India rejects Rice remarks, says NAM still relevant

NEW DELHI: Rejecting the US contention that Non-Aligned Movement has "lost its meaning", India on Friday asserted that its relevance continues in promoting democratisation of the international system and New Delhi was committed to its ideals.

External Affairs Ministry said India's "firm and abiding commitment" to non-alignment could not be questioned.

"The Non-Aligned Movement played a significant role in ending apartheid and colonialism. Today, its relevance continues in promoting South-South cooperation and democratisation of the international system," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said here.

"India remains committed to its (NAM) ideals," he underlined.

Sarna's comments came in response to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's remarks on Wednesday that non-alignment has "lost its meaning".

She had suggested that India "move past old ways of thinking and old ways of acting" to create a partnership for the future of relations between the two countries.

The CPI(M), an ally of the government, also hit out at Rice for her comments and said that India should not be lectured on how foreign policy should be conducted.

"The message is being conveyed along with the assurance that the nuclear cooperation agreement can be finalized provided India understands the parameters of the 'strategic alliance' with the United States," the party said in a statement here.