Non-Aligned Movement seeks to end marginalization of poor

Non-Aligned Movement seeks to end marginalization of poor
countries

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.