Islamic Iran’s Salehi: UN structure needs fundamental reforms: Iran FM

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries oppose the adverse consequences of the current world order, stressing the United Nations must make fundamental reforms in its structure.

“Six decades since its establishment, the United Nations needs fundamental reforms in order to adapt to the modern global developments,” Salehi said during the opening ceremony of the NAM expert-level meeting in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday.

We believe that the General Assembly, as the main democratic body of the UN, should fulfill its duties to deal with issues pertaining to the international peace and security, Salehi added.

He emphasized that many countries believe that the UN should heed the establishment of “a more democratic Security Council” as a major part of its reforms.

He added the existing global order has only entailed injustice, discrimination, armed clashes, abuse of power and all forms of colonialism and foreign occupation, expressing the opposition of the NAM member states to such negative consequences.

The 16th summit of the NAM member states kicked off in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday.

At the opening ceremony of the NAM expert-level meeting, Iran assumed the rotating presidency of the movement for three years.

Egypt’s Ambassador to the United Nations Moataz Khalil formally handed over the presidency of the NAM to Iran.

NAM, an international organization with 120 member states, is considered as not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.