NAM ministers discuss Palestine and Bosnia
NAM ministers discuss Palestine and Bosnia
By Santi WE Soekanto
BANDUNG (JP): Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) yesterday tackled sensitive international political issues, concentrating on the peace process in Palestine and Bosnia Herzegovina.
In addition to the main plenary sessions, two separate meetings were held yesterday to discuss the issues of Bosnia Herzegovina and Israeli occupation in Palestine.
Delegates of the 112-member group of countries are in Bandung, 180-kilometers south of Jakarta, for a three-day Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau.
Palestine's Foreign Affairs Minister Farouk Qaddoumi briefed the meeting on the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and also on the latest developments in the ongoing peace process in the Middle East.
Consisting of representatives of Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, India, Palestine, Senegal and Zimbabwe, the committee issued a strong statement regarding the conditions in the territory.
The ministers said that "international action is immediately needed to protect the Palestinians under occupation against the violations by Israel of the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the principles and objectives of the international humanitarian law".
The ministers called upon the UN Security Council to take immediate action and measures to provide such protection in accordance with its resolutions 681 (90) and 904 (94).
On the peace process, the ministers "regretted and expressed their concern that, after more than three years, the peace process in the territory has not yet achieved positive and concrete results".
"The ministers are of the opinion that Israel should withdraw its forces from the occupied Palestinian territory including Jerusalem," according to an official statement issued by the group.
They called for a more active involvement of the UN and the international community, particularly the developed countries, to contribute to the reconstruction and development of Palestine.
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Alatas said after the meeting yesterday that the ministers wished to remind the UN that it has a continuing responsibility to find solutions.
On the question of Bosnia, the ministers discussed the current cease-fire which will end on May 1.
Although Bosnia is not yet a member of NAM, the meeting decided to invite Bosnian Foreign Affairs Minister Irfan Ljubijankic to explain his views on the issue.
Indonesia again offered to facilitate and explore alternative solutions to the conflicts.
The two main sessions yesterday completed discussions on the NAM campaign for the restructuring, revitalization and democratization of the United Nations Security Council. Another meeting was held last night to discuss the nuclear Non- proliferation Treaty.
Alatas said that discussions also focused on the latest developments in Burundi, Somalia, Afghanistan and a number of other countries.
Today the ministers will discuss the preparations for the transfer of leadership of the movement at the coming summit in Cartagena, in October, to host Colombia.
On the sidelines, Indonesia yesterday held bilateral talks with representatives of Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Mozambique and Sierra Leone. The latter two countries have asked Indonesia and the other NAM members for greater economic assistance and other support.
Alatas specifically expressed Indonesia's regret over the violations of a cease-fire in Sri Lanka by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam secessionists and the outbreak of fresh armed conflicts there.
"We support Sri Lanka's government, which has shown its goodwill in its efforts to resolve the conflict," Alatas said.