BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/05/2006

NAM's Potential Under-utilised, Says Belarus

By Soraya Jamal

PUTRAJAYA, May 30 (Bernama) -- The Non-Alignment Movement's (NAM) sole European member, Belarus sees the movement as a very important force in the world but its potential is very much under utilised.

Its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Martynov said NAM needed to adopt a concept of a multipolar and multilateral system, where it can become one of the world's central power, thus limiting superpower dominance.

"We share the same goal as what your foreign minister (Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar) wrote in the theme song, 'NAM Shall Lead The Way'," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the NAM Coordinating Bureau (NAM-CoB) Ministerial Meeting here.

He said NAM needed to become more active and united, therefore Belarus appreciated topics discussed here in Malaysia which touched on cohesiveness and dynamics of NAM.

"The greatest challenge is in the essence of cohesiveness within NAM and its multilateral roles, and of course the underline would be development issues, disarmament issues and others," he said.

Martynov said social economic issues, in relation to the people's needs, should also be actively discussed within NAM to help under-developed countries.

Citing the global digital divide issue as an example, Martynov said the movement must make particular emphasis on the need to rapidly advance NAM countries in information and communication technology.

Martynov said since part of NAM's virtue is diversity, Belarus can provide the European perspective.

Martynov earlier met Syed Hamid in discussing bilateral topics, among others, in enhancing ties between the countries at the top level.

"We would also like to have more economic intercourse with Malaysia," he said adding that Belarus is really thankful for Malaysia's active role and pragmatic approach during its chairmanship in NAM.

Source:

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=200795