Background:

The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1942 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule, marked initially by neglect, became increasingly repressive, provoking an independence movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. It was US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finally overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959 his iron rule held the regime together since then. Cuba’s Communists revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s,and 1980s. The country is now slowly recovering from severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of the US-embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US-using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the southwest border – is a continuing problem. The US coast Guard intercepted 2,712 individuals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in fiscal year 2005.

Republic of Cuba

Havana

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West , Florida

Total : 110,860 sq. km.
Land: 110,860 sq. km.
Water: 0 sq. km.

Tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

11,382,820 (July 2006 est.)

Nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented.

Spanish

NATIONAL HOLIDAY

Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note: - 10 December 1898 is the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of independence from US administration; Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)

Executive branch: chief of State: The President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished : president since 2 December 1976. First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976; note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government.

head of government: The President of the council of state and President of the council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note – the president is both the chief of State and head of government.

cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the 31-member Council of state, elected by the Assemblyto act on its behalf when it is not in session

elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years; election last held 6 March 2003 (next to be held in 2008).

elections results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of legislative vote- 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote – 100%

Legislative Branch: Unicameral National Assembly of People’s Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 19 January 2003(next to be held in 2008)

election results: percent of vote – PCC 97.6%; seats – PCC 609

Judicial Branch: People’s Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme Popular (president, vice-president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)

International Organization Participation ACP, FAO,G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD,IFRCS, IHO, ILO Organization IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM Participation : OAS, excluded from formal participation since 1962),OPANAL,OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCI, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, TtoO, WTO

ECONOMY – OVERVIEW

The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a desire for firm political control. It has rolled back limited reforms undertaken in the 1990s to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The average Cuban’s standard of living remains at a lower level than before the downturn of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The government in 2005 strengthened its controls over dollars coming into the economy from tourism, remittances, and trade. External financing has helped growth in the mining oil, construction, and tourism sectors.

GDP (purchasing power parity) $39.17 billion (2005 est.)

GDP – real growth rate $8% (2005 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP) $3,500 (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 7% (2005 est.)

Fidel Castro, a devotee of Marxist-Leninist theory, brought revolution to Cuba and created the western hemisphere's first communist state. He has been in power since 1959.

His health has been an issue for some years; in July 2006 the ageing president temporarily stepped aside after undergoing surgery. He handed over control of the government to his brother and designated successor, Raul Castro.

In 1953 Fidel Castro took up arms against the dictatorship of President Fulgencio Batista. The regime had become a byword for repression and corruption.

Aiming to spark a popular revolt, on 26 July Mr. Castro led more than 100 followers in a failed attack on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago de Cuba.

Fidel Castro and his brother Raul survived, but were imprisoned. Amnestied after two years, Mr Castro continued to campaign against the Batista regime while in exile in Mexico, and established a guerrilla force known as the 26 July Movement.

His revolutionary ideals attracted support in Cuba and in 1959 his forces overthrew Batista. Within weeks he became head of government. More than four decades later he remains in power as the world's longest-serving leader.

The Philippines and Cuba were both ruled by Spain for several centuries, which ended at the turn of the 18^th century with Spain’s defeat by the United States. As early as the 16^th century, Filipinos reached Cuba in Spanish ships, and many of them fled and settled by the banks of the Mississippi River in Louisiana. In the 17^th century, Filipinos who were brought by the Spaniards to Cuba were altar boys, catechism leaders and church workers. They were then called chinos. The early migration of few Filipinos to Cuba was made possible by the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade.

Meanwhile, sugar experts from Cuba brought by the Philippine Royal Company to the Philippines in the 1790s increased the colony’s production of sugar especially in Pampanga. Exports to China and India grew and enough was raised to export to Spain.

B. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

The Philippines and Cuba established formal diplomatic relations on 04 July 1946. Official relations, however, were suspended in 1961 at the height of the Cuban Revolution, when disagreements broke out among the Cuban embassy officials in Manila, which led to the expulsion of a Cuban diplomat for alleged propaganda activities. It was followed by the closure of the Cuban embassy in Manila.

Diplomatic ties were resumed in August 1975 after the visit of then First Lady and Minister of Human Settlements Imelda R. Marcos to Cuba that year. Cuba reopened its embassy in Manila the following year. The Philippines, however, formally opened its resident embassy in Havana only in February 1984.

Since 1993, the Philippine diplomatic representation in Havana remained at the level of Chargé d’ Affaires. It was only in July 1996 that Philippine diplomatic presence was elevated to ambassadorial level. Presently, the Philippine Ambassador to Cuba is H.E. Ambassador George B. Reyes while the Cuban Ambassador to the Philippines is H.E. Ambassador Jorge Rey Jimenez.

Exchange of Visits (2002-2006)

Visitors from the Philippines

1. UP President Francisco Nemenzo visited Havana from 20 June to 08 July 2002.

2. Philippine Sports Commission Eric Buhain and other RP sports officials visited Havana from 22 to 17 July 2002. An MOA on Sports Cooperation between PSC and its Cuban counterpart, INDER, was signed on 23 July 2002.

3. DFA Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Cristina G. Ortega and Director Marciano R. de Borja visited Cuba on 05-07 August 2003 to conduct talks on bilateral relations and FEALAC matters.

4. Director Rogelio N. Concepcion and Atty. Eduardo E. Garcia, both of the Department of Agriculture visited Havana to attend the 6^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Serious Drought held at the Palacio de las Convenciones, Havana, from 25 August to 5 September 2003.

5. Ambassador Roberto R. Romulo, Malacañang Senior Adviser on International Competitiveness, headed a Trade and Investment Mission to Havana from 12-17 November 2004.

Visitors from Cuba (2002-2004)

1. Gladys Isora Franco Dominguez of the Cuban Rice Research Institute attended a two-week training course at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños from 21 January to 01 February 2002.

2. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Armando Guerra Menchero visited the Philippines from 20 to 22 November 2002. During his visit, the RP-Cuba Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons was signed on 22 November 2002

3. Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque made his first official visit to the Philippines in the course of the Second Foreign Minister's Meeting (FMM II) of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) on 30-31 February 2004

4. Ms. Dora Garcia Delgado, Director of Cuba's Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, visited Manila from 25 to 31 March 2006, to discuss matters related to the Cuban proposal to transfer technology for the production of Heberviobac HB, an anti-hepatitis B vaccine.

The Philippines and Cuba have signed a total of six agreements during the period 2001 to present.

1. RP-Cuba Agreement on Economic Cooperation

2. RP-Cuba Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments

3. RP-Cuba Agreement on Maritime Transportation

4. RP-Cuba Tourism Cooperation Agreement.

C. POLITICAL/SECURITY RELATIONS

In 1996, the Philippines joined the ASEAN consensus on the Helms-Burton Act of the United States which expressed concern about any national legislation that may impinge on any country’s obligations and commitments to the World Trade Organization. The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act of 1996 (better known as the Helms-Burton Act) is a United States law which strengthens and continues the United States embargo against Cuba. The law states, among other things, that any non-US company that deals with Cuba can be subjected to legal action and that company’s leadership can be barred from entry into the United States. Sanctions may be applied to non-U.S. companies trading with Cuba.

The Philippines also abstained consistently from voting on UN resolutions involving the status of human rights in Cuba. Through the years, the Philippines and Cuba have supported each other’s candidatures for seats at the UN and other international organizations. Recently, the Philippines agreed with Cuba on a mutual exchange of support for the two countries’ respective candidatures at the UN Human Rights Council in elections held on 9 May 2006. Both members were elected members of the UNHRC.

The Philippines and Cuba are both members of the Forum for East Asia–Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), an inter-regional organization for cooperation and dialogue between East Asia and Latin America. FEALAC’s other members are Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, People’s Republic of China, Singapore, Thailand, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam.

The Philippines’ flagship project in FEALAC is the Philippine Academic Consortium for Latin American Studies (PACLAS). Established in 2002, PACLAS is a network of Philippine universities and research institutes with the goal of promoting and enhancing Latin American studies and the use of the Spanish language in the Philippines.

D. ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Bilateral trade between the Philippines and Cuba saw a gradual increase since the lifting of Letter of Instruction (LOI) # 444 in 1993, which had restricted Philippine trade with socialist states during the Cold War. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuban nationals were also de-listed from the restricted nationals list the following year.

Philippines-Cuba trade significantly increased in 1995 to $1.24 million, from $ 487,349 in 1994. Philippines exports to Cuba, however, could not be sustained, and declined in succeeding years. From 2000 to 2005, no definite trend could be observed in the total exports and imports between the two countries.

Total trade in 2005 made a significant jump to US$1.2 million from US$177 thousand in 2004. Such an increase is attributed to a corresponding increase in Philippine imports from Cuba from a measly US$7,095 in 2004 to a relatively phenomenal figure of US$1.17 million in 2005. Philippine exports however suffered a decline from US$170,266 in 2004 to US$24,291 in 2005. Such import and export figures in 2005 resulted in a Philippine trade deficit with Cuba of US$1.15 million.

There has been no consistent profile of products traded between the Philippines and Cuba. Top exports and imports vary annually and trade composition is very limited to very few peripheral products. As indicated in Table 2, Philippine exports to Cuba in 2005 were air pumps, rice threshers, semi-conductor devices, personal and household effects and some electronic products. Philippine imports consisted of materials, accessories and supplies on a consignment basis, bobbins, tobacco, beet or cane sugar and motor vehicles.

Top Philippine Exports to Cuba (2005)

Table 3.

The Philippines signed with Cuba the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation on 5 September 2001. The bilateral mechanism between the Philippines and Cuba most actively pursued is the Protocol of the First Meeting of the Joint Commission on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, which was signed in Manila on 7 September 2001. It is Cuba’s turn to host the second JCM.

In March 2005, Ms. Dora Garcia Delgado, Director-General of the Cuban Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology visited the Philippines to present a proposal on the transfer of to the Philippines of Cuban technology in the production of anti-Hepatitis B vaccine. The realization of a transfer of technology will respond to the need of the Philippines to achieve universal vaccination for infants and other concerned anti-Hepatitis B vaccine recipients.

The Cooperation Agreement between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cuban Chamber of Commerce was signed on 7 September 2001.

E. CULTURAL RELATIONS

The Philippines-Cuba Agreement on Cultural and Educational Cooperation was signed on 06 September 2001, but both sides have not actively implemented it.

Also, the Philippines and Cuba signed the Philippines-Cuba Agreement on Sports Cooperation between Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Instituto Nacional de Deportes, Educacion Fisica y Recreacion (INDER) of Cuba on 23 July 2002.

As of December 2005, there were only 24 Filipinos in Cuba. The ten permanent residents staying there were composed of 8 children of Filipino seafarers growing up with their Cuban mothers including 2 Filipino old-timers. The other 14 temporary residents were composed of 5 Embassy personnel and household staff, 4 exchange scholars, 3 priests, 1 nun and 1 chef.

The Philippines and Cuba signed the Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons on 22 November 2002.

Introduction

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is the largest and most important political caucus and bloc of developing nations in the UN system comprising 116 member states. While it discusses both political and socio-economic issues, NAM is primarily a political entity.

NAM is the only grouping of developing countries capable of articulating, in a comprehensive manner, the different political, economic, social, environmental and cultural dimensions of international relations. It is a group in which all members, regardless of size, can express their aspirations, opinions and ideals. No other grouping, country or institution is in a position to defend and promote the developing world’s interests and objectives as ably as NAM.

Since its founding, NAM has helped significantly in advancing the agenda of disarmament, respect for international law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. NAM is an active forum for inter-regional cooperation, between the Philippines, ASEAN and other regional groupings such as the Arab League and the OIC.

Brief History

The first Afro-Asian Conference, which was held in Delhi, India in 1947, was one of the precursors of the later NAM. It was followed by an inter-governmental conference of Afro-Asian countries held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955. Five Asian nations convened the conference, namely, Burma (Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), India, Indonesia and Pakistan. This meeting provided the opportunity for governments from the South to collectively assert their presence on the world scene and persuade Western powers to give them due recognition and to consult them on vital issues.

29 countries participated in the Bandung conference, these being: Afghanistan, Burma, Cambodia, Ceylon, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gold Coast, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, State of Vietnam and Yemen.

The major focus at Bandung was the anti-colonial struggle and support for the liberation movements in Africa and Asia, and on international peace and security. Bandung marked the beginning of political, security, economic and cultural cooperation between developing countries and precipitated the founding in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1961 of NAM. Its members sought to protect and strengthen their independence and sovereignty by staying out of the Cold War blocs.

The establishment of NAM further led to the convening of the Cairo Conference of Non-Aligned and other developing countries, the founding of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the creation of the Group of 77 (G-77).

With largely overlapping membership, NAM and the G-77 over time acted in tandem to advance the interests of the South and to work for an environment favorable to the development of their member countries.

The history of NAM has shown changes in the direction of priorities, depending on the Chair and the country presiding over a particular period. During the 10^th Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia in September 1992, it seemed NAM had come full circle as it attempted to recreate itself into an organization more attuned to the economic challenges that preoccupied the globe.

Though reneging on its role as political guardian of the Third World was never contemplated, greater economic cooperation was increasingly viewed both as a cause and outcome of political stability. South-South cooperation was thus seen both as an end in itself and a means by which the Third World might gain a fairer economic relationship vis-à-vis the First World. A less adversarial attitude was also deemed essential to making headway with the industrialized nations, and a decision to re-launch the North-South Dialogue, in addition to a proposal for restructuring the UN, was made.

Despite the important role NAM has in world politics, however, there is now an increasing need to "revitalize" the group since issues like those related to globalization and terrorism have often divided its membership. NAM countries have been known to bicker and fight with each other on concerns brought before multilateral institutions like the UN and the WTO. This is perhaps one reason why NAM is presently struggling to remain relevant in world affairs.

Structure And Organization

Administration of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is non-hierarchical, rotational and inclusive, providing all member states, regardless of size and importance, with an opportunity to participate in global decision-making and world politics.

By creating the practice of a rotating Chair, Non-Aligned countries therefore place the onus of an administrative structure on the country assuming the Chairmanship. When a country assumes the Chair of the Movement, it creates or designates an entire section of the Foreign Ministry to deal specifically with Non-Aligned issues.

Structures such as Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees exist in order to promote the process of achieving a commonality of positions and interests and to see to it that Non-Aligned countries speak with one voice in international meetings and negotiations.

The high level meetings of the Movement consist of Summit Conferences, Ministerial Conferences, Ministerial Meetings in New York during the regular Session of the UNGA, Extraordinary Ministerial Meetings, Ministerial Meetings of the NAM-CoB, meetings of the Ministerial Committee on Methodology, meetings of the Standing Ministerial Committee on Economic Cooperation and Ministerial Meetings in various fields of International Cooperation.

Conference of Heads of State or Government (HOSGs)

The Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government (HOSGs) is the highest decision-making authority of the Movement. The existing practice is to hold the Summit every three years. The Summit should be held at least one month before the regular Session of the UNGA. The programme of the Summit includes a formal ceremony for the handing over of the Chairmanship. The decisions of a Summit should be action-oriented.

Source: Office of United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO)

Administration of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is non-hierarchical, rotational and inclusive, providing all member states, regardless of size and importance, with an opportunity to participate in global decision-making and world politics. The Summit is the occasion when the Movement formally rotates its Chair to the Head of State of the next host country, who then holds office until the next Summit. The Chair is at the same time also delegated certain responsibilities for promoting the principles and activities of the Movement.

By creating the practice of a rotating Chair, Non-Aligned countries therefore place the onus of an administrative structure on the country assuming the Chairmanship. When a country assumes the Chair of the Movement, it creates or designates an entire section of the Foreign Ministry to deal specifically with Non-Aligned issues.

Structures such as Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees exist in order to promote the process of achieving a commonality of positions and interests and to see to it that Non-Aligned countries speak with one voice in international meetings and negotiations.

High Level Meetings of the NAM

The high level meetings of the Movement consist of Summit Conferences, Ministerial Conferences, Ministerial Meetings in New York during the regular Session of the UNGA, Extraordinary Ministerial Meetings, Ministerial Meetings of the NAM-CoB, meetings of the Ministerial Committee on Methodology, meetings of the Standing Ministerial Committee on Economic Cooperation and Ministerial Meetings in various fields of International Cooperation.

There are other meetings of NAM such as the regular meetings of the NAM-CoB in New York and the meetings of the Working Groups, Task Forces, Contact Groups and Committees that are held at different levels.

Conference of Heads of State or Government (HOSGs)

The Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government (HOSGs) is the highest decision-making authority of the Movement. The existing practice is to hold the Summit every three years. The Summit should be held at least one month before the regular Session of the UNGA. The programme of the Summit includes a formal ceremony for the handing over of the Chairmanship.

The decisions of a Summit should be action-oriented. Senior Officials and Ministerial meetings precede the Summit of the Heads of State or Government (HOSGs). The Summit has two committees, one for political issues and another for economic and social issues. In order to facilitate the finalization of the drafts of the main documents, the committees begin their work informally during the Senior Officials meetings.

Ministerial Conference

The Ministerial Conference is held with the purpose of reviewing the development and implementation of decisions of the preceding Summit, to prepare for the following Summit, and to discuss matters of urgency. These conferences are convened eighteen months after the Summit Conference.

Ministerial Meetings in New York during Sessions of the UNGA

It is the practice of NAM Foreign Ministers to meet annually in New York at the beginning of the regular Session of the UNGA. The purpose of these annual meetings is to focus on the items of the Agenda of the General Assembly that are of major importance to the Movement

Meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Methodology

Bearing in mind that the examination of the structure and modalities of the Non-Aligned Movement is an ongoing process, meetings of the Ministerial Committee on Methodology are held as necessary upon a decision by the Summit or the Ministerial Conference.

Standing Ministerial Committee on Economic Cooperation

The Standing Ministerial Committee on Economic Cooperation exists in order to strengthen South-South cooperation, reactivate the dialogue between developed and developing countries, and enhance the role of the UN, particularly the General Assembly, in international cooperation for development. The Standing Ministerial Committee on Economic Cooperation meets as frequently as necessary upon the recommendation of the NAM-CoB.

Ministerial Meetings in various fields of International Cooperation

Consistent with the mandates given by the Conference of Heads of State or Government (HOSGs), meetings at the ministerial level are held on such issues as information, culture, agriculture and external debt.

Ministerial Meetings of the Coordinating Bureau (NAM-CoB)

These meetings are restricted to preparations for Summits and, if deemed necessary, to consider issues of major importance to the Movement.

Extraordinary Meetings of the Coordinating Bureau (NAM-CoB)

Extraordinary meetings of the NAM-CoB can take place in exceptional cases, which call for urgent consideration.

Coordinating Bureau (NAM-CoB)

The New York-based NAM-CoB, chaired by the incumbent host country of NAM, is the focal point for coordinating the activities of the Movement. The Heads of State or Governments (HOSGs) entrust the NAM-CoB with the task, inter alia, to review and facilitate the harmonization of the work of the various Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees. NAM-CoB is also responsible for further strengthening coordination and mutual cooperation among the NAM member countries, including unified action at the UN and other international fora, on issues of common concern.

Coordination by the NAM-CoB and the Role of the Chair

The Chair has the responsibility of leading and coordinating the activities of NAM within the UN and, as appropriate, in other international fora. Besides the NAM-CoB, the Chair may therefore also preside over other NAM mechanisms as necessary. Working Groups can likewise be presided over by other members. Coordination is also done in other NAM Chapters, namely in Geneva and Vienna.

Non-Aligned Security Council Caucus

It is necessary that the NAM countries elected to the Security Council, and who form the NAM Caucus in the Security Council, constantly strive to adopt unified positions, and that the decisions and the positions of NAM as adopted at its Summits and Ministerial Conferences and by the NAM-CoB be properly reflected by them in the Security Council, without prejudice to their sovereign rights. At the Cartagena Summit, the Heads of State or Government (HOSGs) called for the need to continue to enhance this coordination, including the possibility of holding consultations on a regular basis, between members of the NAM Caucus and other members of the NAM-CoB.

The Chair of the NAM-CoB in New York attends and addresses the Security Council on matters of particular importance to members of the Movement. To enlarge the scope of coordination, the Chair of the NAM-CoB may at the invitation of the Non-Aligned Security Council Caucus attend the meetings of the Caucus.

The Chair of the NAM-CoB holds regular meetings with each coordinator of the Non-Aligned Security Council Caucus with a view to being briefed on the work of the Council, and in turn, to convey to the Caucus coordinator the positions of the Movement. Similarly, the Caucus coordinator keeps the Chair apprised of upcoming discussions and issues of general importance to the Movement.

The Coordinator of the Non-Aligned Security Council Caucus also periodically briefs the Movement through the NAM-CoB.

Joint Coordinating Committee (NAM and G-77)

In order to promote coordination and cooperation between the NAM and the G-77 in promoting the interests of developing countries in various international fora, a Joint Coordinating Committee of the two groups was established in 1994, which meets regularly in New York.

The Troika

At a meeting of NAM Foreign Ministers in New Delhi, India in April 1997, the concept of a Troika (i.e. of past, present and future Chairs) started to emerge. The Troika subsequently formally met for the first time in New York in September 1997 at the margins of the 52nd Session of the UNGA.

Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees

All NAM Working Groups, Contact Groups, Task Forces and Committees meet as often as necessary. In the fulfillment of their mandates, due regard is paid to coordination, efficiency and preparedness.