Lavrov: A New Fair Polycentric International Architecture

 This speech by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was given to a conference of ministers of member states of the Non-Aligned Movement, May 28, 2014

* * *

I cordially welcome the participants and guests of the ministerial conference of the Non-Aligned Movement “Growing solidarity for peace and welfare”.

Currently , the complexity, and increasing uncertainty in the world, and the aggravation linked to global competition and rivalry are a growing influence on the international agenda. The central coordinating role for international affairs, in the search of effective responses to global threats certainly belongs to the United Nations.

At the same time, it is hard to overestimate the significance of the Non-Aligned Movement, which includes more than half of the countries in the world, including the most dynamically developing countries. They act on the basis of the fundamental principles, which were proclaimed in Bandung and which are still topical today. The NAM is actively participating in the resolution of global and regional problems, and makes a weighty contribution to the reinforcement of peace and stability, and contributes to the establishment of a new fair polycentric international architecture.

Russia and the Non-Aligned Movement share the understanding that in conditions of the cultural and civilisational diversity of the modern world each country has the right to its own development path and should have the opportunity to determine its foreign policy independently for the purposes of the goals and principles of the UN Charter. The attempts to impose a personal system of values, and the interference into international affairs of other countries will lead to chaos and anarchy in those international affairs.

Russia’s foreign policy is distinguished by it’s balance, and is aimed at the creation of such a system of international relations, which would ensure equal and undivided security for each member of the world community. I am confident that further development of interaction with the Non-Aligned Movement will contribute to ensuring the sustainable controllability of world development, and the reinforcement of peace and welfare for the benefit of all the states and people.

I wish you successful and fruitful work.

* * *

Russian Foreign Ministry, May 28, 2014