MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina obtains Non-Aligned Movement observer status

The decision was approved at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit.

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) leaders approved this week the admission of Argentina and the World Peace Council (WPC) as observers at the its 15th summit currently held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

According to a press release by the summit secretariat, the Coordinating Bureau of NAM agreed on June 26 to submit the application of Argentina for being granted the observer status to the summit. The bureau has also circulated the request of the WPC to be offered NAM observer status. The bureau recommended that the summit endorse the applications of Argentina and the WPC.

The NAM groups 118 member states, including 53 from Africa, 38 from Asia, 26 from Latinamerica and the Caribbean and one from Europe (Belarus). It represents nearly two-thirds of the United Nations' members, particularly developing countries, and comprises 55% of the world population. The movement now has 16 observer countries and nine observer organizations.

Argentina is currently classified as an upper-middle income country or as a secondary emerging market by the World Bank. Argentina is also member of the G-20 major economies.

The WPC was formed in 1949, replacing the permanent committee of the World Peace Congress, in order to promote peaceful coexistence and nuclear disarmament. WPC was especially active in the areas bordering U.S. military installations in Western Europe, believed to house nuclear weapons. It waged large campaigns against U.S.-led military operations, especially against the Vietnam War.

The WPC had its headquarters in Helsinki, Finland until the 1990s when it moved to Greece. In the past, the WPC awarded the International Peace Prize.