Statement by the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement on the Imposition of Unilateral Sanctions against the Republic of Belarus

The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement recalls the Final Document of 14^th Summit Conference of Heads of State of Government of the Non-Aligned Movement in which the solidarity among Non-Aligned Movement Countries was explicitly reiterated with regard to the unilateral economic sanctions through paragraph 16.4 where the Heads of State or Government agreed to refrain from recognizing, adopting or implementing extra-territorial or unilateral coercive measures or laws, including unilateral economic sanctions, other intimidating measures, and arbitrary travel restrictions, that seek to exert pressure on Non-Aligned Countries — threatening their sovereignty and independence, and their freedom of trade and investment — and prevent them from exercising their right to decide, by their own free will, their own political, economic and social systems, where they constitute flagrant violations of the UN Charter, international law, the multilateral trading system as well as the norms and principles governing friendly relations among States.

In this context the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement expresses its grave concern over the decision announced by a UN Member State to impose economic sanctions against the Republic of Belarus, a Member State of the Movement.

The Non-Aligned Movement reaffirms the Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention in the Domestic Affairs of States and the Protection of their Independence and Sovereignty (Resolution 2131 (XX)), the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations (Resolution 2625 (XXV)), the Resolution on Unilateral Economic Measures as a Means of Political and Economic Coercion against Developing Countries (62/183).

The Non-Aligned Movement reiterates the need to eliminate unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade. The Movement urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to refrain from promulgating and applying them in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation.