Caracas, July 20, 2019
[crear_boton_PDF]https://mppre.gob.ve/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2.-Declaracion-Politica-Caracas-ESP-1.pdf[/crear_boton_PDF]Caracas Political Declaration adopted at the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordination Bureau
Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
July 18 – 21, 2019
POLITICAL DECLARATION OF CARACAS
We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), meeting on July 20 and 21, 2019, in Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in the framework of the Ministerial Meeting of the Bureau of Coordination of the Movement, to carry out a review of the international situation, of the progress achieved in the implementation of the results of the XVIII Ministerial Conference of the Mid-Nine Period, held in the city of Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, in April 2018, as well as to initiate frank debates, particularly, on the urgent need to Respect International Law for the promotion and consolidation of peace, and in accordance with our determination to improve the condition and role of the Movement as an anti-war force and lover of peace, we have decided:
1. Reaffirm and highlight the permanent faith and firm commitment of the Movement with the Bandung Principles, as well as with its ideals and purposes, particularly to establish a peaceful and prosperous world and a just and equitable world order.
2. Reaffirm the relevance and adherence to all positions of principle and decisions taken by the Movement.
3. Ratify the provisions of the Declaration of Havana on the Purposes and Principles and the Role of the Non-Aligned Movement at the Current International Situation (2006), as well as the Declaration of Margarita Island (2016) and the Baku Declaration (2018).
4. Renew our unwavering commitment to the United Nations, its founding Charter and International Law, which remain being essential tools for the maintenance of international peace and security and in strengthening international cooperation.
5. Highlight that the strict observance of the principles of International Law and the fulfillment in good faith of the obligations assumed by the States, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, is of utmost importance for the maintenance of peace and international security; reaffirm that the NAM Member States must respect the territorial integrity, sovereignty, political independence and inviolability of the international borders of the Member States; and reiterate its commitment to support and promote these principles of International Law.
6. Defend the principles of sovereignty, equality of States, territorial integrity and non-intervention in the internal affairs of any State or Nation; take effective measures to suppress acts of aggression or other threats to peace; defend, promote, and foster the resolution of international conflicts through peaceful means in such a way that international peace and security and justice are not endangered; refrain in international relations from the use or threat of the use of force, including aggressive military exercises against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; develop friendly relations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples in their fight against foreign occupation; achieve international cooperation based on solidarity between peoples and governments in solving international problems of a political, economic, social, cultural or humanitarian nature; and promote, in accordance with international commitments and national legislation, respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms for all, regardless of the race, sex, language or religion.
7. To reaffirm and emphasize their positions of principle with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes, in accordance with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations between States, and on non-use or threat of use of force, including through the promotion of political understanding and constructive dialogues between States, on the basis of mutual respect.
8. Reiterate its opposition to unilateralism and the measures imposed unilaterally by certain States, which may result in the erosion and violation of the Charter of the United Nations, International Law and human rights, as well as the use or threat of the use of force, pressure and coercive measures as means to achieve their national policy objectives, taking into account the negative impact of such measures on the rule of law at international level, as well as on international relations.
a. Refrain from recognizing, adopting or applying unilateral coercive measures or extraterritorial laws, including unilateral economic sanctions, other intimidating measures and arbitrary travel restrictions, imposed for the purpose of exerting pressure on Non-Aligned Countries – threatening their sovereignty and independence, and their freedom of trade and investment – and prevent them from exercising their right to decide, their own free will, their own political, economic and social systems, since such measures or laws constitute serious violations of the Charter of the United Nations, international law, the multilateral trading system, as well as the norms and principles that govern friendly relations between States.
b. Persevere in efforts to reverse such measures effectively and urge other States to do the same, as requested by the General Assembly and other organs of the United Nations; request States to apply such measures or laws to fully and immediately revoke them.
c. Renew its support, in accordance with international law, to the claim of the affected States, including those that are direct victims, to compensation for the damage incurred as a consequence of acts of aggression or the implementation of unilateral or extraterritorial coercive measures, which are applied in violation of international law.
d. Strongly oppose the unilateral evaluation and certification of the conduct of States as a mean of exerting pressure on Non-Aligned Countries and other countries, in particular developing countries.
9. Continue to maintain, strengthen and manifest unity and solidarity among the members of the Movement, in particular with those Non-Aligned Countries whose peoples suffer violations regarding International Law, including, among others, external threats of use of force, acts of aggression or unilateral coercive measures, through the provision of political, moral, material and other assistance.
10. Underline the obligation of all States to guarantee the security and protection of the members and facilities of diplomatic and consular missions, as well as their inviolability, in accordance with International Law, the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, as well as the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, with a view of preventing the forced and illegal seizure of such facilities, and emphasizing that respect for privileges and immunities corresponding to personnel, facilities and diplomatic assets are linked to the fulfillment of their official purposes, especially at the multilateral level, regardless of the relations between the States and the Host Countries.
11. Encourage those in a position to do so, to make greater use of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a source of interpretation of the relevant norms of International Law and to consider consultations among the Member States of the Movement, as appropriate, with a view to request advisory opinions from the ICJ, including those cases in which unilateral coercive measures, applied in violation of international law, may undermine international peace and security.
12. Reaffirm its position of principle and its firm commitment to the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and, in that sense, to reiterate the obligation of all Member States to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts, to refrain from provide any form of support, active or passive, to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts, including suppressing the recruitment of members of terrorist groups and providing weapons to terrorists, denying terrorists safe haven, freedom of operations, movement and recruitment, and also prevent refugee status from being abused by the perpetrators, organizers and facilitators of terrorist acts, and also request that Member States take appropriate measures to ensure, before granting asylum, that the asylum seeker has not planned, facilitated or participated in the commission of terrorist acts.