Egyptian president calls for joint efforts to boost NAM

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, July 15 -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday called on member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to make joint efforts to boost the movement's role.

Mubarak, who was just elected as the 15th NAM Summit's chairperson, said nearly five decades after NAM's establishment, great changes have taken place to the world situation, imposing severe challenges to the movement.

NAM members should make joint efforts to push forward the movement so that it can play a bigger role in realizing the world peace, security and stability, said Mubarak.

Peace and development have all along been the objects that NAM devotes itself to, the Egyptian leader said.

In order to realize the objects, NAM members should strengthen solidarity and constructive cooperation, and jointly cope with the challenges, threats and dangers harming world peace and security, he added.

Mubarak, who has been Egyptian President since 1981, said NAM members should unite to tackle international and regional issues including the Palestinian issue, the Middle East peace, the global financial crisis, food, security and climate change, among others.

The 15th NAM Summit is being held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh from Wednesday to Thursday.

Founded in September 1961, NAM now groups 118 member states, 16observer countries and 9 observer organizations.

The movement, which represents nearly two-thirds of UN member countries and comprises 55 percent of the world population, focuses on striving for interests of developing countries all over the world.