1978 Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference
Host country Yugoslavia
Date25–30 July 1978
CitiesBelgrade
ChairJosip Broz Tito
(President of Yugoslavia)

1978 Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference was held in Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia, between 25 and 30 July 1978.[1] The conference was organized as a preparatory event ahead of the divisive 6th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement which took place in Havana next year.[2] The NAM member states were deeply divided over Cuban military actions in Africa and country's pro-Soviet politics with some of them threatened to boycott the Summit in Havana.[2][3] The host country of Yugoslavia was recognized as the leader of the middle ground delegations which wanted to overcome divisions and radicalism and was in this effort supported primarily by India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.[2]

1978 The Non-Aligned Conference followed another large international gathering in Belgrade, namely the Belgrade Follow-Up Meeting of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe which lasted between 4 October 1977 and 8 March 1978 and was aimed at implementation of the Helsinki Final Act.[4] At the time, Yugoslav diplomacy was strongly committed to facilitate cooperation and joint peace efforts by non-aligned (Yugoslavia, Malta, Cyprus) and neutral (Finland, Austria, Switzerland) European countries and their contribution to relaxation of strained relations between East and West Bloc. The host country was therefore concerned about perceived radicalism among self-described progressive NAM members and their increasing prominence in the movement.

Participants

Alongside 85 full Non-Aligned members at the time, the meeting welcomed following observers; Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Grenada, Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela, ZANU–PF, Zimbabwe African People's Union, Socialist Party of Puerto Rico, South West Africa People’s Organisation, African National Congress of South Africa, Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organisation, Arab League, Islamic Conference, Organization of African Unity, United Nations, Pan African 1st Congress of Azania.[1] Austria, Finland, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland and United Nations Council for Namibia attended the conference as guests while Belize was granted special status, including the right to address the Conference.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Letter dated 78/09/06 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Yugoslavia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General". United Press International. 6 September 1978. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "NONALIGNED NATIONS END DIVISIVE TALKS; PLAN CUBA MEETING". The New York Times. 31 July 1978. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Forty Years Ago, July 31, 1978: Non-Aligned Meet". The Indian Express. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  4. ^ n.a (1978). "The Belgrade Follow-Up Meeting of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe". Bulletin of Peace Proposals.

See also

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