Ethiopia Participates in the 65th Anniversary Commemoration of the First NAM Conference in Belgrade

Addis Ababa, Sept. 2, 2026 (ENA) —Ethiopia participated at the High-Level commemorative meeting which marked the 65th anniversary of the First Conference of Heads of State and Government of Non-Aligned Movement, held in Serbia, Belgrade from 31 August to 1 September 2026.

The commemoration brought together Heads of State and Government and representatives of Member States from over 35 countries.

In his opening address, President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, underlined NAM’s historical role in defending peace, sovereignty and equality for developing nations.

President Vučić called for a renewed commitment to the Movement’s founding principles through dialogue, peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for the United Nations Charter and international law.

Ambassador Yoseph Kassaye, Director General for International Organizations Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in his statement, recalled Ethiopia’s longstanding contributions to the Movement and underscored NAM’s continued relevance in addressing today’s pressing development challenges.

He noted that the world has changed significantly since the Movement was founded and emphasized the need to strengthen South-South cooperation, accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, and confront the impacts of climate change.

Speaking on climate change, he said the effects have become more calamitous and the extreme events the world witnessed this year alone are testament to the ghastly impacts it could continue to face if measures are not taken. 

He also reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to mitigation efforts, including the country’s preparation to host COP32 next year.

Participants also planted trees at Friendship Park in Belgrade, following the tradition established by the Movement’s founders 65 years ago.

Ethiopia was among the 25 countries which participated at the First Conference of Heads of State and Government held in Belgrade in 1961, where the Non-Aligned Movement was formally established.