Casablanca – Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, called on the Non-Aligned Movement to move beyond outdated approaches and adapt to the multidimensional challenges of the 21st century during a meeting in Belgrade on Tuesday, marking the 65th anniversary of the movement’s founding.
Hilale said the crises, challenges and divisions that have emerged since the movement was established mean it can no longer respond to today’s international challenges by reproducing the approaches and working methods that shaped its founding period.
The movement should develop its working methods and strengthen internal consultation mechanisms to improve its effectiveness and credibility, while increasing its ability to put forward practical and realistic proposals to address current and emerging international challenges, he said.
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Hilale said the Non-Aligned Movement also needs to account for major changes in the international system and respond to challenges that do not respect borders or blocs. These include climate change, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, digital divides, food and energy security, pandemics, development financing and new forms of transnational crime.
Rather than seeking to replace the international multilateral system, the movement should contribute to strengthening it, Hilale said. It should do so by presenting the priorities and aspirations of developing countries in a coordinated and constructive manner and helping shape them within the United Nations system.
Morocco pushes South-South cooperation and Gaza role
He also pointed to Morocco’s South-South cooperation with African countries, which he said is at the center of the North African country’s priorities. Morocco has established solidarity-based partnerships in several strategic sectors, including food security, health, training and human development.
Hilale cited several initiatives launched by Morocco at the initiative of King Mohammed VI, including the royal initiative to give Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic Initiative for Africa and the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.
These initiatives reflect Morocco’s commitment to supporting stability and sustainable development in Africa and seek, in particular, to make the Atlantic space an area for openness, connectivity and economic integration, allowing the African countries concerned to make greater use of their African and Atlantic reach.
Hilale also reaffirmed that the Palestinian cause remains a central and constant priority for Morocco’s diplomacy.
As chairman of the Al-Qods Committee, King Mohammed VI has repeatedly affirmed Morocco’s commitment to preserving the legal, historical and civilizational status of Al-Qods, while supporting the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to exercise their legitimate rights and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He said Morocco had decided to participate in the international stabilization force in Gaza as part of that commitment. The contribution will include Moroccan military and security personnel and the deployment of a field military hospital to provide medical assistance to affected residents.
