence the world economy in such a manner that ensured the ''transfer of resources from those who have them to those that do not.''

He said the process of globalisation inevitably affects the sovereignty of the states, with the weakest, mainly developing countries, being the biggest losers. So it becomes necessary that ''we become an important voice.''

Soon after the inaugural session of the preparatory meeting, the foreign ministers started extensive discussions on political and economic issues that are being faced by the developing nations.

India's representative in the economic committee has pleaded for the endorsement of the ''economic agenda for the south'' to overcome protectionist policies of the developed and industrialised nations.

India is working closely with South Africa and Sri Lanka on the economic agenda, Raje said before the start of the meeting.

Referring to protectionist policies of the industrialised natiioins, Mbeki said, ''We must radically review the manner in which we make out intervention into such important organisations.''

UNI

EARLIER REPORT:

Indian action plan against terrorism finds support at NAM

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