From: sunder@bach.crhc.uiuc.edu (Srinivas Sunder)
Subject: Future of Non-Aligned Movement cloudy
Organization: Center for Reliable and High-Performance Computing at the
              University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Il.
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 92 00:10:44 GMT


Countries: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal...
Source: UPI News Summary
Date: September 6, 1992

* Future of Non-Aligned Movement cloudy

	JAKARTA, Indonesia -- The Non-Aligned Movement, established in 1961 
by Third World countries ostensibly as a way for them to avoid getting 
entangled in the US-Soviet Cold War, concluded its 10th Summit on Sunday with 
many of its 108 member nations' delegates expressing concern about the 
movement's future. 

While many member nations now hope to use the movement as a forum from which 
to pressure on the West for greater cooperation in trade matters and allowing 
them a greater say in UN matters, much attention was diverted from those 
issues by disagreement on how strong a stance to take on violence in the 
remnants of Yugoslavia, a founder member of the movement.

Ultimately, under pressure from Islamic members, and over the officially filed
reservations of the Serb-dominated Yugoslav delegation, the NAM decided to
adopt a resolution condemning the Serbs for human rights abuses against
the largely Muslim population of Bosnia-Hercegovina.

Many delegates said that internal divisions and regional conflicts within and
between member nations have traditionally weakened the influence of the NAM
and that the differences of opinion on how to deal with the Yugoslav crisis
were worrying signs for the future. The Yugoslav disagreement is very worrying
especially since it pits some of the movement's Muslim members against its
non-Muslim members and could lead to a permanent fracture of the movement.
one way or the other on the issue was reminiscent of their inability 
to also take a firm stance on Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

Iraq tried to take advantage of the schism by urging the NAM,
particularly Muslim countries, to condemn the ``no-fly zone'' the United
States and its allies imposed in southern Iraq. It had little success.

Analysts earlier predicted the 10th NAM summit would be a watershed
for the group, deciding whether it would be relevant in the post Cold
War era or be swept aside by newer, more focused organizations.  Although 
delegates did discuss such important issues as stalled global trade talks, 
the environment and arms reduction, their proclamations are likely to be 
milestones in oblivion. The group represents nearly half the world's people 
and two-thirds of the United Nations but accounts for only 9 percent of global 
economic production.

``Who cares what we say?'' one delegate asked. ``This forum really doesn't 
matter anymore. All the powerful people are in Washington.''

Perhaps the most telling indication of the movement's future came out of 
meetings to choose which of its 108 members would host the next NAM summit 
in 1995 -- an honor that cost host Indonesia at least $300 million this year.

Nicaragua was officially touted as the country most likely to be given the 
honor. Latin American diplomats said the country was less than enthusiastic.


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