Havana, Sep 17 (Xinhua) The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) nations launched a far-reaching reactivation process in their week-long Havana Summit which concluded here Sunday morning, vowing to close ranks in the face of new threats in the contemporary world.
The need to preserve, revitalise and strengthen the NAM's role in world affairs is one of the top themes in the 14th summit of the association of 118 nations.
The NAM member countries called for multilateralism, the UN reform and social economic development. They expressed determination to defend the right of the peoples to peace, sovereignty and self-determination; oppose the use of war or the threat of its use to solve international problems; recognise the right of each country to its own economic, social and political system and preserve its culture and the UN Charter.
The NAM defended the right of all countries to peacefully use nuclear energy, including the right to enrich uranium for producing electricity. It also rejected all terrorism against civilian populations.
The movement strongly condemned the acts of aggression against Lebanon and violations committed by the Israeli government, while expressing solidarity and support for the people and government of Lebanon, and respect for its territorial integrity.
A statement, issued by the NAM summit, called for the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from within the Gaza Strip and urged Israel to immediately release all detained Palestinian officials.
The summit decided that the next NAM conference would be held in Egypt in 2009.
About 3,000 delegates from more than 100 countries, including 56 heads of state or government and 90 foreign ministers, attended the summit.
Two new members joined the Movement: Haiti, and St. Kitts and Nevis, bringing NAM's membership to 118 nations, almost two-thirds of the member-states of the UN.