<span style="color: #222222;">As the Special Envoy of Prime Minister, Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi today addressed the High-Level Meeting to mark the 60th Anniversary of Non-Aligned Movement NAM in Belgrade, Serbia. In her address, Ms Lekhi underscored the need to strengthen the role and influence of NAM on global outcomes.<br />''<br />''She also stressed the need to check divisive tendencies so that voice of the global South remains unified. The Minister of State focused on contemporary issues of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, terrorism and climate change.<br />''<br />''She said, over the decades, the core NAM principles have provided the potential and moral impetus for the decolonization process, leading to the independence of many of the countries. Ms Lekhi said, it brought to the fore an international culture of justice and peace and an emphasis on promoting mutual interest, solidarity and respect for national sovereignty.<br />''<br />''The Minister said, following recent developments in Afghanistan, it is absolutely imperative that the approach of the international community is guided by UN Security Council Resolution 2593, which was adopted under India's August Presidency of the UNSC. She said, it has clearly reaffirmed that Afghanistan soil cannot be and should not be used to mount terror attacks against any country.<br />''<br />''Ms Lekhi said, our founding leaders had envisaged the Non-Aligned Movement as a way to carve out autonomous space on the geopolitical landscape for the developing countries. She said, there is a need to ensure that nation stays committed to that cause so that we actually realise the aspirations of the people for socio-economic, scientific and technological development.</span><br />