July 2008

15^th Non Aligned Movement Ministerial Conference was held in Tehran from 27^th to 30^th July 2008.

Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka addressing the 15th NAM Ministerial Conference held in Tehran.

Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka visited Tehran on 29^th July 2008 and  led the Sri Lanka delegation to the 15^th NAM Ministerial Conference.

Sri Lanka has been offered a post of Vice Chairmanship available to the Asian Region and Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka assumed the post.

Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama,  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka delivered a speech during the inaugural session on 29^th July  representing the Asian Group of the Movement in addition to his statement on behalf of Sri Lanka during the General Debate.

Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs was available in Tehran only on the 29^th July 2008 due to the   SAARC Summit being held in Colombo during the same period.

H.E. Mr. M.M. Zuhair P.C., Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Iran led the Sri Lanka delegation and also assumed the post of  Vice Chair on behalf of the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs in his absence.

Composition of the Sri Lanka delegation to the above was as follows:

1. Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs
2. H.E. Mr. M.M. Zuhair P.C., Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Iran
3. Mr. A.L.A. Azeez, DPR, Sri Lanka Mission, New York
4. Mr. Sajin De Vass Gunawardena, Co. Secretary to H.E. the President
5. Mr. P.M. N.M. Premathilake, Asst. Director, MFA
6. Mr. B. Vidyarathne, First Secretary, Sri Lanka Embassy, Tehran

Following resolutions were adopted during the session.

(i)                   Final Document of the 15^th Ministerial Conference of the

Non – Aligned Movement (NAM 2008/Doc. 1/Rev.2)

(ii)                 Statement on the Islamic Republic of Iran's Nuclear Issue

–         (NAM 2008/Doc.3/Rev.1)

(iii)                Statement on Zimbabwe (NAM 2008/Doc.8)

On the sidelines of the 15^th NAM Ministerial Conference, Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs called on the following dignitaries;

Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka with H.E. Dr. Mohamoud Ahmadinejad, President of I R Iran

(i)         H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,

President of Iran 

(ii)         Hon. Shri Pranab Mukherjee,

Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India

(iii)        Hon. Mr. Vuk Jeremic,

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and had bilateral meetings with ;

• Hon. Shri Pranab Mukherjee,

Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India

• Hon. Mr. Vuk Jeremic,