DURBAN, Sept 2: A departure from non-aligned tradition of the 113-nation movement, its new chairman Nelson Mandela today said that NAM was willing to lend ``all the strength we have'' to the resolution of the Kashmir issue. Mandela's fleeting reference to Kashmir in his inaugural address is perceived in diplomatic circles as a snub to India, since the Kashmir issue had never earlier been raised at a NAM meet. It also marked a shift in South Africa's stand on Kashmir.However, observers feel that though Mandela's suggestion implies that NAM could play a role in resolving what India has always maintained is a bilateral issue, too much should not be read into the remark. The NAM Chairman mentioned Kashmir in the context of various other conflict zones: Congo, Afghanistan, Sudan, Cyprus and Middle East.Mandela, who took over as chairman at the inaugural of the two-day summit, urged leaders of the developed north to have the courage to defy orthodox prescriptions and initiate new concepts in economic thinkingon budget deficits, rates of inflation, interest and exchange rates and capital movement.He emphasised the point that the world economy should be mobilised to address the needs of the developing world so that they are not over-burdened by debt.It was a moving moment for the father of South Africa's freedom struggle as he took over the chairmanship of the body which played a key role in the international campaign against apartheid in his homeland. The 80-year-old Mandela along with his new wife Graca Mandela warmly greeted the leaders from the 113 member countries. The varied headgear and robes of the delegates added colour to the function as did the rhythmic Zulu dancers decked in furs and hides.Despite the skeptics, nearly 60 heads of state and government showed up including India's Atal Behari Vajpayee, Iran's Khatami, the PLO's Yasser Arafat, Cuba's Fidel Castro, Sri Lanka's Chandrika Kumaratunga and Zambia's Sam Nujoma.The only sour note at the inaugural ceremony was the deliberate latearrival of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who came 15 minutes after President Mandela was already seated.Mugabe's bad behaviour reflects the deep divide in Africa over the present turmoil in the Democratic Republic of Congo where President Laurent Kabila is battling against a strong movement of rebel tribesmen supported by Rwanda and Uganda. Zimbabwe has been helping Kabila, while Mandela is attempting to negotiate a ceasefire.Despite the civil strife in his country, President Kabila made a surprise appearance at NAM. Yesterday, delegates from Congo came to blows when a rebel Tutsi tribal came to the venue and claimed to represent his country.Mandela did not mention the fact that NAM for the first time has two countries - India and Pakistan - with nuclear capability. He merely spoke of the high priority NAM put on nuclear disarmament and ending the stockpiling of nuclear weapons.Mandela was particularly emotional as he spoke of entering a new phase of African redemption. ``Our people dreamof an African Renaissance as a consequence of which we will overcome a devastating past,'' he observed.The NAM chairman called upon leaders of developed countries to reject the concept of ``each for himself and the devil take the hindmost''. But warned that if we demand that the people of the north produce a new type of leadership ``we cannot set different standards for ourselves''. The leaders of the developing countries had to show respect for peace, human rights and work for the true development of the people, he said.
