Former Prime Minister of India - Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

PM's Statement to the Indian Media

I am reaching the conclusion of a productive visit to Kuala Lumpur for the NAM Summit. This is an important Summit in the history of the Non Aligned Movement. It is looking at ways to revitalise the agenda of the Movement in response to the contemporary world environment. It is grappling with issues of multi-lateralism and terrorism. Naturally, the developments relating to Iraq have taken centre stage at the Summit.

The Summit Communiqué and the Kuala Lumpur Declaration are to be issued later today. We are satisfied that we have been able to put across to other NAM leaders our perspectives on the future course that the Movement should take to advance the interests of the developing countries in a globalizing world. In my statement at the Summit, I outlined five points which, in our view, NAM should adopt as its guiding principles for its future development. It should have a clear consensus on key issues of common concern to developing countries. It should not get involved in contentious bilateral problems between its member states. NAM should develop into a major pole in a multipolar world. South-South cooperation should become a major economic plank of the Movement. All NAM countries should promote the values of democracy, human rights and multiculturism.

NAM is today refashioning itself to better address post-Cold War realities. If it avoids divisive issues and focuses on the core issues of its political and economic agenda, it can develop into an important pole in a multipolar world.

The NAM Business Forum was a good beginning of an institutionalised interaction between business and industry of the developing countries. I hope it will initiate a process of closer interaction between businesses of all our countries. The NAM business Portal can also make a major contribution to this, if it can attract wide participation from other countries and if it is regularly updated and geared for real-time information exchanges.

I had an excellent bilateral interaction with Prime Minister Mahathir. We agreed that the implementation of decisions taken during his visit to India in October last year was proceeding satisfactorily.

My bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Nigeria, Iran, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe, the First Vice President of Sudan, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius were very useful, both to exchange views on matters under discussion at this Summit and to discuss the progress in our bilateral relations. Later this evening, I will be meeting the Presidents of Sri Lanka and Cuba, and the Prime Minister of Nepal.