In view of this worsening of the situation in the Indian Ocean, the Ministers assembled in Havana have called for strict compliance with the U. N. Declaration on the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace. The Conference of Foreign Ministers of all non-aligned countries to be held in Lima later this year, will undoubtedly examined this whole question in greater detail and depth. At the United Nations, the non-aligned countries will continue to work together for achieving our common objectives of keeping the Indian Ocean free from Great Power rivalries and conflicts.
In my statement before the Plenary in Havana I stressed the special efforts and the initiatives we have taken to normalise and strengthen our relations with our neighbours. During my conversation with Ministers of other non-aligned countries, I found that there was much appreciation for these efforts that India has been making. In this context, I did point out in my statement that the induction of arms into the countries belonging to military alliances in our neighbourhood is a grave development, which cannot but retard the process of normalisation and relaxation of tension in our area.
One of the most important issues at the meting was the acute problem facing the countries most seriously affected by the current economic crisis. Several Ministers dealt with it in their statements in the Plenary. It also figures prominently in my conversations with my colleagues. Prime Minister Dr. Castro’s Speech at the closing ceremony of the meeting dwelt on the imperative need for maintaining solidarity among the non-aligned countries for meeting the extraordinary economic crisis facing the majority of them and provided a fitting finale to the meeting. I had also urged the same point in somewhat different language in my statement.
In my statement, among other things, I drew particular attention to the enormous imbalances characterising the present deteriorating global economic situation. Apart from calling for speedy implementation, particularly by developed countries, of various decisions for remedial action already adopted in the United Nations and related forums, I also stressed the urgent need for mutual cooperation among non-aligned countries to help each other.
The Declaration issued at Havana has an Economic Part which analysis succinctly the present situation. In the field of cooperation among nonaligned countries, I am glad to state that the following important decisions were taken :-
(i) The importance of measures for additional aid proposed in the Aligers OPEC Summit Declaration has been noted and the need for their speedy implementation has been stressed.
(ii) Trilateral cooperation using technology and resources available in different countries for development in a third country has been emphasised.
(iii) Concrete follow-up measures to be recommended in time for the Lima Conference on buffer stocks financing as proposed in the Dakur Conference resolution.
(iv) Recommendation to the Lima Conference to adopt and bring into existence the Non-aligned Solidarity Fund.