Physical Address
Indirizzo: Via Mario Greco 60, Buttigliera Alta, 10090, Torino, Italy
Mandated by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, pleaded, this Wednesday, in favor of a new world order based on justice, mutual trust and solidarity between nations, during his intervention at the 19th ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, in the capital Ugandan, Kampala.
Attaf affirmed that “the world needs a new lease of life based on trust and the conviction that prosperity can only be sustainable if it is shared.” In his speech, he emphasized the imperative of building a new paradigm of international cooperation, based on equity, solidarity and reciprocity.
He also underlined that the theme chosen by the Ugandan presidency “perfectly illustrates the spirit of Bandung”, before calling on the countries of the South to raise their collective voice to link security and development in a global and balanced approach. For the minister, this approach is based on three fundamental principles.
First, the need to rebuild trust between the North and the South, by basing international relations on sovereign equality, mutual respect and constructive cooperation. Ahmed Attaf insisted on the end of the logic of domination, exclusion and dependence, believing that “partnerships must now be based on complementarity and reciprocity, not on superiority or constraint”.
Concerning the urgency of reforming the structural imbalances of the global system, the minister stressed that the composition and functioning of major international institutions, starting with the United Nations Security Council, must be rethought. He also called for an in-depth review of the mechanisms of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization, “in order to strengthen the representativeness of the countries of the South and to establish greater equity and transparency”.
Finally, Mr. Attaf emphasized the moral and political obligation to respect international commitments relating to sustainable development. This involves, he explained, “delivering on the promises made in terms of financing growth, debt resolution, climate justice, responsible governance and technology transfer”. He added that these commitments are not favors but obligations that humanity has imposed on itself to guarantee a more stable and fairer future for all.
A return to the spirit of Bandung
Returning to the historical significance of this meeting, Ahmed Attaf recalled that it is being held in the wake of the 70th anniversary of the Bandung conference, “this founding milestone which opened the way to decolonization and the emancipation of dozens of peoples in Africa, Asia and elsewhere”. He insisted that “Bandung was a major turning point in modern history, the one where the nations of the South proclaimed their right to dignity and sovereignty.”
The minister took this opportunity to recall that Algeria will never forget that its own cause of national liberation found its first defenders in Bandung. “Our Revolution benefited, in Bandung, from the solidarity of people and visionary leaders. It is thanks to them that the Algerian question was brought to the United Nations General Assembly for the first time. Algeria has never forgotten this founding fraternity,” he said with emotion.
The Minister of State then praised the loyalty of the Non-Aligned Movement to its founding values. Those of the defense of justice, the refusal of domination and support for the causes of liberation. Mr. Attaf recalled that the countries of the South continue to suffer from an unbalanced world order, where “decisions that shape the destiny of the planet are often taken by a few to the detriment of the majority”. He called for restoring the voice of the people in international forums and promoting truly inclusive multilateralism.
As in every international forum, Algeria’s voice was raised to defend just causes. The head of diplomacy welcomed the Movement’s clear positions on the Palestinian question, which he described as a “universal moral and political cause”. He declared that “the Palestinian people live today between two hopes: an immediate hope, that of respecting the ceasefire and meeting the urgent needs of our brothers in Gaza, and a greater hope, that of seeing the opening of a real political process to end the occupation and allow the creation of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.”
Addressing the issue of Western Sahara, Mr. Attaf recalled the constant position of Algeria and the Non-Aligned Movement. Maintaining that “the Sahrawi people demand nothing other than their legitimate right to freely decide their future, without tutelage or constraint. It is a position of principle, consistent with international legality and UN resolutions on decolonization.”
Concluding his speech, the Minister of State reaffirmed Algeria’s determination to continue to defend, with its partners in the South, more equitable and humane global governance.
He recalled that the fight for justice, equity and solidarity is not a slogan, but a collective duty, born from the common history of peoples who refused domination. Algeria, faithful to the spirit of Bandung, intends to continue this fight with constancy and conviction, for a world where every nation, large or small, can be heard, respected and recognized.