Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Kenneth Baugh, departed the island on Saturday afternoon for Tehran, Iran, to attend the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Interests of developing countries

The NAM, comprising 118 member states, represents the interests of developing countries. The meeting in Tehran will provide the opportunity to review the progress on the implementation of decisions adopted at NAM's 14th Conference of Heads of State/Government held September 2006 in Havana, Cuba.

Jamaica has actively participated in the NAM and will reiterate issues such as those pertaining to global economic governance, support for the efforts of Middle Income Developing Countries, security, particularly as it relates to illicit trafficking in small arms and drugs, migration and development, HIV/AIDS, the development agenda in the context of United Nations reform, and the special security concerns of small island developing states, such as vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change.

The meeting will also provide Baugh with the opportunity to hold bilateral discussions with key representatives of other developing states.