State Minister Ahmed Khaleel delivers a statement at the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on the sidelines of UNGA77
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel attended and delivered a statement at the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) of the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Ministerial Meeting of NAM was held under the theme of “The Role for the Non-Aligned Movement in Post-Pandemic Global Recovery: The Way Forward”.
In his statement, State Minister Khaleel reflected on the various issues and crises happening around the world today, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. Noting that countries in special situations, such as LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS had to bear disproportionate burdens during the pandemic, he shed light on the importance of multilateral alliances such as NAM, in finding solutions to these global crises. On that note, State Minister Khaleel also highlighted the essential role played by international assistance, especially that from NAM member states, for the Maldives to have been able to contain the COVID-19 virus, expand its healthcare capacity and rollout a highly effective national vaccination programme.
State Minister Khaleel also called on NAM to take the initiative to provide direct economic assistance, concessional financing, and debt-relief to LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS members. He further stated that NAM must emphasize the need for a more sustainable debt-architecture, which includes both extending the loan-moratoriums enacted during the pandemic or outright debt-forgiveness.
State Minister Khaleel further elaborated on the effects of the climate crisis on member states, especially for SIDs such as the Maldives, and the need for climate financing and investment in mitigation and adaptation measures.
In conclusion, State Minister Khaleel called on NAM member states to come together to uphold the multilateral system and reiterated the Maldives’ commitment to the values and principles of NAM.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and was attended by up to fifty Foreign Ministers of NAM members states, as well as by Deputy Ministers and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations.