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International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Deputy Minister Marius Fransman successfully led South Africa’s delegation to the XVI Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Tehran, Iran.

Iran is the Chair of the NAM for the period 2012 to 2015.

The Summit, themed, “Lasting Peace through Joint Global Governance”, concluded on Friday, 31 August 2012, with the adoption of the Final Outcome Document.

The Outcome Document focuses on three major areas i.e. global governance issues, including the review of the international situation; regional and sub-regional issues in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean; and development, social and human rights issues.

Member States of the NAM considered current international developments and various issues related to the Movement such as Israel’s recent prevention of the NAM Committee on Palestine to meet in Ramallah; the situation in Syria; the reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council and the General Assembly.

Common challenges facing all NAM members including the financial crises, sustainable economic development, peace and security, human rights, democracy and rule of law, climate change, and meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were among the issues also deliberated during the summit.

Deputy Minister Fransman participated in the NAM Committee on Palestine held on the margins of the summit and delivered South Africa’s statement at the Summit’s Ministerial interactive debate.

During the aforementioned deliberations, the Deputy Minister stated that the situation in the Middle East, particularly the plight of the Palestinians and their struggle for self determination, should remain at the core of the Movement’s efforts for global peace and security.

Deputy Minister Fransman stressed that the Movement should be repositioned to be at the centre of global governance where the needs of people are addressed - bearing in mind that freedom, justice and equality are meaningless in the face of persistent poverty.

During the Summit, the Deputy Minister held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Africa, Asia and the Middle East on issues of mutual interest. During these talks, Deputy Minister Fransman and his counterparts discussed regional and security issues, as well as the revitalisation of the work of the Movement and enhancing intra-trade relations between NAM Member States.

Through its participation at the XVI NAM Summit, South Africa continued to advance the principles underlying South-South cooperation and recommitted itself to working with NAM Member States in creating political, economic and social unity in the fight against poverty and under-development.