Presna Latina : Malaysia Says NAM in Good Hands

Malaysia Says NAM in Good Hands

September 16, 2006

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 16 (Prensa Latina) The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is in good hands even without the physical presence of President Fidel Castro, the Malaysian News Agency BERNAMA reports Saturday.

According to an editorial comment, the NAM Summit ending Saturday is presided over by Cuban Vice President Raul Castro, after receiving the mandate by the Movement s outgoing president, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The note recalls that in his speech in front of 118 country representatives, Abdullah said that "even when he is not in this conference hall, Fidel Castro is present in our hearts and minds in this important Summit."

The article states that Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque noted that the revolutionary leader once completely recovered will assume the NAM leadership.

BERNAMA also highlights the speech by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who accused the US government of hypocrisy in its support of Israeli aggression against Lebanon and slammed Washington s threats against Iran over its nuclear energy program.

The Malaysian news agency also gathers statements by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who talked with Fidel Castro and recognized his contribution and leadership through different NAM phases of development.