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by Sabina Di Muro
CARACAS, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The 17th Non-Aligned Movement Summit (NAM) will be held from Sept. 13-18 on the island of Margarita, located off the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta.
Venezuela is still checking all the details about hosting representatives from 120 members, who have traditionally struggled to establish a multi-polar world and a new economic order.
The NAM is the second largest international body, after the United Nations, with 53 members from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean, two from Europe, as well as 17 observer countries and 10 observer organizations.
In March, during a preparatory meeting for the NAM Summit, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said "Venezuela will assume in September the rotating presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement, with the intent to continue building a new multi-polar architecture and the independence of our people."
According to Rodriguez, the founding principles of the NAM outline basic objectives, namely establishing an alliance of independent states, the installation of the non-aligned sensibility alongside the international politics of the great powers and the construction of a fair, inclusive, transparent and efficient system of global governance.
"The Summit will offer a broad platform for a fundamental change in international economic relations and the complete economic emancipation of Southern countries," she added.
During a speech in August, President Nicolas Maduro stated that his country was ready to hold the rotating presidency for the next three years, after taking over from Iran during the Summit.
"It will be the first time in history that Venezuela has held the NAM presidency. Venezuela is linked to the emerging powers of the new multi-polar world. Venezuela follows its own path in the development of our diplomacy, linked to the new world, and breaking ties with the new empires," said Maduro.
Venezuela currently also sits on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member and holds the rotating presidency of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur). However, its presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) is contested, with Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay refusing to accept its position. Enditem
