This year marks the sixtieth (60th) anniversary of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM), and Botswana has reaffirmed commitment to the movement.
“As a country with abiding faith in values of democracy and good governance, Botswana continues to show commitment to the principles of the Movement since joining in 1960.” said Minister Kwape.The Minister further reminisced about the yesteryears when Botswana was surrounded by apartheid regimes. Botswana played genuine part to support the efforts of the NAM and those of the liberation movements in the region, in the best way possible.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Honourable Dr. Lemogang Kwape spoke boldly on the need to conform to the core principles of NAM. Kwape encouraged member states to keep the fire burning.
“We must not relent in our resolve to eliminate any form of intolerance, discrimination and hatred on the basis of colour, religion, gender or otherwise. Let us all unite to fully implement the recent outcomes of the Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action . If it is to remain relevant, NAM has to also continue to adapt to new and emerging challenges we face, and thereby reconfirming itself as a key player on topical issues, straddling peace and security, development and human rights. As the NAM, we can remain the voice through which our peoples can realise development and social justice– and we must continue to speak with one voice in different fora, especially at the United Nations — on issues affecting our countries, with the view to fast track realisation of the SDGs.” urged Kwape.
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum of One hundred and twenty (120) developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. The movement originated in the 1950s as an effort by some countries to avoid the polarized world of the Cold War between the pro-Soviet communist countries belonging to the Warsaw Pact, and the pro-American capitalist countries belonging to NATO.
