H.E. Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef emphasised that developing nations must take a leading role in advancing climate action to pave the way for a prosperous future. He made the remarks while delivering the Maldives statement at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Emphasising that climate change is not confined to geological borders, the Vice President articulated that developing countries face the most impact due to their resource limitations. The Vice President stressed that NAM must do more to deepen cooperation and counter new and emerging threats. He reaffirmed that the Maldives has always believed in international cooperation and that unity in diversity has always been our biggest strength.
The Vice President further stated that humanity is at a crossroads. While acknowledging the unparalleled advancements by humankind with real, tangible progress making the world more prosperous, the Vice President noted that it is also rife with conflict and calamity, societies enveloped by uncertainty, friction, and fear.
He then spoke of the dire humanitarian crisis unravelling in Gaza, where thousands of innocent lives have been lost. The Vice President reiterated that the Maldives strongly condemns the deliberate acts of aggression by the Israeli forces against innocent Palestinian civilians. He stated that these attacks are a flagrant violation of the Genocide Convention, applauding the application by South Africa before the International Court of Justice requesting to declare that Israel is in breach of the Genocide Convention. The Vice President called for unity in intensifying calls for an immediate ceasefire and a permanent solution for peace, where a sovereign and independent State of Palestine is established based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Vice President stressed on the need to revitalise and reform the United Nations and its Security Council. He emphasised the role of NAM in ensuring a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for all, stating the Non-Aligned Movement’s vital role in guaranteeing peace, shared affluence, prosperity, and security through international cooperation and integration. The Vice President noted that the movement must continue to adapt to the ever-changing global dynamics and make the world a place where hope triumphs over fear, peace triumphs over conflict, and resilience triumphs over vulnerability.
The Vice President is currently in Uganda to attend the 19th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Third South Summit, organised under the framework of Group 77 and China, being held in Kampala, Uganda this week.
