Vucic Hosts Leaders of 30 Non-Aligned Nations in Belgrade
More than 30 delegations from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America gathered at the Palace of Serbia for an event marking 65 years since the First Non-Aligned Conference.
Belgrade hosted delegations from more than 30 Non-Aligned Movement countries on September 1, at a plenary session in the Palace of Serbia marking 65 years since the First Conference of Heads of State and Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in the same city in 1961. The session opened at 9:30 a.m., led by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Uganda Vice President Jessica Alupo.
The commemorative program ran for two days, from August 31 to September 1. On the Sunday evening before the main event, organizers held a dinner for participants, and the Belgrade Tower was specially lit for the occasion. Alupo traveled to the Serbian capital as the envoy of Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who currently chairs the Non-Aligned Movement. Belgrade also welcomed representatives of the movement’s two other current troika members, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Vucic and Foreign Minister Marko Djuric greeted the heads of delegations at the entrance to the Palace of Serbia. The gathering was also attended by National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister Djuro Macut and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic.
Who came to Belgrade
According to figures released by the organizers, alongside officials from more than 30 countries across four continents, the gathering was attended by:
- Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama
- Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
- Azerbaijan’s parliament speaker Sahiba Gafarova
- Algeria’s National People’s Assembly speaker Halida Bufedes, who became the first woman to lead the body in Algeria’s history on July 28
- Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi
- Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute
- Mozambique’s Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levy
Delegations were also led by the deputy prime ministers of Cambodia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the deputy chair of Uzbekistan’s Senate, while India, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lebanon and Sao Tome and Principe sent ministerial delegations. A special envoy of Cuba’s president also traveled to Belgrade, along with high-level delegations from Indonesia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Nepal and Ethiopia.
Over the course of the day, Vucic held bilateral meetings with representatives of about 30 states, including Mahama, Mohamud and Angola’s Foreign Minister Tete Antonio.
Gratitude for support of territorial integrity
Addressing participants at the plenary session, Vucic highlighted how Non-Aligned Movement countries have positioned themselves on an issue Serbia’s leadership treats as a state priority.
I am deeply grateful that a large number of Non-Aligned Movement members consistently respect Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Vucic said this at the plenary session in the Palace of Serbia. He also announced three new initiatives Serbia is launching within the movement: a program called Non-Aligned Digital, dedicated to developing digital communications among member states, a film festival for Non-Aligned countries, and a seminar for young diplomats from movement member states.
After the plenary session, the heads of delegations symbolically planted trees in Friendship Park at Usce, following the example set by participants of the 1961 conference.
Non-Aligned Day and Expo 2027
Serbia declared September 1 as Non-Aligned Day last year, formally adding the date of the First Belgrade Conference to the state calendar. Throughout the two-day program, hosts repeatedly referenced preparations for Expo 2027 in Belgrade, presenting it as an opportunity to continue cooperation with participating countries.
The Non-Aligned Movement today brings together a large number of states from every continent, and Belgrade remains one of the symbolic sites of its founding, having hosted the First Conference of Heads of State and Government of Non-Aligned Countries in 1961. Whether the Palace of Serbia gathering will translate into concrete progress in the bilateral relations discussed throughout the day should become clearer in the coming days, once delegations publish the conclusions of their individual meetings with Serbian officials.
