Pakistan foreign minister for dialogue on Iran's nuclear program

Foreign ministers from NAM states began two days of discussions to prepare the ground for the organization’s summit on Thursday and Friday.

She noted, “Growing confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program threatens further instability in the region, however a peaceful solution of the problem is still possible.”

Ms Khar’s statement is actually in line with other country-members, as all felt “unilateral” actions by western powers in the Iranian nuclear dossier were highly condemnable, especially when it entailed sanctions against Teheran and other nations. Several country-members –developing nations - called for a greater say in the decision –making process at the United Nations.

Other issues, including a call for the creation of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, and an appeal for nuclear disarmament, particularly in the Middle East were raised up and discussed.

At an interactive debate on “Lasting peace through joint global governance”, Ms Khar stressed the need to follow NAM’s founding principles , which are based on peaceful coexistence, respect for human rights and the territorial integrity of all states, as to ensure an enduring peace and progress in the world.
The foreign minister said that achieving peace and security on the basis of equality was one of our time most challenging issues.

 “We all know peace and development are mutually reinforcing and that without peace we cannot even think of development and prosperity,” she stressed.

Ms. Khar called for a just solution of the Palestinian issue on the basis of” Palestinians’ right to self-determination” and emphasized that the region needed to immediately put an end to Syria’s bloodshed. Moreover, the Foreign Minister explained that Afghanistan would need NAM’ support as it moved towards its transition phase in 2014.

The NAM is a 120-member organization, which was founded in 1961, at the height of the Cold War, by nations considering themselves independent of the US-led Western bloc or the then-Soviet Union. It represents nearly two-thirds of the UN’s 193 member states, accounting for much of the developing world.

It has also generally taken on an anti-US bent, as evidenced by the presence of Russian and Chinese delegations — but no U.S. ones — invited to observe the Tehran summit. The language used in documents often criticizes U.S. policies on Iran, Cuba and the Palestinian issue.

Overall, NAM seeks greater accountability from the U.N. Security Council and a greater weight for the U.N General Assembly — where it is strongly represented — in making global decisions.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon will be attending the Tehran summit, in a customary observer role, despite criticism from the United States and Israel.