The main purpose of the NAM Ministerial Meeting, which Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamong-khon will attend, is to prepare for the 14th NAM Summit which will be held on September 15-16 at Havana, Cuba, said deputy director general of the Foreign Ministry's Depart-ment of International Organisation Busaya Mathelin.

Titled "Towards a More Dynamic and Cohesive NAM: Challenges of the 21st Century", the two-day ministerial meeting will focus on the challenges facing the group today as well as adapting the group's role to fit the rapidly changing world, said Busaya.

She added that Thailand's position in the meeting will be that NAM needs to change its direction and role to fit the changing world so that it could be of most benefit to member countries.

The ministers will also discuss various sub-regional, regional and global issues including non-traditional security items such as bird flu and natural disasters which have a direct impact on the people.

At the end of the meeting, ministers from NAM countries will adopt the "final document" which will contain three chapters: global issues, regional and sub-regional political issues, and development, social and human rights issues.

The ministers will also adopt a group declaration on Iran's nuclear development. NAM's position on this issue is likely to be that they support the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes while seeking prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation, said Busaya, adding that the details are yet to be finalised.

Besides the NAM ministerial meeting, Kantathi will also attend the Special Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 and China, which will also be held at the same venue on Monday.

The Group of 77 member countries will exchange views and dialogue on reform of the United Nations and adopt a final document, said Busaya.

Thailand has been a member of NAM since October 4, 1993, and has actively participated in NAM meetings at every level, including the NAM summit which takes place every three years.

Sopaporn Kurz

The Nation