Havana: The 14th Summit of the world's more than 100 developing countries got underway in Havana with a focus on terrorism, a defence of Iran's controversial nuclear programme and an affirmation that the NAM movement was needed more than ever before in an ‘unjust world.’
Cuban Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Abelardo Moreno, who led the first top officials meeting in Havana on Monday, said anti-terrorism fight cannot be dictated by dates, but by attitude, policies and actions, adding the final declaration of the movement will reject any type of terrorism.
The six-day gathering of NAM nations brings together almost 116 leaders from developing countries, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has defied UN demands that he halt uranium enrichment, is also slated to attend the meeting.
Heads of state and government will start their talks on Friday, four days after the preparatory meetings.
Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis joined the movement on Monday, increasing the members of the grouping to 118. In his opening speech at the NAM Summit on Monday, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said "we believe it is indispensable for us to close ranks in defending our rights. The risks, threats and difficulties that we are facing are similar and with a common origin," a veiled reference to the US.
"We must show our strength to the world, our ability to collectively cope with the enormous challenges imposed on us by a world governed by the most powerful," he said at the meeting of high-ranking officials who are undertaking final preparatory work on the documents for the Summit.
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