Colombia says NAM needs 'people first' model

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

CARTAGENA DE INDIAS, Colombia (JP): President Ernesto Samper Pizano of Colombia quickly stamped his mark on the leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Wednesday by suggesting an alternative development model that puts "people first".

In his inauguration speech shortly after taking over the chairmanship from President Soeharto of Indonesia, Samper described the model as one that would create citizens who are more politically aware and more economically productive.

"We need an alternative development model that will allow us to create a new citizens ready to tackle the challenges of the 21st century," he said after formally accepting the ceremonial gavel from Soeharto at the opening ceremony of NAM's 11th summit.

The two-day summit, held in this scenic Colombian coastal town overlooking the Caribbean Sea, is being attended by 95 of the group's 113 member countries.

Fifty-two delegations are led by heads of government. They include some of the most outspoken and often controversial, if not colorful, Third World country leaders: Cuba's President Fidel Castro, Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

The presence of United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali lends credence to the summit of this movement which some critics have dismissed as no longer relevant after the end of the Cold War.

The last three years have shown that NAM remains an important forum for developing countries. Under Indonesia's leadership, NAM has turned its attention more to economic development and less to the anti-West rhetoric of the past.

Soeharto, in his speech kicking off the summit, underlined the need for NAM to continue with its objective of establishing a new world order that is based on the principles of social justice, welfare and peace.

NAM still has an unfinished agenda, he said, pointing out the poverty prevailing in many developing countries and inequalities under the global economic system.

Samper emphasized the unfinished agenda, saying that if NAM wants to grow stronger, it must draw closer to its peoples. "We believe that people must be the nucleus of the movement."

He said non-alignment no longer merely means freedom to determine one's own national interests, but also the right not to be aligned with poverty, pollution, drugs, oppression, suffering and dictatorship.

Both Samper and Boutros-Ghali extolled Indonesia's leadership.

"It is thanks to Indonesia's commitment that we today receive a movement which is more active in world affairs," Samper said.

Boutros-Ghali stated that the past three years has been marked by tireless efforts to sustain and build upon the North-South dialog and to enhance South-South cooperation.

Other issues brought up during the opening day were the protectionist tendencies detrimental to efforts to eradicate poverty and pushing greater economic development.

Concern was shown at the rise of neo-protectionism which restricts the access of products to the wealthiest countries' markets through the application of quasi-tariff, as well as administrative, customs and health restrictions.

Poetically, Samper described the current situation as "something similar to what we all feel about heaven is happening with free trade. We all know that we must go there, but no one wants to go just yet."

Samper pointed out that many of the topics that preoccupy NAM require instruments such as the United Nations. "It is our intention to democratize the mechanism and procedures of the United Nations," he said.

Boutros-Ghali noted that on the eve of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the UN in New York, a unified political direction from NAM would help that world body to fulfill the promises upon which it was founded. "With the non-aligned at its heart, the United Nations can at last serve the people of the world as they must be served."

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad spoke harshly of the performance of the UN in handling global tragedies, particularly the armed conflict in Bosnia Herzegovina.

"The present UN and the Security Council cannot be entrusted with the task of forestalling such tragedies," he said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto noted the lack of access that the developing countries have to international media organizations to put forth their case.

Leaders -- Page 2

Editorial -- Page 4

Bhutto -- Page 12