Afghan foreign minister to attend the Non-aligned Movement summit in Havana , Cuba on behalf of the president of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Mainly in these summits the Heads of the states or the foreign ministers participate on behalf of their countries. These meetings are due on 15 and 16 September 2006 in Havana.

The Non-aligned Movement was initially formed by five countries in the 1955 in Bandung/Indonesia. Right now 116 countries around the world have the membership of this Movement. The objective of this Movement was to have an independent stand during the years of cold war for their countries, but this Movement has now turned to be a summit of cooperation for the developing countries.

This is the 14 th summit of the NAM. Afghanistan is one of the founders of this Movement. Prior to the commencement of this summit there will be a conference of the senior officials of the member countries on 10 and 11 September 2006 and followed by that on 13 and 14 September 2006 the foreign ministers of the member countries will meet in Havana.

At the margin of this summit, the representatives of the least developed and land locked countries (LDCs/LLDCs) will meet. Based on the Brussels Action Program the assistance for these countries has been increased. In the recent conference of these countries, held from 7-8 June 2006, Afghanistan brought up the concept of post conflict countries and included that into the final declaration of this conference. It was agreed there that the least developed countries should be assisted. There are 50 countries on the list of Least Developed and Land Locked countries (LDCs).

The foreign minister of the Islamic republic of Afghanistan after participation in the summit will join the high ranking officials headed by HE president Hamid Karzai. They will participate in the 61 st session of the General Assembly of the United Nation in New York. The Afghan foreign minister will return to Afghanistan at the end of September.

Spokesman’s office, MOFA.