NAM Slams Unilateralism, Urges Multilateralism

"The Movement reiterates their strong concern at the growing resort to unilateralism and unilaterally imposed measures that undermine the UN Charter and international law, and further reiterate their commitment to promoting, preserving, revitalizing, reforming and strengthening multilateralism...," said the movement in a statement on Thursday.

The full text of the statement is as follows:

STATEMENT DELIVERED BY THE DELEGATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF

AZERBAIJAN, ON BEHALF OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM), WITHIN

THE FRAMEWORK OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE OF 76th SESSION OF THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY  

New York, 30 September 2021

Mr. Chair, 

1. It is an honor for the Republic of Azerbaijan to take the floor on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Mr. Chair,

2. During the XVIII Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held in October 2019 the Heads of State and Government reiteratedthat democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives. They also reaffirmedthat while all democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy, that it does not belong to any country or region, and further reaffirmedthe necessity of due respect for sovereignty and the right to self-determination, and their rejection to any attempt to breakdown constitutional and democratic orders legitimately established by the peoples.

3. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) stresses the importance of the General Assembly’s adoption of resolution 67/19 (29 November 2012), which accorded to Palestine the status of nonmember observer State in the United Nations, reflecting the international community’s longstanding, principled support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to self- determination, and for the two-State solution based on the pre1967 borders.

4. The NAM strongly believes that Israel as the occupying power has to be held accountable for its continued grave and systematic violations of both international human rights law and international humanitarian law in all occupied territories, including the Syrian Golan.

5- They also recognize that solidarity, the highest expression of respect, friendship, and peace among States, is a broad concept encompassing the sustainability of international relations, the peaceful coexistence, and the transformative objectives of equity and empowerment of developing countries, whose ultimate goal is to achieve the full economic and social development of their peoples. 

Mr. Chair,

6- The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) reaffirm that all human rights, including the right to development, are universal, inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and that human rights issues must be addressed within the global context through a constructive, non-confrontational, non-politicized and non-selective dialogue-based approach, in a fair and equal manner, with objectivity, respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, impartiality, nonselectivity and transparency as the guiding principles, taking into account the political, historical, social, religious and cultural particularities of each country.  

7- They also condemn manifestations and acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants and the stereotypes often applied to them, including on the basis of religion or belief, and urge States to apply and, where needed, reinforce the existing laws when xenophobic or intolerant acts, manifestations or expressions against migrants, in order to eradicate impunity for those who commit xenophobic and racist acts.

8- In addition, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) renews their commitment to promote and protect all universally recognized human rights, in particular the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and as an integral part of all universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms as it was highlighted in the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on 22 September 2016 to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development. 

Mr. Chair,

9- In this connection, we express our deep concern at the high volatility in global food prices which directly challenges the fundamental human right to food. The resulting and ongoing food crisis poses a serious challenge to the fight against poverty and hunger. The multiple and complex causes of this crisis require a comprehensive, coordinated and sustained response by the international community. We also emphasize the importance of strengthening the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture and the Committee on Food Security to help addressing and preventing recurrence of food crisis. 

10- To conclude, the Movement reiterates their strong concern at the growing resort to unilateralism and unilaterally imposed measures that undermine the UN Charter and international law, and further reiterate their commitment to promoting, preserving, revitalizing, reforming and strengthening multilateralism and the multilateral decisionmaking process through the UN, by strictly adhering to its Charter and international law, with the aim of creating a just and equitable world order and global democratic governance. 

                  Thank you, Mr. Chair.