REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, ALGIERS -- The issues of international peace and development, peaceful use of nuclear energy and UN reforms featured prominently in the discussions of the 17th ministerial conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The conferees, including 60 foreign ministers and representatives of several international organizations, stressed the need to join forces in addressing the main issues of concern notably the development and security.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended, in a speech via a video link, the role of NAM in resolving the conflicts in the developing world and alleviating poverty in the least-developing countries.

He said since its inception, the movement has been defending the universal principles of respect for human rights, justice and equality among all nations of the world.