NAM members seeks to end marginalization of poor states

NAM members seeks to end marginalization of poor states

Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur

Non-aligned countries appealed on Tuesday for globalization to benefit poor nations and vowed to work together to command a bigger voice on the world stage.

The Non-Aligned Movement concluded a two-day summit by adopting a Kuala Lumpur declaration setting out its goals to transform the grouping from a Cold War relic to an advocate for developing countries in strengthening their relations with wealthy nations.

"It is imperative for the movement to promote multilateralism (and) better defend the interests of developing countries and prevent their marginalization," the document said.

It noted that since the movement was founded a half-century ago during the Cold War to navigate between the West and the former Soviet bloc, new threats have emerged, including terrorism, while economic and technological change has so far benefited rich nations more than the poor.

"Globalization should lead to the prospering and empowering of the developing countries, not their continued impoverishment and dependence on the wealthy and developed world," the document said.

It called for making technological advances more readily available so developing countries can modernize their economies and bridge the digital divide between already rich nations and those struggling to catch up.

The declaration urged the strengthening of the United Nations, saying that small countries had a chance of influencing decisions affecting their people only by using multilateral institutions.

The movement will promote dialogue with the Group of Eight industrial powers - the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada and Russia - so its views are "fully taken into account before importuned decisions affecting developing countries are made," the declaration said.