The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayattolah Ali Khamanei has inaugurated the 16th Summit of the Non Aligned Movement being held in the Capital Tehran. The Iranian News Agency IRNA reports that Khamanei arrived at the summit accompanied by Iranian President Ahmedinajad and the Chairman of the Expediency Council, Rafsanjani.
Delegations from one hundred countries, including many led by heads of State are in Tehran to participate in the Summit. Amongst the participants is the Secretary-General of the United Nation Ban Ki-moon, the President of Egypt Mohamed Mursi, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the President of Pakistan Yusuf Ali Zardari and Lebanese President Michel Sulaiman. Amongst the delegations present are those from Armenia and Azerbaijan, both led by theior Foreign Ministers. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has not travelled to the summit as was previously announced by the Armenian media.
Iran will take over the Presidency of NAM for a three year period at the end of the summit. The Movement was established in 1961 on the initiative of Yugoslavia to bring together countries that do not form part of any military bloc.
source:commonspace.eu
