Press release on the Final Document of the 17th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement held Venezuela

The 17^th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement took place in the Margarita Island of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's under the motto “for the sake of peace, sovereignty and solidarity” with the participation of the Heads of State and Heads of Government of member countries. The Republic of Azerbaijan at the summit is represented by the delegation headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov was elected the deputy chairman of the Presidium of the summit and in this capacity he presided over the plenary session.

In this summit the decision has been taken that in 2019-2022 the Republic of Azerbaijan will take over the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement and the movement's 18th summit will be held in Azerbaijan in 2019.

The Final Document of the 17^th Summit of Heads of State and Heads of Government of the Non-Aligned Movement held in the Island of Margarita, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on 13 - 18 September 2016 was adopted. The Final Document also includes the paragraphs related with the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, hosting the 18^th Summit of the Heads of State or Heads of Government of the Non-Aligned Movement by Azerbaijan in 2019, and the Seventh Global Forum of the UNAOC held on 26-27 April 2016 in Baku.

Extract from the NAM Margarita Final Document:

- The Heads of State or Government expressed their regret that in spite of the United Nations Security Council resolutions (S/RES/822, S/RES/853, S/RES/874,S/RES/884) the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains unresolved and continues to endanger international and regional peace and security. They reaffirmed the importance of the principle of non-use of force enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and encouraged the parties to continue to seek a negotiated settlement of the conflict within the territorial integrity, sovereignty and the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the offer of the Republic of Azerbaijan to host the 18^th Summit of the Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement in 2019, as endorsed by the NAM Member States from the European Region, and recommended it for endorsement to the 17^th NAM Summit to be held in Margarita Island, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on 17-18 September 2016;

- The Heads of State or Government welcomed the Seventh Global Forum of the UNAOC held on 26-27 April 2016 in Baku, Azerbaijan and active participation of UN member states, international organizations and civil society in the Global Forum.