Non-Aligned Conference-Waking Up to Reality

THE conference of the foreign ministers of the non-aligned countries in New Delhi from February 9 to 12 was preceded by a six-day meeting of I he 35-member co-ordinating bureau of the non-aligned countries to report on the activities since 1979 together with a preparatory meeting of the senior officials of the 94 countries. The conference had to be extended by one day to arrive at a 'consensus' on some of the more contentious issues: Afghanistan, Kampuchea, Indian Ocean, Egypt and Iraq-Iran war. The majority felt that the draft resolution prepared by India, as the host, failed to refer to Afghanistan and Kampuchea in clear enough terms, It was also felt that the non-aligned movement was not fulfilling its role of distancing itself from the two superpowers by not condemning the interventionist activities of Soviet Union.