Bhutan has been elected as one of the vice chairs of the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which began in the capital city of Iran, Tehran, yesterday.
Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y. Thinley delivered a statement at the summit’s opening session as the Vice Chair of the summit on behalf of the Asia-Pacific states of the NAM after the Summit opened with Iran assuming the Chair from Egypt for the next three years.
Lyonchhoen conveyed the gratitude of the Asian group members of the NAM to the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“Just as we are touched by the generosity and warmth of the Iranian
Hospitality, we are also inspired by the history and culture of this great nation. And we are certain that the city of Tehran will deliver to our summit a very successful outcome.”
The summit’s inaugural session was also marked by opening remarks of President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Egyptian President Muhammed Morsi and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
Lyonchhoen said that as Egypt passes on to Iran the mantle of the Movement’s leadership, the Asia Pacific region wishes to place on record deep appreciation for the outstanding manner in which the outgoing Chair steered NAM through a tumultuous period. One certainty in out turbulent world, Lyonchhen said, is the rapidity and growing complexity of change and so the future years will be increasingly challenging. “But the dedication and commitment with which Iran assumed the role of stewardship, give us the confidence that NAM will continue to be a powerful and positive force in shaping the destiny of human society,” he said adding that to this end, the
Asian group welcomes the offer of Venezuela to host the next summit.
Lyonchhoen will deliver his keynote address tomorrow, August 31.
