Egypt - President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday urged members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to work out a practical new strategy in line with the changing financial situation and make concerted efforts to overcome the global crisis.
Speaking at the 15th NAM Summit taking place at the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm el Sheikh, President Zuma said the global financial architecture must change to ensure that developing countries are represented.
He told the summit that the inability of financial institutions to respond to the financial and economic crises and prevent a global recession was proof enough of the need for change and renewal.
"These structures need to change from self-regulatory unrepresentative institutions, to institutions that reflect the changing economic realities of the globe, which provide a voice and representation to developing countries."
Mr Zuma said co-operation was important now more than ever, adding that South African had always promoted active engagement with the north, based on the principle of equality.
"We need to continue pushing for transformation and renewal in these relations, and to ensure the implementation of commitments made by the developed world," he said.
He noted that the coming three years were be crucial for determining the future place and role of NAM in the international community, and therefore called for unity within the movement.
"It is now the time for the movement to draw on its hallmark of solidarity and to use it to enhance its commitment towards peace, development and the promotion of democracy and human rights."
He urged the summit to give a clear answer on how to utilize most effectively the NAM potential and mobilise all resources and actors, including those outside the movement, to stabilise international situation and overcome the multifaceted global crisis.
On peace and security, President Zuma said South Africa remained convinced that there can be no peace without development and no development without peace.
"We must also emphasise that we will never achieve peace and security if we do not combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons on our continent, " he said, adding that it would never achieve sustainable peace for as long as there were people who were oppressed and marginalized.
The NAM groups 118 member states, including 53 from Africa, 38 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean and one from Europe (Belarus).
