Serbia Wants to Host Non-Alligned Anniversary

Serbia’s Foreign Minister has suggested that Belgrade should host of the 50th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement, since the movement’s first summit was held in the then Yugoslav capital in September, 1961.

Such a anniversary would be ”an occasion for bringing back the ideals and values of the Non-Alligned Movement to the place where it began,” said Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, currently at meeting of Non-Aligned ministers in Cuba. 

”It would be nice award for what founders of the movement did, and for all that was accomplished in past 50 years,” he added, pointing out that the late Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito was one of the principal founders of the movement.

He also noted that the majority of Non-Aligned Movement countries have not recognised Kosovo’s independence, and thanked representatives for this.

”I hope that there will not be any new countries who will recognise Kosovo’s independence before the International Court of Justice gives it’s opinion on it’s legality,” he said.

The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states who consider themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. The movement is largely the brainchild of the first Gamal Abdul Nasser, former president of Egypt, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Tito.

Today, 118 countries are members, while Serbia has the status of the observer.