HAVANA, Sept 16 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed on Friday that the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) should have a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council considering its role and status as the representative of the world's most populous countries.

In his address at the opening session Friday of the 14th NAM Summit, Ahmadinejad, who was talking as the representative of Asian states in the organisation, said NAM can play a crucial role in the international arena on account of its political capabilities.

Saying that the body at the present juncture shoulders a heavy responsibility, Ahmadinejad said that NAM member states can resist bullying and aggression by big powers by taking appropriate stances and decisions on major issues arising in today's world.

He added that the only way the 118-member organization can meet its responsibilities is through active interaction among its members.

Noting that NAM was originally intended to be a "bastion" for the world's independent countries, the president said there was no doubt its decisions could play a key role in bringing peace, justice and security to the entire world.

The summit, attended by heads of state and government of 118 member states, ends later today.