Islam Times - Iran invites heads of state of southern African nations to NAM summit

Islam Times - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has invited the leaders of the African continent’s southern nations to participate in the forthcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Director General for African Affairs Valiollah Mohammadi extended President Ahmadinejad’s invitations to the heads of state of Swaziland, Mozambique and Zambia to attend the NAM summit in the Iranian capital.

In a meeting with Mohammadi, senior officials of the three countries expressed hope that their respective governments will take part in the Tehran summit at the highest level.

The sides also highlighted the significance of bolstering relations in all fields.

Mohammadi, who arrived in the South African capital of Pretoria Friday night, is expected to travel to Seychelles and Mauritius to extend President Ahmadinejad’s invitation to the leaders of the two countries as well.

NAM, an international organization with 120 member states and 17 observer countries, is considered as not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

The organization was founded in the former Yugoslavia in 1961. The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement represent nearly two-thirds of the UN members and contain 55% of the world population.

NAM's purpose, as stated in the Havana Declaration of 1979, is to ensure “the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries.”