Tuesday, December 13 2005 17:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Observing that it was difficult to pursue a progressive agenda in a, fundamentally transformed world scenario, visiting South African Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad today (December 13, 2005) called for a change in the Non Aligned Movement.

"NAM is a very important group, but it must be changed so it is able to better articulate the views of its member nations," Pahad said in an interaction after delivering the 4th Alfred Nzo Memorial Lecture here.

Asserting that South Africa has been trying to take forward the development agenda in the country despite difficulties, he expressed concern over the increasing gap between the rich and poor in the continent and elsewhere.

Pahad said the recent flare up in France and the killing of people trying to enter Europe was an indication that the destinies of developing and developed nations were inter-linked.

"In a globalise world order we cannot put a Chinese wall against the rest of humanity," the visiting minister said.

Noting that the change in the vision for Africa compelled to promote development, peace and stability in the region, Pahad said the biggest challenge was to develop a common agenda to serve the masses.

"The greatest challenge we face in Africa is also the greatest problem the humanity faces," he said adding that the new leadership in the continent was determined to "seriously challenge the under-development problem."

Expressing concern over the emergence of unilateralist, Pahad said there was a need to strengthen multilaterally by transforming the UN to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.