NAM Discusses Palestinian Political Detainees In Israel

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) ministers specifically discussed Palestinian political detainees in Israel on the last day of their 16th conference in Bali on Friday morning.

The Palestine issue has been high on the agenda of the meeting which brings together delegations from 128 countries consisting of 95 NAM members, 13 observer countries and 20 guest countries.

Earlier, on Thursday, the NAM Committee for Palestine also discussed the Palestine issue. The committee consists of Algeria, Bangladesh, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Palestine.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa at the meeting  proposed an action plan to encourage  NAM to gain as wide international support as possible for Palestine. 

The proposed action plan deals among others with coordination and cooperation between NAM and other groupings to encourage universal recognition of Palestine.

In addition, it also calls for NAM to make constant approaches to the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and other parties playing a crucial role in the creation of a Palestinian state.

It also proposes that NAM use all available forums that enable it to gain the wide international support. NAM member countries are expected to play an active role in the matter by using their respective influences.

It is expected the action plan can be carried out until September 2011 when Palestine submits a bid for UN membership at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Indonesia's proposal has received support from other members of the committee and been included in the declaration document on Palestine expected to be endorsed at the end of the NAM ministerial meeting on Friday.

The NAM meeting which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Movement, on Wednesday adopted  a "Bali Commemorative Declaration" which also reaffirmed support for an independent state of  Palestine.   

NAM member states said they would remain at the forefront of support for the Palestinian people to realize freedom, peace and justice, in line with the long-standing international consensus recognizing the Palestinian people as a nation.(*)