King’s youth empowerment efforts hailed

Baku, Apr.6 (BNA): Assistant Foreign Minister, Abdulla bin Faisal bin Jabr Al Doseri, led the delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the mid-term ministerial meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in its 18th session held on April 5 and 6in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, in the presence of 120 member- countries and observer states as well as international organizations. The Assistant Foreign Minister delivered the speech of the Kingdom of Bahrain, thanking the Republic of Azerbaijan for hosting the meeting and describing the event as an important opportunity to evaluate and review the latest developments since the 2016 Margarita Summit. It is also important in that it is an occasion for member states to study the implications of the present challenges and their impact on world states, particularly the member - states amid the difficult international global conditions that necessitate adoption of common positions on many issues of common concern, he noted. He stressed that the Non-Aligned Movement should continue to cooperate with international organizations, especially the United Nations, to achieve the set NAM goals and principles since the 1955 Indonesia’s Bandung Conference in to reach common visions in the interest of all Member States This is, he added, in order to peacefully solve conflicts, address financial and economic crises through a fair international trading system, especially for developing countries as well as to combat terrorism, promote democracy and spread a culture of tolerance and respect for human rights. “These are the very issues that, once committed to, will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, their implementation in full and by all through the 20130 agenda dimensions: economic, social and environmental, considering the priorities and different approaches of all the countries.” He stressed the importance of adopting the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and shunning the policies that pose a threat to the stability of the neighboring countries, interfere in their internal affairs or undermine their security, either directly or indirectly or through continued media incitement. The Assistant Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of NAM’s continued support for the Palestinian cause and the right of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and establish their independent state within June 4, 1967 borders, with the Holy Quds as the capital of Palestine in accordance with UN resolutions and related international conventions. The meeting paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa foe his youth empowerment efforts and the Kingdom of Bahrain’s implementation of the sustainable development goals as one of its pioneering initiatives. It welcomed the King's pioneering award which he launched at the Youth Forum of United Nations Economic and Social Council titled " King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to Achieve the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs " and opened it for the participation of all countries of the world. The statement of the Ministerial Meeting welcomed the kind patronage of the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, of the World Forum for Entrepreneurship and Investment 2017, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain in November last year and its culmination into the Manama Declaration on Achieving SDGs through Entrepreneurship. A final document containing more than 550 paragraphs covering all topics and issues of interest to the Movement's member- states was adopted along with Baku declaration that outlined the main issues and challenges facing the member states, including terrorism, proliferation of nuclear arms and weapons of mass destruction. It also covered human rights causes, rights of peoples to self-determination, illegal collective sanctions against NAM member states, emergency humanitarian conditions of the refugees, enforced displacement and the importance of focus on achievement of the SDGs at a time the world is facing several challenges, conflicts, changes, crises and climate change.