Section 14. Moves of Nonaligned Countries
1. Georgetown meeting of the foreign ministers of nonaligned countries
Since the third meeting of Heads of State and prime ministers of nonaligned countries at Lusaka in September 1970, the nonaligned countries held meetings of their foreign ministers on the occasion of the U.N. General Assembly meeting each year to maintain their solidarity. In 1972, they held a special meeting of their foreign ministers. To prepare for the meeting, the standing committee of the Conference of Heads of State and Prime Ministers of Nonaligned Nations (made up of 16 countries) held a meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, from February 17 to 20, 1972, followed by a meeting of the preparatory committee in Malaysia from May 23 to 26, 1972. The preparatory committee met again in Georgetown from August 3 to 6, prior to the meeting of foreign ministers in Georgetown.
As a result, the meeting of foreign ministers was held on August 8. However, since the meeting fell into disorder from the start over the question of Cambodian and PRG representation, it was extended by one day and ended on August 12 after adopting a joint declaration and resolutions.
2. Problems of the meeting of foreign ministers of nonaligned countries
(1) Cambodian and PRG representation
Before this meeting, the PRG was given the status of an observer. At the meeting, however, the question of giving the status of a full member was raised. Indonesia and Malaysia opposed the proposal on the ground that any decision at the meeting should not affect the Paris peace talks. The question was shelved at the second-day session of the meeting on August 9. However, the meeting finally decided on August 11 to give the PRG the status of a full member only for the meeting in progress.
The Cambodian representation problem also followed the same procedure, and the Sihanouk regime was given the right to represent Cambodia on August 11. This changed the decision of the last meeting of the Conference of Heads of State and Prime Ministers of Nonaligned Nations in Lusaka, which decided to leave the Cambodian seat vacant.
Dissatisfied with the method of making these decisions, such Asian countries as Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka walked out of the conference hall. However it did not mean their withdrawal from the conference, but was an act of protest against the decision. These countries made it clear that they will remain members of the conference.
(2) Next summit meeting
Sri Lanka and Algeria had been competing with each other for hosting the next meeting of the Conference of Heads of State and Prime Ministers of Nonaligned Nations since before the foreign ministers' meeting. At the last-day session, the Asian countries' proposal for holding the next meeting in Asia was defeated, and it was decided to hold the next conference in Algeria in September 1973.
(3) Support for liberation movements
At the foreign ministers' meeting, there was a conspicuous trend to stress support for liberation movements in Asia and Africa. The political committee of the meeting proposed the establishment of a standing committee on financing, training and arms for liberation movements, and the meeting confirmed in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the joint declaration its intention to endeavor along this line.
(4) Economic problems
As for economic problems, the nonaligned countries generally opposed the advanced countries, and the report prepared by the economic committee stated that the nonaligned countries should conclude export agreements among themselves on the export of primary industry products to cope with the advanced countries. However, the meeting did not take concrete measures to establish such a system, but only pledged to make efforts on this point in the joint declaration.