Excellency President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Chairman
Honorable Heads of State of Governments of NAM Member Countries
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honor and pleasure for me to address the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement as a founding member as well as one of the main architects of the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement. On behalf of the Cambodian delegation, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on his assumption of the Chairmanship of the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, and thank the Government of Iran for the warm hospitality extended to my delegation. Taking this opportunity, I would like also to warmly welcome Azerbaijan and Fiji to be the members of NAM at this meeting.
Indeed, we are proud of the NAM’s achievements over the past five decades in struggling for many countries’ independence as well as providing the lagging countries with a neutral forum to use for the purpose of peace, security and harmonious development in the conformity with the principles of peaceful co-existence, democracy, cooperation and equitable development. At the same time, we acknowledge that the NAM community today is facing numerous global and regional challenges such as the deteriorating international peace and security situation, the fragility of the economic recovery of developed countries, prolonged severe debt crisis in the Eurozone, the ongoing social and political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, high oil prices, degraded food and energy security, climate change, frequent natural disasters, terrorism and transnational crime and so forth.
I believe that in this new context, the NAM community which comprises around 60% of the UN seats should work together to reactivate the vibrancy of the Movement and enhance its role and relevancy to protect the interests of developing countries as well as to take part in seeking solutions to major regional and global challenges. In this spirit, may I highlight some concrete priorities as follows:
First, strengthening the role of NAM along with other institutions concerned is an important catalyst to ensure peace, reduce tensions and promote peaceful solutions to conflicts at regional and global levels.
Second, continuing the agenda on the total elimination of nuclear weapons. In this regard, the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on Nuclear Weapons should be universalized and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTST) should be ratified by NAM members without further delay. At the same time, we should also emphasize on the undisputed rights of the countries in using nuclear energy for the purpose of peace and development.
Third, stepping up efforts and working closely with each other at national, regional and global levels to fight against the spread of the illicit use of small arm’s and light weapons and their cross border transfers. This task is critically important for both personal security and the fight against terrorism.
Fourth, strengthening South-South cooperation to maximize the great potentials that we have in order to achieve MDGs. This will also strengthen the independence and ownership of each nation state.
Fifth, promoting effective implementation of the Rio+20 outcomes including the pledges on provision of ODA, technology transfer and capacity building to enable the LDCs to reach agreed environmental goals. At the same time, we should continue to join hand in hand to prevent the reemergence of Protectionism in order to ensure favorable conditions for global trade as it is an important means to help the poor countries to reach MDGs.
Sixth, enhancing our engagement in global effort to address environmental challenges especially climate change, food and energy security, and green economy. In this sense, we should pay special attention to the intertwined issues between energy security and food security, between oil prices and food prices by putting them together as a package and coordinate them with population policy, education, economy, agriculture, transport and energy.
Before concluding, I would like to emphasize further that we should continue to strengthen the UN as a multilateral institution for global governance. Cambodia continues to support the expansion of both permanent and nonpermanent membership of UNSC, with the purpose to make the Council more transparent and effective.
Having experience in settling its domestic conflict through negotiation and national reconciliation, Cambodia has participated actively in UN peacekeeping operations to make contribution to the maintenance of global security and peaceful settlement of conflicts. For this cause, Cambodia has presented for the first time, its candidature for nonpermanent membership of the UNSC for 2013-2014 at the election to be held in October 2012. The invaluable support of all members of NAM will be necessary for Cambodia to succeed in its candidacy.
In closing, Mr. President, I would like to stress that Cambodia has been an active member of the NAM from inception. Cambodia is committed to supporting the Movement’s continuing struggle to overcome global challenges through seeking better balance in global governance based on the principles of peaceful co-existence, democracy, cooperation and equitable development.
Thank you all for your kind attention!
