Minister Greenidge calls for renewal of faith in multilateralism – at Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement

– Sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence listed as critical elements to peace

– Guyana affirms inherent dignity, equality and inalienable human rights as foundation of freedom

– Minister Greenidge calls for renewed commitment to the UN’s disarmament agenda

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, speaking today at the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, noted that the event was timely given the multiple emerging challenges to international peace and security.

Minister Greenidge told the meeting, “for this reason, Guyana endorses the prudence of recognising the importance at this juncture in harnessing and enhancing multilateralism to respond effectively to the myriad challenges we face, especially within the framework of international law.”

The Minister said, for Guyana, as a small, developing country with well-known security challenges, the multilateral recourse has been an automatic instinct and an imperative.

The country’s close reliance on the Charter of the United Nations and the NAM principles as the peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for the territorial integrity of States, non-interference in the internal affairs of States and solidarity with other States, has served Guyana well, the Minister stated.

The Foreign Affairs Minister made mention of four specific aspects he believes will lend to accelerated progress towards a culture of peace. He called for a renewal of faith in multilateralism built on the foundation of dialogue, engagement and compromise.

“The challenges we face at the current juncture require us to act in concert to generate real solutions and my hope is that we will work together for the triumph of multilateralism,” Minister Greenidge noted.

Sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence, the Minister listed as important elements, making known Guyana’s abhorrence of attempts to infringe on the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States. He urged the Movement to be unrelenting in its protest against every action that seeks to compromise these principles.

“Guyana affirms that respect for the inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all members of the human family remains the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.  One of the principal tenets on which a culture of peace must be based is full respect for and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the Minister posited.

Peace and development are intertwined and inter-dependent, the Minister told the gathering while calling for the collective confronting of the elements that produce insecurity in member countries and the world at large.

“I, therefore, urge all of us to renew our commitment to the UN’s disarmament agenda and not in word only but more importantly by requisite action as together we work for development, peace and security.”

Minister Greenidge added that progress towards a culture of peace will entail the reshaping of the collective mindset towards values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviour, and ways of life that are conducive to peace.

Guyana’s commitment to the aims of the Movement was restated.

The Meeting was hosted under the theme, “Upholding the UN charter and the purposes and principles of the Non-Aligned Movement: towards a culture of peace.”

Stacy Carmichael.

Image: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.